Continuous Improvement Lead
Permanent | c£40,000 | Manufacturing Sector
The Opportunity
If you’re a Continuous Improvement specialist who wants to own the Lean journey, drive real change on the shop floor, and have the visibility to influence how a site performs long-term, this role is worth your attention.
This is not a box-ticking CI position. You will be a core part of the site’s transformation, working across Production, Engineering, Technical, and Quality to embed a culture where structured problem-solving, standardisation, and continuous improvement become non-negotiable.
You’ll report directly to senior site leadership and have the freedom to shape the CI strategy, deliver meaningful results, and mentor teams at every level.
The Role
- Lead the site’s Productivity Improvement Programme and report monthly on delivery.
- Facilitate structured idea-generation sessions and prioritise improvement opportunities.
- Coach and mentor teams across all departments in Lean, problem solving, and standard work.
- Identify CI opportunities through data, financial analysis, observation, and shop-floor engagement.
- Manage multiple improvement projects using recognised Lean tools and governance.
- Produce data-driven business cases that support standardisation and process improvement.
- Analyse manufacturing processes to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
- Drive cost-saving, growth, and performance-improvement initiatives across the site.
- Lead post-implementation reviews to ensure improvements are sustained.
- Build and deploy the site’s CI strategy aligned with long-term business goals.
- Develop improved systems for data capture, process control, and performance visibility.
- Support daily problem-solving, NPI activity, and engineering development.
- Coordinate the Phase Gate process for R&D and strategic projects.
About You
- Experienced in Lean, CI, Operational Excellence, or similar manufacturing improvement roles.
- Confident coaching, influencing, and working directly on the shop floor.
- Strong with data, metrics, and presenting clear, logical business cases.
- Proven track record of delivering measurable improvements in SQCD.
- Practical mindset with the drive to make change stick, not just design it.
- Able to lead multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-moving environment.
Why This Role Stands Out
- A site that genuinely supports CI and wants structured, sustainable improvement.
- Strong visibility at senior level with real decision-making influence.
- Autonomy to shape the Lean roadmap and define long-term CI culture.
- Opportunity to leave a lasting mark on site performance and operational capability.