Continuous Improvement Engineering Manager

Job Description

IEM is currently seeking a Continuous Improvement Engineering Manager for our Jacksonville, FL. This role will lead site-based continuous improvement activities, focusing on kaizen event facilitation, lean training, and driving implementation of standard work. The CI Manager will partner closely with operations and engineering to improve productivity, quality, and flow using lean tools.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate kaizen events (labor productivity, layout, material flow, etc.)
• Develop and deploy standard work across production and support areas
• Train and coach operators, supervisors, and engineers on lean fundamentals
• Support site-level strategy deployment and KPI management systems
• Sustain improvements through layered process audits and tiered accountability
• Analyze process performance and identify opportunities for improvement

Ideal Candidate Profile

Lean Manufacturing Expertise

• Deep hands-on experience applying lean tools (standard work, takt time, value stream mapping, problem-solving, etc.)
• Proven ability to implement lean systems in high-mix, low-volume or complex manufacturing environments

Kaizen Leadership

• Led numerous formal kaizen events (5-10+ per year ideally)
• Skilled in pre-event planning, team facilitation, event execution, and post-event sustainment
• Trained in or has led training in standard work development and implementation

Strategy Deployment / Hoshin Kanri Experience

• Demonstrated capability in translating company-level priorities into actionable functional goals
• Has experience facilitating X-matrix, catchball, and tiered management systems

Academy Company Background

• Worked in a structured continuous improvement environment (e.g., Danaher, Parker Hannifin, Crane, Fortive, Illinois Tool Works, etc.)
• Exposure to formal operating systems and cadence-based management practices

Strong Change Management and Coaching Skills

• Able to coach operators, supervisors, and executives on lean behaviors and systems
• Experience with resistance management and organizational transformation

Results-Oriented and Metrics-Driven

• Has delivered measurable performance improvements (e.g., labor productivity, inventory turns, lead time, quality)

Cultural Fit for Fast-Paced, High-Growth PE Environment

• Comfortable working with urgency, ambiguity, and high accountability
• Flexible and pragmatic with strong bias for action

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, or a related field
• Experience: 7-10+ years of experience in manufacturing or operational excellence roles
• Kaizen Events: Experience planning and leading cross-functional kaizen events
• Lean Tools: Strong working knowledge of lean tools: standard work, VSM, 5S, problem-solving
• Career Ambition: Demonstrated career ambition with a track record of growth and increasing responsibility; highly promotable with the potential to take on broader leadership roles within a fast-paced, high-growth organization
• Hands-on Experience: Prior experience implementing lean in a hands-on, shop-floor setting
• Skills: Excellent facilitation and coaching skills