Director, Continuous Improvement

Howmet Aerospace; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan

Paid holidays & vacation

Parental leave

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Tuition assistance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Howmet Aerospace Inc. in Cleveland, OH seeks an experienced Continuous Improvement Director to lead Lean transformation across the business segment.

You will coach teams, align initiatives with strategy, and deliver measurable gains in productivity and capacity. You will mentor leaders, drive HBS and CI programs, manage KPIs, and support change management while partnering with senior leadership to sustain a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of manufacturing experience in Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, or Operational Excellence.
• Minimum 7 years in leadership roles in Operations or Continuous Improvement.
• Experience in aerospace or manufacturing environments requiring lean strategies.
• Bachelor’s degree required; travel up to 50% (domestic and international).
• Proficiency in Lean and Six Sigma methodologies; strong MS Office skills.
• U.S. work authorization; ITAR compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead CI initiatives and Lean Execution Systems, driving plan progress and gap closure.
• Facilitate HBS journeys, best-practice sharing, and sustainment of improvements.
• Lead OEE improvement actions and drive waste reduction using Lean tools.
• Coordinate CF team events (Hoshin, Kaizen, rapid improvement) and sustain follow-throughs.
• Analyze P&L to identify cost reductions and margin improvements across plant teams.
• Monitor KPIs and drive change management for durable adoption.

Skills

Lean & Six Sigma

Leadership

Manufacturing experience

Travel up to 50%

MS Office Suite

ITAR compliance

US work authorization

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree preferred

Job description

Responsibilities

Howmet Engines seeks an experienced professional to join our team! The Continuous Improvement Director at Howmet Aerospace is responsible for driving the implementation and sustained use of Lean principles, enhancing operational efficiency and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across the business segment This role serves as a teacher, coach and mentor, working closely with employees at all levels to build long-term adoption of CI practices. The Continuous Improvement Director partners with Senior Leadership to align improvement initiatives with business objectives, ensuring measurable impact on productivity, capacity and overall business segment performance.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the continued development and enhancement of the Howmet Business System journey, including accelerating the Lean Execution Systems Assessment process and progress, working with plant teams on gap closure plans in support of advancing the CI culture across the business segment.
• Facilitate the Howmet Business System “HBS” journey best practice sharing within the location and across teams through a sustainable electronic system that allows users to search for common issues or problems.
• Lead OEE improvement actions deep dive with leaders and provide avenues for best practice sharing.
• Lead Howmet Business System implementation of continuous improvement initiatives and drive waste reductions utilizing Lean principles (JIT, Autonomation, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, Line/Cell Design, Single Piece Flow, Material Flow, Visual Management, SMED, TPM, Root Cause Problem Solving, etc.)
• Facilitate Hoshins, Kaizens, problem solving, and rapid improvement process events with internal personnel at all levels of the organization, consultants, customers, and suppliers as needed. This includes providing support to sustain all follow-throughs required to sustain the improvements initiated during those events, especially those concentrated on local improvement.
• Understand and analyze Profit and Loss (P&L) statements to identify opportunities for cost reduction, revenue enhancement, and margin improvement. Lead and collaborate with cross functional internal teams focused on shop floor factory improvements, which could include CAPEX.
• Assist team leaders in team skill and knowledge development to support meeting management goals, project management, improvements, results measurements, problem solving and related team skills.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and measure the impact of improvement initiatives.
• Drive change management efforts to ensure successful implementation and sustainability of process improvements.
• Identify and share best practices, lessons learned, and success stories to promote knowledge sharing and continuous learning within the organization.
• Provide coaching and mentorship to team members across the organization to drive the Continuous Improvement mindset.
• May participate or lead other targeted initiatives or kaizens as directed by the BU, as defined by the Segment Vice President.
• Role may support other sites’ continuous improvement activities, as needed (e.g., training, project-based work, best practice support, etc.)

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in manufacturing environments in areas such as: Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, or Operational Excellence
• Minimum of 7 years in leadership roles in Operations or Continuous Improvement
• Previous experience in an aerospace, automotive or other manufacturing environment requiring significant lean strategies to maintain wins and propel the organizations’ success through Continuous Improvement
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution
• Must be willing to travel up to 50% of the time, including domestic and international travel
• Strong working knowledge and understanding of Continuous Process Improvement methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• This position is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) which requires U.S. person status. ITAR defines U.S. person as an U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder'), Political Asylee, or Refugee
• Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and Master's Degree from an accredited institution in Engineering or Supply Chain field of study highly desired
• Project Management certification or earned certificate
• Experience developing operations leadership development programs in a manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated experience in manufacturing improvement techniques, including hoshin, flow principles, Jidoka, Kanban, 5S, and “plan for every part” (PFEP).
• Strong skills in value stream mapping and associated improvement methodologies.
• Understanding of pillars of Toyota production system (JIT, Jidoka).
• Experience evaluating TAKT time vs. cycle time, determining work area constraints (i.e. cycle time constraint, periodic work constraints, downtime constraints).
• Experience on the shop floor, working with employees, and enhancing manufacturing processes.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills require the ability to resolve conflicting interests and obtain cooperation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills: able to develop and use structured approaches to identify root causes and recommend resolutions.
• Demonstrated experience in project leadership and project management skills, with ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously to meet objectives and key deadlines.

About Us

Compensation and Benefits:

If a pay range is identified for this job, it is based on a good faith estimate at the time of this posting. Actual compensation is subject to variation due to factors such as education, experience, skillset, market/business considerations, and/or location.

Howmet Aerospace offers a competitive benefits package to support the health, financial well-being, and professional growth of our employees. Benefits include:

• Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision benefits coverage, including FSA and HSA account options
• Pre-tax and Roth 401(k) retirement savings plans offering employer matching funds and a separate employer retirement contribution
• Paid holidays and vacation time (eligibility, accrual, and usage are discretionary and governed by applicable policies)
• Paid parental leave and adoption assistance programs
• Life insurance and disability coverage plans
• Optional coverage plans for auto, home, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance
• Tuition Assistance Program and ongoing professional development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Our Story

Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE: HWM), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a leading global provider of advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries. Our primary businesses focus on jet engine components, aerospace fastening systems, titanium structural parts and forged wheels. With $8.3 Billion in revenue in 2025, our products play a crucial role in enabling fuel efficiency and lightweighting, contributing to our customers’ success and making a positive impact on the world. To learn more about the way Howmet Aerospace Inc. is advancing the sustainability of our customers, markets, and communities where we operate, review the 2025 Environmental Social and Governance report at www.howmet.com/esg-report . Follow: LinkedIn , Twitter , Instagram , Facebook , and YouTube .

Equal Opportunity Employer

Howmet is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

If you need assistance to complete your application due to a disability, please email: [e-mail]

About The Team

The Howmet engines business produces world-class aerospace engine components, including investment castings, fasteners, rings and forgings. Our vacuum melted superalloys, machining, performance coatings and hot isostatic pressing for high performance parts enable the next generation of quieter, cleaner and more fuel-efficient aerospace engines. Able to supply more than 90% of structural and rotating aerospace engine components.