Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager

Company Name: ASTEMO AMERICAS, INC. Job Family: Manufacturing & Operations Job Description: Champion Astemo's Operational Excellence System (OES) by training, coaching, and implementing key fundamentals across all functions. Own the site's OES roadmap, maturity progression, audit readiness, and improvement action plans. Develop and sustain a culture of continuous improvement through coaching, employee engagement, and leadership development. Drive measurable improvements in Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People (SQDCP) performance through structured improvement initiatives. Establish and maintain governance processes to ensure continuous improvement activities are aligned with site and organizational objectives. Lead the planning, facilitation, and execution of Kaizen events, productivity workshops, value stream mapping activities, and other improvement initiatives. Identify, prioritize, and implement opportunities that improve productivity, capacity, quality, efficiency, and cost performance. Quantify, track, and report savings and business impact generated through continuous improvement initiatives. Lead the site's continuous improvement project pipeline and ensure timely execution of action plans. Oversee and manage the employee improvement suggestion system while promoting workforce engagement and participation. Support annual productivity planning and cost reduction objectives. Analyze operational processes, performance data, labor utilization, and production metrics to identify improvement opportunities. Lead structured problem-solving activities utilizing 8D, A3, DMAIC, 5 Why, Fishbone, and other root-cause analysis methodologies. Facilitate cross-functional teams in identifying solutions, implementing corrective actions, and verifying effectiveness. Establish and audit standard work systems while supporting Operations and Engineering in maintaining accurate workstation documentation. Review and update standard cycle times and labor standards to reflect current operating conditions and customer requirements. Develop and sustain visual management systems, daily management routines, layered accountability processes, and performance review systems. Ensure continuous monitoring and improvement of manufacturing processes through data-driven decision making. Drive waste elimination initiatives focused on reducing non-value-added activities, cycle time, inventory, scrap, rework, and downtime. Partner with Engineering and Operations in new product launches, equipment installations, process design, and productivity improvement projects. Lead, coach, and develop Continuous Improvement personnel and cross-functional teams to build organizational capability. Provide direction, coaching, and support to leaders and associates regarding continuous improvement principles and methodologies. Influence stakeholders across all functional areas to support continuous improvement objectives and cultural transformation. Facilitate training programs, workshops, and coaching sessions related to Lean Manufacturing, OES, problem-solving, and operational excellence. Support compliance with all company, customer, safety, quality, and environmental requirements. Perform other duties and special projects as assigned. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Business, or a related field. Progressive experience in Continuous Improvement, Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline. Experience in an automotive or high-volume manufacturing environment preferred. Demonstrated success leading Kaizen events, productivity workshops, operational excellence initiatives, and cross-functional improvement projects. Proven experience achieving measurable improvements in productivity, quality, cost, safety, inventory, lead time, or other key operational metrics. Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing systems and Operational Excellence frameworks preferred. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt preferred. Demonstrated success generating measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, cost, inventory, or lead time. Skills Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring abilities. Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Strong facilitation skills with the ability to lead large groups and drive consensus. Demonstrated ability to influence associates and leaders at all levels of the organization. Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with a data-driven mindset. Experience with Lean Manufacturing tools including Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, 5S, Visual Management. Kanban, SMED, Root Cause Analysis, and Kaizen Methodology. Knowledge of industrial engineering principles including Time Studies, Line Balancing, Labor Optimization, Capacity Analysis, and Productivity Measurement. Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Experience utilizing data visualization and reporting tools such as Power BI preferred. Self-directed and results-oriented with the ability to work independently and drive initiatives to completion. Communication Skills Must possess strong verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills and be able to effectively communicate in Business English with associates, customers, suppliers, and leadership teams. Physical Requirements Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) – Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, identity, disability, protected veteran status and national origin. At Astemo, we’re challenging the status quo with the power of diversity, inclusion, and collaboration. Our goal is to build an inclusive work environment that celebrates the differences of our employees. We want to ensure that every employee feels valued, respected and empowered. We don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Astemo is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job at Astemo, please send the nature of the request and contact information to when applying for the position.