Lead Continuous Improvement Analyst

AgFirst Farm Credit Bank; Columbia (SC); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

AgFirst Farm Credit Bank seeks a Lead Continuous Improvement Analyst to drive enterprise-wide productivity and operational excellence in a hybrid role based in Columbia, SC.

You will partner with executives, leaders, and staff to identify opportunities, lead cross-functional initiatives, build business cases, and realize cost savings, capacity, and quality gains while coaching belt levels and sustaining benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field is required.
• 7–9 years of experience in process improvement, operational excellence, or business transformation.
• Lean Six Sigma Certification (IASSC) is required.
• Strong executive facilitation, influence, and advisory communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise-wide improvement initiatives from charter through sustained results.
• Facilitate value stream mapping, rapid improvement events, and complex problem-solving sessions.
• Develop and validate business cases with expected financial, capacity, and customer outcomes.
• Measure and communicate realized benefits including cost reduction, capacity creation, and quality improvements.
• Coach and mentor employees, including Yellow and Green Belts, to strengthen enterprise capability.

Skills

Executive facilitation

Influence

Advisory communication

Coaching & mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, operations, engineering, analytics, or related field

Lean Six Sigma Certification - IASSC

Job description

Job Description

Lead Continuous Improvement Analyst (Hybrid - Columbia, SC)

The Lead Continuous Improvement Analyst serves as a recognized continuous improvement and operational excellence expert responsible for leading enterprise‑wide productivity, efficiency, and process improvement initiatives. They partner with executives, department leaders, and employees to prioritize and deliver high‑impact work that improves customer service, creates capacity, reduces operating expense, strengthens controls, and enhances organizational performance. The Lead provides informal leadership, coaching, and subject matter guidance without direct people‑management responsibility.

What You’ll Do

Enterprise Improvement Strategy and Prioritization

• Partner with executives and department leaders to identify, evaluate, and prioritize enterprise improvement opportunities.
• Translate strategic priorities and performance insights into a sequenced portfolio of high‑value initiatives.
• Develop business cases that define expected financial, capacity, service, risk, and customer outcomes.
• Recommend enterprise standards, governance, and methods for operational excellence.
• Support district‑wide improvement initiatives when business needs and priorities align.

Complex Initiative Leadership and Value Realization

• Lead enterprise and cross‑functional improvement initiatives from charter through sustained results.
• Facilitate value stream mapping, rapid improvement events, and complex problem‑solving sessions.
• Set project direction, clarify accountability, remove barriers, and influence decisions across functions.
• Measure, validate, and communicate realized benefits, including cost reduction, capacity creation, productivity, quality, and control improvements.
• Establish sustainment plans, ownership, and monitoring to protect long‑term results.

Expert Advisory and Capability Building

• Serve as the Bank’s primary subject matter resource for Lean Six Sigma and operational excellence.
• Advise senior leaders on complex process, productivity, and operating model challenges.
• Train, coach, and mentor employees and improvement practitioners, including Yellow and Green Belts.
• Develop practical standards, tools, and learning resources that strengthen enterprise capability.
• Promote a culture of data‑driven problem solving, accountability, and continuous learning.

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, operations, engineering, analytics, or related field; equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• 7-9 years of relevant experience in process improvement, operational excellence, business transformation, project delivery, operations, or a related discipline.
• Lean Six Sigma Certification-IASSC
• Lean Six Sigma, operational excellence, and enterprise process improvement.
• Enterprise project and portfolio leadership.
• Business cases, financial analysis, and benefits validation.
• Executive facilitation, influence, and advisory communication.
• Change leadership, risk, controls, and sustainment.

About Us

AgFirst Farm Credit Bank provides financing, as well as technology and other value‑added services, to association partners so they can lend to rural residents and agricultural operations of all sizes. We take pride in investing in our employees, our partners and our community.

Find out more on AgFirst.com , and follow us on LinkedIn !