Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist

Xylem; Tualatin (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans

Dental plans

Vision plans

401(k) with company contribution

Paid time off

Paid parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Xylem is seeking a Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist to drive operational excellence across the site and deploy the Xylem Production System (XPS). You will partner with site leadership, functional teams, and frontline employees to eliminate waste, improve flow, increase productivity, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

As the site's Lean expert, you’ll lead strategic improvement initiatives, coach teams on Lean principles and problem-solving, and establish metrics to sustain

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Business, or related field.
• 5-8+ years in CI, Lean, or Operational Excellence.
• Proven Lean transformation experience in manufacturing.
• Strong expertise in VSM and Lean methodologies.
• Experience with MDI and standard work.
• Excellent coaching and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the deployment, sustainment, and continuous improvement of the Xylem Production System (XPS).
• Facilitate Value Stream Mapping (VSM) activities and improve end-to-end process flow.
• Plan Kaizen events and drive rapid problem solving to improve safety, quality, delivery, inventory, and cost.
• Coach leaders and teams on Lean principles, problem solving, and performance management.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Value Stream Mapping

Kaizen Facilitation

Root Cause Analysis

8-Step Problem Solving

Standard Work

Kanban

Pull Systems

PFEP

Visual Management

MDI

KPI Management

Stakeholder Management

Coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Advanced degree

Job description

Onsite

Tualatin, Oregon

Salem, Oregon

Vancouver, Washington

Full time

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions.

The Role

Xylem is seeking a Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist to serve as a key change agent responsible for driving operational excellence and deploying the Xylem Production System (XPS) across the site. This role is ideal for an experienced Lean leader who is passionate about transforming operations, developing people, and delivering measurable business results.

You’ll partner closely with site leadership, functional teams, and frontline employees to eliminate waste, improve flow, increase productivity, and build a culture of continuous improvement. As the site's Lean expert, you’ll lead strategic improvement initiatives while coaching teams on Lean principles, structured problem-solving, and operational excellence methodologies.

Drive Lean Transformation

• Lead the deployment, sustainment, and continuous improvement of the Xylem Production System (XPS).
• Facilitate Value Stream Mapping (VSM) activities to identify waste and improve end-to-end process flow.
• Implement Lean methodologies, including Continuous Flow Manufacturing, Pull Systems, Kanban, Standard Work, Visual Management, and Managing for Daily Improvement (MDI).
• Partner with site leadership to assess operational maturity and develop improvement roadmaps.

Lead Continuous Improvement Initiatives

• Plan and facilitate Kaizen events focused on breakthrough improvements and rapid problem-solving.
• Drive operational excellence initiatives that improve safety, quality, delivery, inventory, productivity, and cost performance.
• Establish metrics and reporting systems to measure the impact and sustainability of improvement efforts.
• Ensure continuous improvement projects achieve measurable business outcomes.

Coach and Develop Teams

• Train and mentor leaders, supervisors, engineers, and frontline employees on Lean principles and continuous improvement tools.
• Coach teams in structured problem-solving methodologies, including 8-Step Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis.
• Build internal capabilities and foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous learning.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to stakeholders across all levels of the organization.

Drive Sustainable Results

• Utilize data and KPI management systems to identify opportunities and drive performance improvements.
• Ensure corrective and preventive actions are effectively implemented and sustained.
• Promote standardization and best practice sharing across departments and value streams.
• Support behavioral and cultural transformation toward operational excellence.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Business, or a related field.
• 5-8+ years of experience in Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, or a related discipline.
• Proven success leading Lean transformations and driving sustainable operational improvements in manufacturing or industrial environments.
• Strong expertise in:
• Value Stream Mapping (VSM)
• Lean Manufacturing
• Kaizen Facilitation
• Root Cause Analysis
• 8-Step Problem Solving
• Standard Work
• Kanban and Pull Systems
• Plan for Every Part (PFEP)
• Visual Management
• Managing for Daily Improvement (MDI)
• KPI and Performance Management Systems
• Exceptional coaching, facilitation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to influence change without direct authority.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Advanced degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field.
• Experience deploying a business operating system or production system across a manufacturing site.
• Demonstrated success leading cultural and organizational transformation initiatives.

The estimated salary range for this position is $120K – $150K base plus bonus. Starting pay is dependent on multiple factors, such as skills, experience and work location, and is not typically at the top of the range.

At Xylem we offer a competitive compensation package with a generous benefit package, including Medical, Dental, Vision plans, 401(k) with company contribution, paid time off, paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement.

• Medical plans
• Dental plans
• Vision plans
• 401(k) with company contribution
• Paid time off
• Paid parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement

Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage, conservation, and re-use. Our products impact public utilities, industrial sectors, residential areas, and commercial buildings, with a commitment to providing smart metering, network technologies, and advanced analytics for water, electric, and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication; where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world.

At Xylem, you'll not only contribute to solving water issues but also have the chance to make a difference through our paid Volunteer Program, Xylem Watermark. We prioritize our employees' well-being through inclusion and belonging as well as our Employee Resource Groups (ERG). Proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (including disability and veterans) and Affinitive Action workplace, Xylem foster an inclusive environment free from discrimination or harassment.

Please note that the information in this job description outlines the general nature of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Xylem is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to enable all employees to perform their essential job functions. We reserve the right to modify this job description and assign additional duties as needed. Embrace the opportunity to be part of Xylem's transformative journey in shaping the future of water technology!

Inclusion and Belonging at Xylem

Inclusion and Belonging are fundamental to how we enable our customers to tackle global water challenges.