Director of Continuous Improvement

Silgan Containers Mfg Corp; Brookfield Center (CT); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, prescription

Life insurance

Disability benefits

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development opportunities

Leadership opportunity

Job summary

Silgan Containers is seeking a Director of Continuous Improvement to establish and lead enterprise-wide CI from Brookfield, WI. This role will develop Lean training, lead the CI Steering Committee, and partner with plant and senior leaders to improve safety, quality, cost, throughput, and overall performance.

You will manage CI Specialists, drive a culture of disciplined problem solving, and deliver measurable, sustainable results across the manufacturing network.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience.
• Experience leading Lean implementation teams across a multi-plant manufacturing organization.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing Lean principles, systems, and processes that produce sustainable operational improvements.
• Hands-on experience applying CI tools in a high-speed manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading people and multiple cross-functional teams while managing concurrent projects, milestones, and deliverables.
• Strong problem-solving, project leadership, coaching, facilitation, and change management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with employees and leaders from the manufacturing floor through the executive level.
• Ability to travel approximately 30% to Silgan Containers manufacturing locations.

Responsibilities

• Build the CI systems, capabilities, and leadership routines that support a culture of continuous improvement across Silgan manufacturing locations.
• Establish and lead a CI organization focused on improving operations across a multi-plant network.
• Develop, implement, and track the organization's multi-year CI strategy and roadmap.
• Lead the Continuous Improvement Steering Committee and partner with senior management on CI priorities, progress, and results.
• Lead, coach, and develop CI Specialists who provide direct support to plants.
• Apply Lean methods including 5S, Visual Factory, TPM, Kaizen events, SMED, and Value Stream Mapping.
• Provide hands-on leadership for multiple concurrent improvement projects through disciplined execution.
• Advance Silgan's operational excellence system with stronger process discipline and standard work.
• Identify and deliver cost savings, throughput improvements, waste reduction, and process optimization opportunities.
• Develop dashboards, tracking tools, reporting processes, and governance to measure progress against CI goals.
• Create and manage Lean training materials and support capability building across the organization.
• Communicate CI performance, project status, risks, and results to plant leaders and senior management.
• Travel to manufacturing sites to lead CI activities, approx. 30%.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Continuous Improvement

Operational excellence

Six Sigma

Project leadership

Change management

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Education

Lean Six Sigma certification

Job description

Lean Manufacturing | Operational Excellence | Multi-Plant CI Leadership | Brookfield, Wisconsin

Build your career in an essential industry with lasting demand. At Silgan, we manufacture the food packaging that consumers rely on every day, providing long-term opportunities for growth.

Are you a continuous improvement leader ready to shape operational excellence across a multi-plant manufacturing network?

Silgan Containers is seeking a Director of Continuous Improvement to establish and lead our Continuous Improvement function from Brookfield, WI. This highly visible role will develop enterprise-wide CI strategy, strengthen Lean manufacturing capabilities, and partner with plant and senior leaders to improve safety, quality, cost, throughput, and operational performance.

You will lead Continuous Improvement Specialists, guide the Continuous Improvement Steering Committee, develop Lean training and management systems, and help manufacturing teams convert improvement opportunities into measurable, sustainable results.

This opportunity may be a strong fit for professionals with experience as a Director of Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence Director, Lean Manufacturing Director, CI Leader, Lean Six Sigma Leader, Manufacturing Excellence Director, or Multi-Plant Operations Improvement Leader.

What We Offer

• Salary based on experience, education, skills, market conditions, and location.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage, life insurance, and disability benefits.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Paid vacation and holidays.
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities.
• Enterprise-level leadership opportunity within one of North America’s largest metal food packaging manufacturers.
• Collaborative, inclusive workplace focused on innovation, continuous improvement, employee development, and operational excellence.

What You'll Do

• As Director of Continuous Improvement, you will build the systems, capabilities, and leadership routines that support a consistent culture of continuous improvement across Silgan Containers manufacturing locations.
• Establish and lead a Continuous Improvement organization focused on improving manufacturing operations across a multi-plant network.
• Develop, implement, and track the organization's multi-year Continuous Improvement strategy and roadmap.
• Lead the Continuous Improvement Steering Committee and partner with senior management and plant leadership on CI priorities, progress, and results.
• Lead, coach, and develop Continuous Improvement Specialists who provide direct support to manufacturing plants.
• Apply Lean manufacturing methods including 5S and Visual Factory, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Kaizen events, Quick Changeover and SMED, and Value Stream Mapping.
• Provide hands‑on leadership for multiple concurrent improvement projects through structured problem solving, facilitation, and disciplined execution.
• Advance the Silgan Containers operational excellence system by strengthening process discipline, standard work, and adoption of CI tools.
• Partner with manufacturing teams to identify and deliver cost savings, production throughput improvements, waste reduction, and process optimization opportunities.
• Develop and maintain dashboards, tracking tools, reporting processes, and governance routines to measure plant and department progress against CI goals.
• Create and manage Lean training materials specific to Silgan Containers and support capability building across the manufacturing organization.
• Communicate CI performance, project status, risks, & results to plant leaders and senior management.
• Travel to manufacturing sites to lead and support CI activities, approximately 30%.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience, including responsibility for Lean manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, operational excellence, or Six Sigma initiatives.
• Experience leading Lean implementation teams or Continuous Improvement programs across a multi-plant manufacturing organization.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing Lean principles, systems, and processes that produce sustainable operational improvements.
• Hands‑on experience applying CI tools in a high-speed manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading people and multiple cross‑functional teams while managing concurrent projects, milestones, and deliverables.
• Strong problem‑solving, project leadership, coaching, facilitation, and change management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with employees and leaders from the manufacturing floor through the executive level.
• Ability to travel approximately 30% to Silgan Containers manufacturing locations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building a CI or operational excellence function, governance model, training program, and performance tracking system.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or comparable expertise in structured problem solving and process improvement.
• Experience improving production throughput, changeover performance, equipment reliability, cost, and plant operating results.

Why Join Silgan?

Silgan Containers is North America’s largest metal food packaging producer and a recognized advisor in sustainable packaging innovation. We continuously invest in operational excellence, technology, and our employees to build a stronger future for our customers and communities. At Silgan, you will have the opportunity to shape enterprise‑wide Continuous Improvement strategy, develop manufacturing talent, and build scalable systems that strengthen performance across our manufacturing footprint.

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job‑related instructions and to perform other job‑related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws. Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an “at‑will” basis. Silgan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, or the presence of a disability, which would not prevent the performance of essential job duties with, or without reasonable accommodation of any other protective status. Silgan is a drug‑free workplace. This page is specific to Silgan Containers, Silgan Closures, Silgan Plastics, Silgan Plastics Food Containers and Silgan Specialty packaging.