Continuous Improvement Manager
On-siteChandler, Arizona, United States
Job Summary
Coach VSS service line leaders on continuous improvement principles, delivering training on value stream mapping, root cause analysis, and performance management while co-facilitating Kaizen events to enable independent leadership. Personally lead high-impact improvement projects addressing systemic client-facing challenges, guiding teams through DMAIC exercises and the creation of detailed process maps to visualize workflows and eliminate waste. Partner with senior leadership to develop the long-term CI maturity roadmap, facilitate cross-functional workshops to secure buy-in, and implement a tiered daily huddle system. Design a standardized problem escalation framework, establish meaningful KPIs, and manage a strategic improvement project portfolio to quantify aggregate value delivered.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field
- 5+ years of dedicated experience in a continuous improvement, process excellence, or similar role
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification or equivalent demonstrated expertise in advanced CI methodologies (DMAIC, VSM, Kaizen, RCA)
- Proven experience coaching and mentoring leaders and teams to build their own continuous improvement capabilities
- Demonstrated success leading cross-functional improvement initiatives by influencing stakeholders at all levels without formal authority
- Expert-level facilitation skills with extensive experience leading workshops, value stream mapping sessions, and Kaizen events
- Proficiency in process mapping software (e.g., Microsoft Visio) and data analysis/visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau)
- Familiarity with AI and automation tools (e.g., process mining, workflow automation, or generative AI) and the ability to identify where they can eliminate manual effort and accelerate improvement work
Desired Qualifications
- Master's Degree in a related field (MBA, Operations Management, etc.)
- Experience implementing a lean daily management system (tiered huddles) in an organization with low initial maturity
- Formal training or certification in change management methodologies (e.g., Prosci)
- Experience applying CI principles in a client-facing B2B service industry
- Experience supporting process integration and standardization efforts following a merger or acquisition
- Familiarity with project management software such as Asana for tracking improvement portfolios
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