Continuous Improvement / Plant Transformation Leader Jobs in Augusta,GA,US

About the Opportunity We are partnering with a well-established, resilient specialty manufacturing organization undergoing an important evolution in how Continuous Improvement is embedded across the business. While operations are stable and supported by long-tenured teams, the organization is now focused on strengthening how work is led, communicated, and continuously improved across all levels of the plant. This role is not a traditional Lean project execution role. It is a culture-building and operating system design leadership role responsible for shaping how Continuous Improvement is lived daily across the organization. Role Purpose The Continuous Improvement & Operating System Leader will design and embed the foundational systems, leadership behaviors, and communication rhythms that enable a sustainable culture of operational excellence.

This leader will help define:

how work is discussed how problems are identified and solved how leaders engage with teams daily how priorities are communicated and aligned how continuous improvement becomes part of daily operations In essence, this role builds the "way the organization runs every day." What You Will Be Responsible For Build and establish the CI operating system from the ground up (daily management system, routines, and standards) Design and implement leadership behaviors that support Gemba-based problem solving Create structured communication rhythms (huddles, tier meetings, visual management systems, and alignment forums) Coach plant leaders and supervisors on CI behaviors, accountability, and frontline engagement Translate business strategy into simple, clear, and actionable frontline priorities Develop capability across the organization through hands-on coaching and practical CI training Strengthen collaboration between Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, EHS, and Supply Chain Support alignment across multiple sites (Augusta, GA and Illinois operations) Drive sustainable adoption of improvement practices that are owned by teams, not imposed What Success Looks Like In this role, success is measured by: Consistent leadership routines across all departments Strong daily engagement at the Gemba Clear visibility of priorities and performance across the plant Improved cross-functional collaboration and reduced silo behavior Increased ownership of problem-solving at the team level Sustainable adoption of CI behaviors without dependency on the CI leader A clear and consistent operating rhythm across multiple sites The Ideal Candidate Profile We are looking for a culture-first CI leader with strong operational credibility who can build systems, influence behavior, and simplify complexity.

The ideal candidate will have:

Strong experience in manufacturing or industrial operations (Plant Manager, Operations Manager, or Operational Excellence Leader preferred) Deep understanding of Lean principles (Gemba, Kaizen, RCA, visual management, standard work) applied in a practical, non-theoretical way Proven ability to influence leaders and frontline teams without formal authority Strong coaching presence with high emotional intelligence and humility Experience building structured routines, communication systems, and leadership standards Comfort working in environments with long-tenured employees and evolving CI maturity Ability to simplify complex ideas into clear, actionable daily behaviors Hands-on, floor-oriented leadership style This Role Is NOT A Lean Six Sigma project execution role A consulting or theoretical CI design role A data-only or analytical improvement role A remote strategy role without plant presence A rigid process enforcement position Why This Role Is Unique This is a rare opportunity to build a Continuous Improvement culture from the ground up in a stable, established manufacturing environment. You will have direct access to plant leadership and the ability to shape: leadership behaviors communication systems operational discipline and long-term cultural transformation This is a highly visible role with real influence across the organization. Why Join Stable and resilient manufacturing business Strong leadership support and openness to change High-impact, visible role with cross-site influence Opportunity to build something foundational, not just improve existing systems Hands-on, people-centered operational environment