Director of Continuous Improvement

Cadrex Manufacturing Solutions; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/dental/vision coverage

Employer-paid life insurance

Short- and long-term disability

Generous paid time off and holiday pay

Monthly remote work stipend

401(k) with employer match

Education support program

Safety eyeglasses/shoe reimbursement

Referral bonuses

Bonus plan for all full-time employees

Job summary

CADREX Manufacturing Solutions is seeking a Director of Continuous Improvement to lead a company-wide program for Lean, Six Sigma, and other methodologies to boost productivity and quality. You will build and mentor a CI team, train staff across levels, and align initiatives with strategic goals.

The role entails driving waste reduction, improving processes, and delivering multiple projects within scope, budget, and schedule, while reporting to executive leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Master’s degree is preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification is required; Master Black Belt is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a company-wide continuous improvement strategy to enhance operational performance.
• Align continuous improvement initiatives with organizational goals and business objectives.
• Lead the implementation of Lean, Six Sigma, and other methodologies to improve manufacturing processes and eliminate inefficiencies.
• Drive initiatives to reduce waste, increase productivity, and improve product quality.
• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing continuous improvement team.
• Train employees at all levels in Lean principles, Six Sigma tools, and other process improvement techniques.
• Oversee and manage multiple continuous improvement projects, ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery.
• Develop and monitor KPIs to measure the impact of improvement initiatives.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Leadership

Data analysis

Change management

Communication

Strategic thinking

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

ERP systems

Job description

OVERVIEW

Director of Continuous Improvement is a senior leadership role responsible for developing and driving a culture of operational excellence within the manufacturing organization. This individual leads the implementation of Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies to enhance productivity, reduce waste, and improve overall efficiency and quality. The Director collaborates with cross‑functional teams to identify opportunities for improvement, develop strategies, and execute initiatives that align with the company’s strategic goals.

Job Type

Full-time

Description

Director of Continuous Improvement is a senior leadership role responsible for developing and driving a culture of operational excellence within the manufacturing organization. This individual leads the implementation of Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies to enhance productivity, reduce waste, and improve overall efficiency and quality. The Director collaborates with cross‑functional teams to identify opportunities for improvement, develop strategies, and execute initiatives that align with the company’s strategic goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a company‑wide continuous improvement strategy to enhance operational performance
• Align continuous improvement initiatives with organizational goals and business objectives
• Lead the implementation of Lean, Six Sigma, and other methodologies to improve manufacturing processes and eliminate inefficiencies
• Drive initiatives to reduce waste, increase productivity, and improve product quality
• Build, lead, and mentor a high‑performing continuous improvement team
• Train employees at all levels in Lean principles, Six Sigma tools, and other process improvement techniques
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and operational excellence
• Oversee and manage multiple continuous improvement projects simultaneously, ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of improvement initiatives
• Partner with operations, engineering, quality, and supply chain teams to identify opportunities for improvement and implement solutions
• Act as a change agent to promote collaboration and alignment across departments
• Analyze operational data to identify trends, measure progress, and drive decision‑making
• Provide regular updates and reports to executive leadership on the status of improvement initiatives and their impact
• Stay current with industry trends and best practices in manufacturing and process improvement
• Introduce innovative solutions to enhance operational excellence and maintain a competitive edge
• Ensure all improvement activities comply with safety, quality, and regulatory standards
• Promote a safe working environment through continuous risk assessments and process improvements

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, with at least 5 years in a leadership role focused on continuous improvement preferred
• Proven track record of successfully implementing Lean, Six Sigma, or other operational excellence programs
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification required; Master Black Belt is a plus
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a plus
• Deep understanding of Lean principles, Six Sigma methodologies, and other process improvement tools
• Exceptional leadership, coaching, and team‑building skills
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities with proficiency in data analysis tools
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and drive change at all levels of the organization
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, ERP systems, and data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau)

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field
• Master’s degree is preferred

LOCATION

• Remote

SCHEDULE

• M-F

CADREX’S CORE VALUES

• Safety first, rising to the challenge, collaboration, accountability, and doing the right thing

Total Compensation Includes

• Health/dental/vision coverage
• Employer-paid and supplemental life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Generous paid time off and holiday pay
• Monthly remote work stipend (for remote employees who qualify)
• 401(k) investment plan, with an employer match of up to 4%
• Education support program
• Safety eyeglasses/shoe reimbursement
• Referral bonuses
• Bonus plan for all full‑time employees

About Us

CADREX Manufacturing Solutions is a leading provider of complex sheet metal and machined production parts, assemblies, and weldments for a variety of end markets, including electrical transmission and distribution, warehouse automation, technology, aerospace & defense, medical, food, and industrials. With locations in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Washington, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Monterrey Mexico, CADREX offers numerous in‑house manufacturing capabilities, including laser cutting, sheet metal fabrication, complex assembly, CNC punching, CNC machining, forming, robotic welding, stamping, fastener insertion, and tool and die manufacturing, to effectively serve customers with lights‑out manufacturing capabilities for mid- to high-volume production. For more information, visit www.cadrex.com.

Cadrex provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Salary Description

$180k - $230k