Continuous Improvement Manager

GTI is a contract manufacturing partner supporting customers in renewable energy, power generation, infrastructure, and industrial systems. We fabricate custom designed, purpose-built enclosures and skids for our customers and perform mechanical and electrical integration in-house, delivering a true turn-key product to our customers. Our scope spans Engineering, prototype builds, through full production, requiring teams that can move fast, adapt, and execute with precision. GTI Values: Safety I Quality I Customer Obsession I Speed I Agility

Position Overview

The Continuous Improvement Manager is a senior, hands-on operations leader who drives improvement by value stream to raise performance in safety, quality, delivery, inventory, and productivity (SQDIP). The role deploys GTI's business system, model, and playbooks on the floor: tiered daily management, 5S, layered process audits, value stream roadmaps, kaizen events, standard work, structured problem solving, and the training that makes them stick.

Key Responsibilities

Business System Deployment & Daily Accountability 

Deploy GTI's business system, model, and playbooks across the plant's value streams in line with the VP of Continuous Improvement's annual priorities 

Own the Tier Accountability Process: SQDIP boards, tier 1 through tier 3 meeting standards, escalation paths, and visual management; coach value stream leaders to run them with daily discipline 

Lead the plant's 5S program and Layered Process Audit system as the backbone of daily accountability; set the standards, audit against them, and hold leaders at every level to them 

Establish and audit standard work and leader standard work for supervisors and leads 

Run the plant's CI maturity self-assessment against GTI's model; build and track the annual action plan to close gaps 

Value Stream Improvement & Breakthrough Projects 

Map each value stream's current and future state at least annually; own the value stream roadmap and the kaizen funnel that falls out of it 

Lead site-level breakthrough improvement projects that step-change throughput, cost, or quality, from charter through sustained results 

Plan and lead kaizen events on material flow, layout, labor efficiency, changeover, and quality: charters, objectives, facilitation, action tracking, report-outs, and 30-60-90 day sustainment checks 

Improve lean material flow for steel, consumables, and kitted subassemblies: kanban, supermarkets, point-of-use storage, and WIP buffer targets 

Lead capacity, line-balancing work for high-mix, engineered-to-order modules; support new line and new program launches with lean design 

Drive TPM and OEE improvement on critical cells (cutting, welding, paint, assembly) and attack unplanned downtime with Maintenance 

Problem Solving & Quality 

Set and coach GTI's problem-solving standard (A3, 8D, PSP); lead root cause analysis on significant safety, quality, and delivery misses 

Partner with Quality and Engineering on poka-yoke, first-pass yield, and rework reduction 

Integrate CI with EHS so safety is the first lens on every event and standard 

Savings, Metrics & Reporting 

Identify, quantify, and track validated savings in labor, material, rework, inventory, and throughput; secure Finance sign-off and report into GTI's cost-out governance 

Build and maintain plant CI dashboards in Power BI; keep ERP routings, BOMs, and work instructions aligned with improved processes 

Report SQDIP trends, project status, and risks to the Plant Manager and the VP of Continuous Improvement on a set cadence 

Culture, Coaching & Change Leadership 

Reshape the plant's culture around daily accountability: be visible on the floor every day, model the standards, and coach supervisors and teams in the moment 

Train and certify supervisors, leads, and CI Specialists in GTI's playbooks: 5S, standard work, daily management, layered process audits, problem solving, VSM, and kaizen facilitation 

Coach plant leaders on leading through the system; surface and remove organizational barriers that stop improvements from holding or scaling 

Drive adoption of new systems and behaviors through coaching, documentation, and clear communication, in English and Spanish where it helps the floor 

Team Leadership & Cross-Site Collaboration 

Build, lead, and develop the plant's Continuous Improvement Specialists; set priorities and standards, and own a development plan that moves each direct report to the next level 

Partner with the Plant Manager across operations, maintenance, quality, materials, and EHS to build the cross-functional judgment a future site leader needs 

Requirements

Required Qualifications

5+ years of management experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, with direct reports and accountability for daily performance 

7+ years in manufacturing overall, including a dedicated continuous improvement, lean, or operational excellence leadership role 

Prior experience implementing breakthrough continuous improvement projects at a site level 

Prior experience reshaping a site's culture by driving daily accountability through the implementation of 5S, a Tier Accountability Process, and Layered Process Audits 

Experience deploying a formal business or operating system (company playbooks, daily management, VSM-based planning) across a plant 

Data fluency: Excel, Power BI, savings models, audit-ready documentation; ERP/MES familiarity (routings, BOMs, work instructions)

Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field, or equivalent experience 

Structured problem solving: A3/PDCA, 8D, root cause analysis

Lean or Six Sigma Black Belt preferred; Green Belt required 

Preferred Qualifications

Bilingual in English and Spanish

Experience with metal fabrication, structural assembly, welding, or engineered-to-order

Travel to other GTI plants as needed (about 10–20%)

Benefits & Perks

GTI offers a competitive compensation and benefits package designed to support employees and their families while providing long-term career growth opportunities within a fast-growing manufacturing organization. Benefits may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) with company match (where applicable)

• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays

• Sick time in accordance with state and local requirements

• Company-paid life insurance and disability coverage

• Career advancement opportunities within a rapidly growing organization

• Exposure to advanced manufacturing, modular infrastructure, and large-scale industrial projects

• Collaborative, fast-paced environment with strong operational and engineering leadership

• Employee-focused culture centered on safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement

 Benefits eligibility and offerings may vary based on position, location, and employment classification.

GTI promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce and is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other Federal or State legally-protected classes. We also value the safety of all employees and work hard to maintain a Drug Free Workplace. Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions