Conductix-Wampfler is looking for a Continuous Improvement (CI) Specialist to help strengthen our Lean culture, support our manufacturing teams, and drive meaningful improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement.

If you’re passionate about teaching, coaching, and seeing real results from CI work, this role is a great fit.

What You’ll Do:

  • Lead and develop the Kata coaching program.
  • Train teams on Kata, Lean principles, and CI tools.
  • Coach daily management routines and PDCA problem‑
  • Deliver Lean training and support 5S events and audits.
  • Lead kaizen events and guide sustainable improvements.
  • Support kanban, flow, inventory control, and pull systems.
  • Facilitate Value Stream Mapping and create action plans.
  • Partner cross‑functionally to remove barriers and maintain momentum.
  • Track and communicate CI progress and wins.

What You Bring:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, or equivalent.
  • 3–5 years of CI/Lean experience in manufacturing or operations.
  • Strong trainer and coach (Kata experience preferred).
  • Skilled in kaizen, VSM, 5S, and Lean tools like kanban and standard work.
  • Data‑driven, organized, and proficient with Microsoft tools.
  • Clear communicator with the ability to influence without authority.

Conductix-Wampfler offers a great starting wage, with health, dental, and life insurance, 401k plan, paid vacation/personal time and holidays, profit sharing and tuition reimbursement program.

Please send resume to rogene.smith@conductix.com or apply online at www.conductix.us under careers.

Drug-free workplace/EOE

See full job description below:

SUMMARY

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Specialist role shall support the US CoE and SMO by developing Lean capability and culture through Kata coaching, Lean Daily Management (LDMS), 5S, and kaizen execution. This position reports to the Manufacturing Engineering Manager and partners with the Managing Director of the CoE, SMO, and cross-functional leadership to train, coach, and enforce lean behaviors to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.

  • Lead and develop the Kata Coaching team (coach the coaches) and establish a standard coaching routine.
  • Provide KATA training for the company and ensure leaders can sustain Coaching Kata routines.
  • Audit KATA/LDMS boards; coach teams to identify waste, obstacles, and next experiments; reinforce the use of PDCA.
  • Plan and deliver Lean Manufacturing and Operation Excellence training in alignment with local and global strategic objectives; execute training workshops at a cadence of 1 week per month and 1 day per month for reinforcement and new‑hire onboarding.
  • Aid in the design, implementation, and sustaining our 5S program including training, events, audit processes, and visual management standards.
  • Lead kaizen events following training to immediately implement improvements in targeted areas; document results and sustainment plans.
  • Develop and support best‑practice processes including kanban/pull systems, inventory control, supermarkets, and replenishment signals.
  • Support the Manufacturing/Process Engineering team to advance one‑piece flow, standard work, takt-based balancing, and layout improvements where applicable.
  • Facilitate Value Stream Maps (current/future state), identify bottlenecks, and create actionable roadmaps with owners and due dates.
  • Drive prioritization of problem‑solving obstacles cross functionally with the CoE and SMO leadership team; assure focus, follow‑through, and escalation as needed.
  • Provide coaching and change management; reinforce standards and accountability when implementation gets tough.
  • Track and communicate CI performance using leading/lagging indicators; provide visibility to progress, barriers, and wins.
  • Support and uphold Quality and EHS policies and practices.
  • Uphold the Conductix Core Values; Caring, Teamwork, and Adding Value.
  • Other duties may be assigned.

SUPERVISORY & LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

  • This role has no direct supervisory responsibilities but will lead and influence Kata Coaches and cross‑functional teams to achieve common goals through coaching, facilitation, and change leadership.
  • This position reports to the Manufacturing Engineering Manager.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

  • Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
    • 3-5 years of hands‑on Continuous Improvement / Lean experience in a manufacturing or operations environment.
    • Demonstrated experience teaching/training Lean concepts and coaching leaders and teams (Kata experience strongly preferred).
    • Strong facilitation skills for kaizen events, VSM workshops, 5S events, and daily management routines.
  • Working knowledge of pull systems/kanban, standard work, flow, visual management, and problem‑solving methods (PDCA/A3).
  • Proficiency in Microsoft products (Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.) and comfort using data to drive decisions.
  • Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; ability to interpret technical instructions, drawings, and process documentation.
  • Ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives while maintaining high productivity and on‑time execution.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills to convey ideas to all levels; ability to influence without authority.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. Work in our manufacturing facilities will require the use of PPE including safety glasses and steel-toe safety shoes. Areas as identified will also require hearing protection.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.
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