Continuous Improvement Manager

GTI Fabrication; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

PTO and paid holidays

Life insurance and disability coverage

Career growth opportunities

Exposure to advanced manufacturing and

Collaborative environment

Job summary

GTI Fabrication in Phoenix seeks an experienced Continuous Improvement Manager to lead lean transformation across our value streams, deploying GTI’s playbooks and daily management routines. You will mentor leaders, drive safety, quality, and delivery improvements, and run kaizen events to optimize material flow and capacity.

The role requires 5+ years of manufacturing leadership, Six Sigma Black Belt (Green Belt acceptable), and strong data skills with Power BI and ERP/MES familiarity.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of management experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with direct reports
• 7+ years in manufacturing including a continuous improvement leadership role
• Experience implementing breakthrough CI projects at site level
• Experience driving daily accountability via 5S, Tier Accountability, Layered Process Audits
• Experience deploying formal business/operating systems across a plant
• Data fluency: Excel, Power BI; ERP/MES familiarity (routings, BOMs)
• Bachelor's degree in Industrial/Manufacturing/Mechanical Engineering, Operations Mgmt, or related
• Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt preferred; Green Belt required

Responsibilities

• Deploy GTI's business system and playbooks across value streams
• Own Tier Accountability Process and coach value stream leaders
• Lead 5S program and Layered Process Audit system
• Establish and audit standard work and leader standard work
• Lead value stream roadmap and kaizen funnel
• Plan and lead kaizen events on material flow, layout, and efficiency
• Drive TPM and OEE improvement on critical cells
• Set and coach problem-solving standards (A3, 8D, PSP)
• Partner with Quality/Engineering on poka-yoke and first-pass yield
• Build CI dashboards in Power BI; align ERP routings and work instructions
• Report CI trends and risks to Plant Manager and VP of CI
• Coach leaders on system adoption and change management
• Develop direct reports to next level
• Collaborate cross-site with Plant Manager and other functions

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

5S

Continuous Improvement

Power BI

ERP/MES

Team Leadership

Problem Solving

Bilingual EN/ES

Education

Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering degree

Tools

Power BI

MS Excel

ERP/MES

Job description

GTI Values: Safety I Quality I Customer Obsession I Speed I Agility

Position Overview

GTI is a contract manufacturing partner supporting customers in renewable energy, power generation, infrastructure, and industrial systems.

We fabricate custom designed, purpose-built enclosures and skids for our customers and perform mechanical and electrical integration in-house, delivering a true turn-key product to our customers. Our scope spans Engineering, prototype builds, through full production, requiring teams that can move fast, adapt, and execute with precision.

The Continuous Improvement Manager is a senior, hands-on operations leader who drives improvement by value stream to raise performance in safety, quality, delivery, inventory, and productivity (SQDIP). The role deploys GTI's business system, model, and playbooks on the floor: tiered daily management, 5S, layered process audits, value stream roadmaps, kaizen events, standard work, structured problem solving, and the training that makes them stick.

Key Responsibilities

Business System Deployment & Daily Accountability

• Deploy GTI's business system, model, and playbooks across the plant's value streams in line with the VP of Continuous Improvement's annual priorities
• Own the Tier Accountability Process: SQDIP boards, tier 1 through tier 3 meeting standards, escalation paths, and visual management; coach value stream leaders to run them with daily discipline
• Lead the plant's 5S program and Layered Process Audit system as the backbone of daily accountability; set the standards, audit against them, and hold leaders at every level to them
• Establish and audit standard work and leader standard work for supervisors and leads
• Run the plant's CI maturity self-assessment against GTI's model; build and track the annual action plan to close gaps

Value Stream Improvement & Breakthrough Projects

• Map each value stream's current and future state at least annually; own the value stream roadmap and the kaizen funnel that falls out of it
• Lead site-level breakthrough improvement projects that step-change throughput, cost, or quality, from charter through sustained results
• Plan and lead kaizen events on material flow, layout, labor efficiency, changeover, and quality: charters, objectives, facilitation, action tracking, report-outs, and 30-60-90 day sustainment checks
• Improve lean material flow for steel, consumables, and kitted subassemblies: kanban, supermarkets, point-of-use storage, and WIP buffer targets
• Lead capacity, line-balancing work for high-mix, engineered-to-order modules; support new line and new program launches with lean design
• Drive TPM and OEE improvement on critical cells (cutting, welding, paint, assembly) and attack unplanned downtime with Maintenance

Problem Solving & Quality

• Set and coach GTI's problem-solving standard (A3, 8D, PSP); lead root cause analysis on significant safety, quality, and delivery misses
• Partner with Quality and Engineering on poka-yoke, first-pass yield, and rework reduction
• Integrate CI with EHS so safety is the first lens on every event and standard

Savings, Metrics & Reporting

• Identify, quantify, and track validated savings in labor, material, rework, inventory, and throughput; secure Finance sign-off and report into GTI's cost-out governance
• Build and maintain plant CI dashboards in Power BI; keep ERP routings, BOMs, and work instructions aligned with improved processes
• Report SQDIP trends, project status, and risks to the Plant Manager and the VP of Continuous Improvement on a set cadence

Culture, Coaching & Change Leadership

• Reshape the plant's culture around daily accountability: be visible on the floor every day, model the standards, and coach supervisors and teams in the moment
• Train and certify supervisors, leads, and CI Specialists in GTI's playbooks: 5S, standard work, daily management, layered process audits, problem solving, VSM, and kaizen facilitation
• Coach plant leaders on leading through the system; surface and remove organizational barriers that stop improvements from holding or scaling
• Drive adoption of new systems and behaviors through coaching, documentation, and clear communication, in English and Spanish where it helps the floor

Team Leadership & Cross-Site Collaboration

• Build, lead, and develop the plant's Continuous Improvement Specialists; set priorities and standards, and own a development plan that moves each direct report to the next level
• Partner with the Plant Manager across operations, maintenance, quality, materials, and EHS to build the cross-functional judgment a future site leader needs

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of management experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, with direct reports and accountability for daily performance
• 7+ years in manufacturing overall, including a dedicated continuous improvement, lean, or operational excellence leadership role
• Prior experience implementing breakthrough continuous improvement projects at a site level
• Prior experience reshaping a site's culture by driving daily accountability through the implementation of 5S, a Tier Accountability Process, and Layered Process Audits
• Experience deploying a formal business or operating system (company playbooks, daily management, VSM-based planning) across a plant
• Data fluency: Excel, Power BI, savings models, audit-ready documentation; ERP/MES familiarity (routings, BOMs, work instructions)
• Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Structured problem solving: A3/PDCA, 8D, root cause analysis
• Lean or Six Sigma Black Belt preferred; Green Belt required

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Experience with metal fabrication, structural assembly, welding, or engineered-to-order

Travel to other GTI plants as needed (about 10–20%)

Benefits & Perks

GTI offers a competitive compensation and benefits package designed to support employees and their families while providing long-term career growth opportunities within a fast-growing manufacturing organization. Benefits may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match (where applicable)
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Sick time in accordance with state and local requirements
• Company-paid life insurance and disability coverage
• Career advancement opportunities within a rapidly growing organization
• Exposure to advanced manufacturing, modular infrastructure, and large-scale industrial projects
• Collaborative, fast-paced environment with strong operational and engineering leadership
• Employee-focused culture centered on safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement

GTI promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce and is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other Federal or State legally-protected classes. We also value the safety of all employees and work hard to maintain a Drug Free Workplace.

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