Senior Continuous Improvement Manager

AAON, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 128,000 - 192,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time-off

Paid holidays

Health insurance & Health Savings

Profit sharing / Annual Incentive Plan

Bonus premium

401(k) plan

Job summary

AAON, Inc. is seeking a Senior Continuous Improvement Manager to lead enterprise-wide improvement initiatives across multiple sites.

You will partner with operations leadership to embed structured methods, drive waste reduction, and improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance. In this role you will coach leaders and frontline teams in continuous improvement, standard work, and problem-solving techniques; hire and develop direct reports; and communicate progress to senior leadership

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, business, or related discipline.
• 8+ years manufacturing or operations experience with 5+ years in CI initiatives.
• Experience with multi-site operations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead deployment of continuous improvement strategies across sites.
• Partner with site leadership to identify performance gaps and implement structured improvement plans.
• Facilitate improvement events to improve safety, quality, delivery and cost.
• Coach leaders and frontline teams in CI principles and problem-solving.
• Drive a culture of accountability and continuous improvement across sites.
• Hire, train, coach and evaluate performance of direct reports.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Continuous improvement

Lean manufacturing

Data analysis

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

Change management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering/operations/business

Job description

Job Description: The Senior Continuous Improvement Manager leads enterprise-wide continuous improvement efforts to enhance operational performance, quality, and efficiency across multiple sites. This role partners with operations leadership and cross-functional teams to embed structured improvement methods and foster a culture of accountability and excellence. The position supports organizational objectives by driving waste reduction, improving process stability, and strengthening problem‑solving capabilities. The Senior Continuous Improvement Manager serves as a change leader and coach, ensuring sustainable improvement and measurable business results.

Primary Duties

Primary duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Leads the deployment of continuous improvement strategies aligned with organizational and operational excellence objectives.
• Partners with operations leadership and site teams to identify performance gaps and implement structured improvement plans.
• Facilitates improvement activities, including workshops, process reviews, and hands‑on improvement events, to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
• Coaches leaders and frontline teams in continuous improvement principles, standard work, and problem‑solving methodologies.
• Drives a culture of workplace observation and accountability by identifying process deviations and supporting corrective action plans.
• Identifies and delivers cost reduction and productivity improvement opportunities while ensuring compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Analyzes operational data and performance metrics to track progress and communicate results to leadership.
• Serves as a change agent by promoting employee engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement behaviors across sites.
• Hires, trains, coaches, counsels, and evaluates performance of direct reports.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, business, or a related discipline; 8+ years of experience in manufacturing or operations environments, including 5+ years leading or supporting continuous improvement initiatives, or any combination of education and experience, which would provide an equivalent background.
• Experience supporting multi‑site operations is preferred.
• Experience within durable goods manufacturing or related industries is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong working knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies and operational excellence principles.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence cross‑functional teams without direct authority.
• Advanced analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Solid understanding of operational performance metrics, business planning, and cost drivers.
• Effective project management skills with a strong focus on execution and sustainability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage all levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to support change management and build credibility through collaboration and coaching.

Essential Mental and Physical Functions

• Ability to think strategically and make decisions in a fast‑paced, results‑driven environment.
• Ability to analyze complex information and develop practical improvement strategies.
• Frequent interaction with leaders, supervisors, and frontline employees.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during site and production area visits.
• Ability to lift and carry objects weighing up to 20 pounds as required.
• Ability to travel periodically, including overnight travel, to support site‑level improvement efforts.

Work Environment

Work is performed in a professional office environment with regular visits to manufacturing or operational facilities. Exposure to varying temperatures, noise levels, moving mechanical parts, and industrial equipment during site visits. Required adherence to all safety policies and procedures while present in operational environments. Regular collaboration with cross‑functional teams in both office and production settings. Use of appropriate personal protective equipment as required during facility visits.

Benefits and Compensation Summary

We take care of our people. We offer competitive compensation and robust benefits to all full‑time team members, including:

• Tuition reimbursement
• Paid time‑off
• Paid holidays
• Healthcare insurance & Health Savings Accounts
• Profit sharing or Annual Incentive Plan
• Bonus Premium
• 401(k) plan

Pay Range: $128,051.00 - $192,076.00

At AAON and BASX, we’re driven by a shared commitment to innovation, performance, and sustainability. Since 1988, AAON has been at the forefront of the HVAC industry, delivering cutting‑edge solutions for commercial and industrial indoor environments. Since joining forces with AAON in 2021, BASX has built on that foundation with highly engineered, custom solutions for critical environments—including cleanrooms, data centers, and laboratories—where precision and reliability matter most. Together, we design and manufacture highly configurable systems tailored to each application, ensuring our customers achieve exceptional efficiency, performance, and long‑term value.

Join us in shaping smarter, more sustainable environments for the future.