Continuous Improvement Director

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Director provides enterprise or multi-site leadership for establishing, deploying, and sustaining a comprehensive continuous improvement system across manufacturing operations. This role is accountable for driving measurable performance improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity while building internal capability and embedding a culture of operational excellence across the enterprise. This role leads the governance, standards, and execution of CI methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, problem solving) and partners closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Commercial, Finance and other business leaders to ensure improvement work is aligned with business strategy and delivers sustained results. The role focuses on making continuous improvement a repeatable operating discipline.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and deploy a structured CI strategy aligned with manufacturing and business objectives.
• Establish CI standards, operating rhythms, and governance models.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives targeting safety, COPQ, scrap, productivity, cost, service metrics such as OTIF, order to cash, as well as transactional improvements.
• Build CI capability through coaching, mentoring, and structured training within manufacturing and distribution sites along with other organizational functions.
• Embed CI into daily management systems and leader standard work.
• Standardize and deploy best practices across manufacturing and distributions sites.
• Partner cross-functionally to align improvement priorities with strategy.
• Masters CI methodology to influence organizational strategy and drive the adoption of CI principles across all functions and business areas.
• Modifies complex CI strategies to fit the unique needs of the organization, continuously refining processes and methodologies to maximize business impact.

Required Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree Specialized Degree: Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Business, or related field
• 12-14 Years Experience Field(s) of Expertise: Manufacturing or operations experience

Spans of Control:

Does this role manage Southwire team members: No

Travel Domestic - Up to 25% of time

Physical Requirements:

• Moving - 25% of time
• Standing - 25% of time
• Sitting - 50% of time

Working Conditions:

• Office Plant/Warehouse Floor Various Shifts
• Equipment Computer/Keyboard Safety Glasses Safety Shoes Safety Vest

Competencies:

• Action Oriented Balances Stakeholders Collaborates Customer Focus Nimble Learning Plans and Aligns Skills
• Continuous Improvement Process Critical Thinking Financial Acumen Influencing Skills Kaizen Methodology Lean Six Sigma Product Quality (QA/QC) Quality Control Strategic Planning Troubleshooting (Problem Solving)

Southwire is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.