Site Continuous Improvement Lead

Relate Search; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Relate Search has partnered with a large food manufacturing organization to confidentially search for a Continuous Improvement Lead to support its Waukesha facility.

This role blends analytics with hands-on shop floor collaboration to identify losses, optimize processes, and sustain gains through Lean, Six Sigma, and standard work. You will partner with plant leadership and operations teams to drive measurable improvements.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of Lean experience in manufacturing or a related field.
• Experience leading Kaizen workshops and activities around 5S, Standard Work, visual management, daily management, SMED and OEE gap closure.
• Proven ability to drive Continuous Improvement initiatives with measurable savings or improvements.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret production data and translate findings into opportunities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to lead cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead, execute, sustain, and standardize process improvement initiatives including Kaizen events and standard work.
• Analyze production data to identify losses and prioritize improvement opportunities.
• Partner with plant leadership to build a pipeline of CI and cost-saving projects.
• Coach leaders on Lean principles and sustainable process improvement.
• Develop and coordinate training around Lean and Six Sigma techniques.
• Utilize statistics, downtime tracking, and project planning to measure gains.
• Collaborate with Area Manager to align CI activities with area priorities.

Skills

Lean

Six Sigma

Data analysis

Cross-functional leadership

Problem solving

Communication

On-site collaboration

Training and coaching

Kaizen events

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Business

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Word

Job description

Relate Search has partnered with a large food manufacturing organization in its confidential search for a Continuous Improvement Lead to support its manufacturing facility in Waukesha. This individual will owner continuous improvement activities using production data, Lean methodologies, and hands-on collaboration with plant leadership and operations teams to identify losses, improve processes, and sustain measurable gains.

The opportunity is well suited for a Continuous Improvement or Operational Excellence professional who enjoys balancing analytics with time on the production floor. This person will serve as a subject matter expert around centerlines and Standard Work, lead root-cause problem solving around chronic losses, and help build a stronger Lean culture across the operation.

Responsibilities

• Lead, execute, sustain, and standardize process improvement initiatives, including focused improvement projects, Kaizen events, Standard Work, and centerline development.
• Analyze production and line data to identify losses, prioritize improvement opportunities, and support root-cause problem solving around recurring operational issues.
• Partner with plant leadership and cross-functional teams to build and prioritize a pipeline of Continuous Improvement and cost-savings projects.
• Coach plant leaders and operations teams on Lean principles, Continuous Improvement practices, and sustainable process improvement.
• Help develop and coordinate training around Lean and Six Sigma manufacturing techniques.
• Use tools including statistics, downtime tracking, mechanical history, project planning, and production data to identify opportunities and measure improvement.
• Work closely with the Area Manager and Operational Excellence leadership to align improvement activity with the needs and priorities of the assigned area.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of Lean experience within a manufacturing environment OR a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Experience leading Kaizen workshops and improvement activity involving 5S, Standard Work, visual management, daily management, SMED, and OEE gap closure.
• Demonstrated ability to lead Continuous Improvement initiatives and deliver measurable cost-savings or operational improvements.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret manufacturing data, identify patterns, and translate findings into practical improvement opportunities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to lead cross-functional teams, coach others, and influence within a matrixed manufacturing environment.
• Ability to quickly understand complex production processes and work collaboratively with plant teams to identify and implement improvements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Project, and Word.
• Ability to travel up to 10%.
• Lean Six Sigma certification preferred.
• Food manufacturing experience preferred.
• Maintenance, engineering, QA, or QS experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Business preferred.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits begin on day one.
• Opportunity to take ownership of Continuous Improvement within a complex manufacturing environment.
• High-visibility role partnering directly with plant leadership and frontline operations teams.
• Opportunity to lead improvement work across production processes, Standard Work, centerlines, equipment performance, and operational efficiency.
• Candidates must be locally based, as relocation assistance is not available for this position.
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.

About Relate Search

Relate Search is a Woman, Minority, and LGBTQIA+ owned executive and professional search firm dedicated to connecting top talent with meaningful opportunity. With deep expertise across Supply Chain & Operations, Technology, Sales & Marketing, Human Resources, and Accounting & Finance, we deliver customized, people-first recruiting solutions that drive lasting impact.

Equal Opportunity & Diversity Statement

Relate Search is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and are committed to building inclusive teams where everyone belongs. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.