Snr CI Manager

Tenneco; Northville (MI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Tenneco Inc. seeks a Global CI Director to lead continuous improvement strategy across manufacturing sites, driving P3 initiatives and aligning operations with financial goals. You will champion Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem solving while building CI capabilities across regions.

Responsible for standardizing best practices, coaching teams, and partnering with senior leadership to accelerate execution, safety, quality, and productivity improvements across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, operations, engineering, or a related field required.
• MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, lean, and/or manufacturing operations.
• Strong knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, Kaizen, Standard Work, A3, 8D, and other structured improvement methodologies.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional improvement initiatives across complex, multi-site operations.
• Strong business and operational acumen, with the ability to connect process improvements to financial performance.
• Experience building CI systems, governance, metrics, and capability across regions or multiple facilities.
• Proven leadership ability in coaching teams, driving accountability, and leading organizational change.
• Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to work effectively in a matrixed global organization.
• Experience in manufacturing, operations, supply chain, or similarly complex industrial environments preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications required.

Responsibilities

• Lead global continuous improvement strategy and execution across manufacturing and operational sites.
• Lead and align P3 initiatives across plants to support consistent deployment, execution discipline, and operational performance.
• Lead manufacturing transformation projects.
• Drive operational excellence initiatives that improve productivity, reduce waste, and strengthen financial performance.
• Ensure continuous improvement systems, tools, and standard processes are deployed consistently across the organization.
• Partner with senior leadership to align CI priorities, resources, and execution plans with business objectives.
• Lead cross-functional improvement efforts focused on safety, quality, cost, delivery, inventory, and throughput performance.
• Identify process gaps, performance losses, and operational inefficiencies, then translate findings into clear corrective actions and implementation plans.
• Champion Lean, Six Sigma, value stream, and structured problem-solving methodologies to deliver sustainable results.
• Establish, monitor, and communicate key CI metrics, reviews, and performance reporting.
• Lead CI capability building through training, assessments, coaching, and development of continuous improvement resources.
• Ensure plant-level certification requirements are established, tracked, and sustained to reinforce standard work, capability, and continuous improvement maturity.
• Support plant, regional, and global teams in driving standardization, best-practice sharing, and execution discipline.
• Participate in long-range operational planning, including footprint, expansion, and consolidation activities that improve cost and performance.
• Develop resource plans, budgets, and strategic plans for areas of responsibility.
• Lead, coach, and develop direct reports while strengthening succession planning and team capability.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, governance requirements, and applicable laws and regulations

Skills

Lean

Six Sigma

Kaizen

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic planning

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business or engineering

MBA preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

At Tenneco, we don’t follow industry standards; we set them, and we don’t settle for being best-in-class because we hustle to be better than best-in-class. Whether it’s our Core Values – radical candor, simplify, organizational velocity, tenacious execution and win – or our Get Stuff Done (GSD) mindset, we’re determined to become the most trusted partner and best manufacturer and distributor to the transportation industry.

With a product portfolio as expansive as it is innovative, an obsessive commitment to quality and excellence, and a global presence, we’re all about getting stuff done, so we can win.

How do we make it happen?Through the Tenneco Way. Fueled by our Core Values, a winning mindset and a relentless commitment to excellence, the Tenneco Way is how we win. It’s what keeps Team Tenneco bold, driven, and unapologetically focused on pushing past limits and redefining success.

Here, you’ll work alongside a team of relentless problem-solvers who are committed to making a tangible impact. If you’re ready to break boundaries, deliver results, and enjoy the ride along the way, you’ll thrive here.

At Tenneco, we don’t follow industry standards; we set them, and we don’t settle for being best-in-class because we hustle to be better than best-in-class. Whether it’s our Core Values–radical candor, simplify, organizational velocity, tenacious execution and win–or our Get Stuff Done (GSD) mindset, we’re determined to become the most trusted partner and best manufacturer and distributor to the transportation industry.

How do we make it happen?Through the Tenneco Way. Fueled by our Core Values, a winning mindset and a relentless commitment to excellence, the Tenneco Way is how we win. It’s what keeps Team Tenneco bold, driven, and unapologetically focused on pushing past limits and redefining success.

Here, you’ll work alongside a team of relentless problem-solvers who are committed to making a tangible impact. If you’re ready to break boundaries, deliver results, and enjoy the ride along the way, you’ll thrive here.

The Global CI Director leads continuous improvement strategy and execution across NVH operations to strengthen operational excellence, standardization, and financial performance. This role is responsible for driving the elimination of non-value-added activity, embedding consistent business system practices, and building a sustainable culture of continuous improvement across multiple sites and regions. The position partners closely with operations and functional leaders to align continuous improvement priorities with business goals, accelerate execution, and deliver measurable results in safety, quality, cost, delivery, and productivity. The position also leads and aligns P3 initiatives across plant operations while ensuring plant-level certification, standardization, and sustainability of continuous improvement practices. This role reports directly to the Snr. Director Operations, Manufacturing.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead global continuous improvement strategy and execution across manufacturing and operational sites
• Lead and align P3 initiatives across plants to support consistent deployment, execution discipline, and operational performance
• Lead manufacturing transformation projects
• Drive operational excellence initiatives that improve productivity, reduce waste, and strengthen financial performance
• Ensure continuous improvement systems, tools, and standard processes are deployed consistently across the organization
• Partner with senior leadership to align CI priorities, resources, and execution plans with business objectives
• Lead cross-functional improvement efforts focused on safety, quality, cost, delivery, inventory, and throughput performance
• Identify process gaps, performance losses, and operational inefficiencies, then translate findings into clear corrective actions and implementation plans
• Champion Lean, Six Sigma, value stream, and structured problem-solving methodologies to deliver sustainable results
• Establish, monitor, and communicate key CI metrics, reviews, and performance reporting
• Lead CI capability building through training, assessments, coaching, and development of continuous improvement resources
• Ensure plant-level certification requirements are established, tracked, and sustained to reinforce standard work, capability, and continuous improvement maturity
• Support plant, regional, and global teams in driving standardization, best-practice sharing, and execution discipline
• Participate in long-range operational planning, including footprint, expansion, and consolidation activities that improve cost and performance
• Develop resource plans, budgets, and strategic plans for areas of responsibility
• Lead, coach, and develop direct reports while strengthening succession planning and team capability
• Ensure compliance with company policies, governance requirements, and applicable laws and regulations

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in business, operations, engineering, or a related field required
• MBA preferred
• 10+ years of progressive experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, lean, and/or manufacturing operations
• Strong knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, Kaizen, Standard Work, A3, 8D, and other structured improvement methodologies
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional improvement initiatives across complex, multi-site operations
• Strong business and operational acumen, with the ability to connect process improvements to financial performance
• Experience building CI systems, governance, metrics, and capability across regions or multiple facilities
• Proven leadership ability in coaching teams, driving accountability, and leading organizational change
• Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to work effectively in a matrixed global organization
• Experience in manufacturing, operations, supply chain, or similarly complex industrial environments preferred
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications required

Travel Requirements:

• Up to 30-40%

We don’t want average. We want exceptional. We want someone who’s hungry to build, unafraid to challenge, and bold enough to lead with empathy, speed, and precision. Sound like you? Let us know.

Equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities