Plant Continuous Improvement Leader

8974 DuPont Specialty Products USA, LLC; Valley View (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

DuPont Valley View, Ohio seeks a Plant Continuous Improvement Leader to deploy and sustain the OpEx system, coach teams, and drive Kaizen and value stream improvements at the Valley View site. You will partner with site leadership to improve SQDIP results and operational maturity, with up to 20% travel.

The role requires Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, and data-based problem solving expertise, plus strong communication and leadership abilities to guide cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Business, or related field.
• Clear verbal and written communication that connects people to purpose.
• Relevant experience in manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, operations, or Operational Excellence.
• Lean Practitioner certification preferred.
• Green Belt certification preferred.
• Ability to coach, teach, mentor, and facilitate practical learning.
• Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, Daily Management, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, SMED, and structured problem solving.
• Manufacturing site leadership.
• Experience with project benefits tracking and digital/Industry4.0 improvement approaches.
• Availability for travel up to 20%.

Responsibilities

• Operational Excellence Deployment: partner with plant leadership to identify performance gaps and priorities.
• Build and execute the plant OpEx roadmap aligned with site and business objectives.
• Deploy and sustain the DuPont OpEx framework and playbooks.
• Daily Management & Performance Systems: coach leaders and teams on visual management, accountability, Leader Standard Work, and action tracking.
• Use performance data to identify losses, bottlenecks, and gaps.
• Lead Kaizen events and value stream improvement activities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to prioritize Kaizen funnel and sustainment.
• Coach projects from problem definition through implementation and financial validation using Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, and data-based methods.
• Lead or support PMO activities, tracking milestones and benefits.

Skills

Lean

Six Sigma

Kaizen

Daily Management

Value Stream Mapping

Problem Solving

Coaching

Agile

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Operations/Manufacturing

Lean Practitioner certification

Green Belt certification

Job description

At DuPont, our purpose is to empower the world with essential innovations to thrive. We work on things that matter. Whether it’s providing clean water to more than a billion people on the planet, producing materials that are essential in everyday technology devices from smartphones to electric vehicles, or protecting workers around the world. Discover the many reasons the world’s most talented people are choosing to work at DuPont. Why Join Us | DuPont Careers We are seeking a Plant Continuous Improvement Leader at Valley View, Ohio site. This role will work with a diverse team to support the manufacturing of Vespel® Polyimide Resins. The Plant Continuous Improvement (CI) Leader improves plant performance by deploying and sustaining the DuPont Operational Excellence System. The role partners with plant leadership, front‑line teams, and Business OpEx resources to improve SQDIP results through Daily Management, structured problem solving, Kaizen, value stream improvement, and capability building. The CI Leader serves as the local OpEx practitioner and change leader, coaching employees and leaders, facilitating improvement work (including sustainment activities), and connecting site priorities to the broader CI network and digital / Industry4.0 opportunities.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Operational Excellence Deployment Partner with plant leadership to identify performance gaps and priorities linked to SQDIP, margin, EBITDA, and operational maturity.
• Build and execute the plant OpEx roadmap aligned with site and business objectives.
• Deploy and sustain the DuPont OpEx framework and business system using defined playbooks, roles, and routines.
• Daily Management & Performance Systems Coach leaders and teams on Daily Visual Management, Bowler / tiered accountability, Leader Standard Work, action tracking, and escalation.
• Use performance data to identify losses, bottlenecks, waste, and execution gaps.
• Continuous Improvement & Kaizen Lead Kaizen events, focused improvement workshops, value stream improvement, and waste elimination activities.
• Collaborating with cross‑functional teams build/maintain/prioritize Kaizen funnel and sustainment processes.
• Coach projects from problem definition through implementation, sustainment, and financial validation using Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, and data‑based problem solving.
• Program Management & Benefits Validation Lead or support the plant Project Management Office (PMO), including opportunity pipeline, decision cadence, milestone tracking, and benefit validation.
• Partner across functions / plants to define charters, benefits, scope, resources, timelines, and project plans.
• Capability Building & Best Practice Sharing Build site capability through coaching, workshops, OpEx Academy learning, and hands‑on application of tools such as 5S, SMED, VSM, Kaizen, and problem solving.
• Share lessons learned and leverage the CI network to accelerate adoption of proven practices.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Business, Information Technologies, or related field.
• Clear verbal and written communication that connects people to purpose.
• Relevant experience in manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, operations, or Operational Excellence experience.
• Lean Practitioner / Continuous Improvement certification preferred.
• Green Belt certification preferred.
• Ability to coach, teach, mentor, and facilitate practical learning.
• Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, Daily Management, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, SMED, and structured problem solving.
• Manufacturing site leadership.
• Experience with project benefits tracking, and digital / Industry4.0 improvement approaches.
• Availability for travel up to 20% of the time.

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DuPont is an equal opportunity employer.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or any other protected class.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to search or apply for a position, please visit our Accessibility Page for Contact Information.

DuPont offers a comprehensive pay and benefits package.

To learn more visit the Compensation and Benefits page.

For additional information on our unbridled commitment to deliver essential innovations that enrich people’s lives, enable sustainable development and foster human potential for generations to come, please access the following link to better understand & appreciate. Together, we’re turning possibilities into real world answers that help humanity prosper!

DuPont is an equal opportunity employer.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or any other protected class.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to search or apply for a position, please visit our Accessibility Page for Contact Information.