Continuous Improvement Manager

Mondi Group; Romeoville (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Mondi in Romeoville, IL seeks a Continuous Improvement lead to drive CI initiatives across Production, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain. You will establish standard ways of working and lead cross-functional teams to deliver measurable improvements.

Responsibilities include managing CI projects end-to-end, coaching teams, and developing standards and SOPs. A strong Lean background and MS Office proficiency are required; Six Sigma belt is preferred.

Qualifications

• BSc or higher in engineering, statistics or related field.
• 2+ years of proven experience with lean methods (A3, 5S, Gemba, Kaizen, OEE, PSM).
• Relevant project management experience.
• Strong presentation and communication skills across cultures and levels.
• Proven leadership to manage project teams.
• Hands-on, solution-focused mentality.
• Excellent MS Office skills.
• Six Sigma Green or Black Belt preferred.
• Spanish language skills a plus.

Responsibilities

• Identify, prioritize, and lead continuous improvement initiatives across departments to support productivity, waste reduction, quality, cost and safety.
• Lead and deliver foundational CI initiatives to establish standard ways of working with collaboration across functions.
• Manage CI projects end-to-end with clear scope, timing, and budget.
• Ensure visibility and sustainability by reporting progress to plant leadership and monitoring after implementation.
• Develop, maintain, and improve standards such as processes, templates, reports and SOPs with departments.
• Capture and share best practices within the plant and wider organization.
• Act as a change agent, embedding CI into daily operations at all levels.
• Build CI capability from the ground up via training, workshops and coaching on CI principles and tools.
• Support onboarding of new employees to CI principles in production and office environments.

Skills

CI leadership

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Training & coaching

Communication skills

Problem solving

MS Office proficiency

Six Sigma

Education

BSc or higher in engineering/statistics

Tools

MS Office

Lean tools knowledge

Job description

• Identify, prioritize, and lead continuous improvement initiatives across departments (Production, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Office functions), supporting plant objectives such as productivity, waste reduction, quality improvement, cost, and safety
• Lead and deliver foundational CI initiatives to establish standard ways of working (e.g. Daily Management Systems, skill matrices and training plans, operational SOPs) in collaboration with Production, HR, Quality, and other functions
• Manage CI projects end-to-end, coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure clear scope, timing, budget adherence, and alignment with plant priorities
• Ensure visibility, handover, and sustainability of improvements by communicating progress and results to plant leadership and monitoring performance after implementation
• Develop, maintain, and improve standards such as processes, templates, reports, and SOPs together with the respective departments.
• Capture and share good practices within the plant and across the wider organization
• Act as a change agent, supporting management of change and helping embed continuous improvement into daily operations at all levels of the organization
• Build CI capability in the plant from the ground up by delivering training, workshops, and on-the-job coaching on CI principles and tools (e.g. 5S, problem solving, basic Lean concepts), fostering a practical continuous improvement mindset
• Support onboarding of new employees by introducing them to CI principles and expected ways of working, in both production and office environments

• A BSc Degree or higher in a related field such as engineering, statistics, or similar
• 2+ years of proven experience with lean methods, such as A3, 5S, Gemba, Kaizen OEE, PSM, etc
• Relevant professional experience in project management
• Good presentation and communication skills, with the ability to efficiently interact with different cultures and organisational levels
• Proven leadership skills to manage project teams effectively
• Hands-on mentality and solution-oriented work style
• Very good command of MS Office
• Six Sigma Green or Black Belt, preferred
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus

We strive to create a culture that inspires our people to reach their full potential. Going the extra mile – for colleagues and customers – our people drive our passion for performance and are the key ingredient of Mondi's success. Be part of our future.

Do you want to know more about Mondi? We are a global leader in packaging and paper, contributing to a better world through innovative solutions that are sustainable by design. Our global team of 24,000 people works across 100 production sites in more than 30 countries.

Our strength lies in our diversity. We are dedicated to creating a team that reflects the diversity of the world we operate in. We encourage applications from traditionally underrepresented groups, including women, visible minorities, LGBTQI+ individuals, and people with disabilities.

Even if you don't meet all the listed qualifications, we still want to hear from you. We believe in your potential and are committed to supporting you as you grow and learn at Mondi. If you need any accommodations during the recruitment process, please reach out to the contact person listed above.