Continuous Improvement Manager - Wayland Area

Continuous Improvement Manager | Wayland, MI

Salary Range: $90,000 - $137,000 depending on experience

Are you a dedicated professional with a passion for driving operational efficiency and eliminating waste? The Pivot Group is committed to fostering meaningful relationships and supporting career growth. We partner with leading manufacturing companies in Wayland, seeking experienced Continuous Improvement Managers to strengthen their teams.

The Opportunity

We partner with manufacturers across Wayland seeking Continuous Improvement Managers who want more than a lateral move. These companies hire intentionally, and we connect them with professionals ready for roles that fit.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Identify, analyze, and resolve process inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and waste through root cause analysis.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement by coaching, mentoring, and training employees at all levels.
• Manage and facilitate continuous improvement projects from conception to completion, ensuring measurable results.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the effectiveness and sustainment of improvement initiatives.
• Develop and standardize best practices and standard operating procedures (SOPs) across manufacturing operations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify improvement opportunities and implement sustainable solutions.

Recommended Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification with a proven track record of applying methodologies in manufacturing.
• Minimum 5 years of experience leading continuous improvement initiatives within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in Lean principles (e.g., Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, 5S, SMED) and their practical application.
• Strong project management skills, capable of leading cross-functional teams and managing multiple improvement projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency in data analysis and statistical tools (e.g., Minitab) for problem-solving, root cause analysis, and performance measurement.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and change management skills to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Bonus Qualifications

• Master Black Belt certification.
• Experience with advanced data analytics and visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• PMP or other recognized project management certification.
• Fluency in a second language relevant to global operations or local workforce diversity.

Job Titles That Should Apply

Process Improvement Manager, Operational Excellence Manager, Lean Six Sigma Manager, Business Process Improvement Manager, Process Excellence Manager, Lean Manager, Efficiency Manager, Performance Improvement Manager, CI Manager, Transformation Manager

Why Pivot Group

The Pivot Group was founded by manufacturing professionals who've been on both sides of the hiring process. Our clients are strategic—they partner with us because they want real insight into their roles and the people filling them, not a stack of resumes. We focus on match-driven placements built around what actually matters: Commute, Compensation, Culture, and Career trajectory.

If you're ready to take the next step in your career and connect with a firm that values fit over speed, we invite you to reach out. The Pivot Group offers resources to support your search—market insights, resume feedback, and interview preparation. As our partnerships grow, we'll reach out with opportunities aligned with your goals. Thank you for considering this approach to career advancement.