Continuous Improvement Leader

Job Description

Job Description

Why Dakkota

For over 24 years, Dakkota Integrated Systems has delivered excellence through precision-engineered, build-to-order vehicle components from cockpits to fascia assemblies. Our award-winning team combines advanced lean manufacturing, strong product development, and a highly efficient supply chain to meet customer demands with reliability and innovation.

If you're looking for a company that empowers you to grow while driving excellence, collaboration, and innovation to create real impact, we’d love to meet you.

The Role

We are seeking a strategic, future‑focused, and dynamic Continuous Improvement (CI) Leader who excels in driving enterprise‑wide operational excellence and is eager to expand beyond improvement work into broader operational responsibility. This role offers the opportunity to build visibility, influence, and cross‑functional capability while progressing toward a long‑term career path in Plant Operations Management.

This role is responsible for leading high‑impact Kaizen events, developing Lean capabilities across the organization, and ensuring long‑term sustainment of process improvements. The ideal candidate is an innovative, data‑driven leader with a passion for operational transformation, employee development, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and growth.

This is a hybrid position based in Southeast, Michigan, reporting to the Head of Lean Deployment as part of the Corporate Lean Deployment team.

What You’ll Do

Kaizen Leadership & Development:

• Lead high-impact Kaizen events that deliver measurable improvements in productivity, quality, cost, and overall operational performance.
• Develop, coach, and mentor employees in CI tools and methodologies to build a sustainable culture of problem‑solving, ownership, and continuous learning.

Sustainment & Follow-Through:

• Create and implement robust sustainment plans (30, 60, and 90 day) to ensure improvements remain embedded and effective.
• Monitor and audit post‑Kaizen results, reinforcing process adherence, standard work, and best practices through consistent follow‑up.

Coaching & Training:

• Educate employees at all organizational levels on Lean principles, structured problem-solving, and data-driven decision making.
• Facilitate hands-on training workshops to strengthen team capabilities and drive enterprise-wide CI maturity.

Strategic Prioritization & Guidance:

• Partner with plant and organizational leadership to identify, prioritize, and execute improvement initiatives aligned with key business objectives.
• Provide guidance to teams on utilizing analytics and data insights to elevate operational performance.

Lean & Problem-Solving Expertise: Serve as a subject matter expert in Lean methodologies, including:

• Daily Management: Establish and reinforce disciplined daily accountability systems to drive performance and transparency.
• 6S (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain, Safety): Lead efforts that improve workplace organization, efficiency, and safety.
• Value Stream Mapping (VSM): Analyze end‑to‑end processes to identify waste and implement optimized flow.
• TPI (Total Process Improvement): Facilitate structured process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and throughput.
• Structured Problem Solving: Apply A3, 8D, DMAIC, and other root cause methodologies to eliminate issues at their source.
• Gemba Walks: Engage at the point of work to observe processes, collaborate with employees, and uncover improvement opportunities.
• Flow / Kanban: Design and implement pull systems and visual workflow controls to reduce bottlenecks and support Just‑In‑Time operations.

Cultural Transformation & Audits:

• Champion and reinforce a Continuous Improvement culture through objective audits, process reviews, and consistent engagement across all levels of the organization.
• Cultivate a culture where CI principles are embedded into daily operations, advancing business performance through disciplined processes and empowered people.

Who you are

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline; MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of proven experience leading Kaizen events and Continuous Improvement initiatives that generate measurable operational results.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in manufacturing or assembly operations, with a solid understanding of process‑driven work environments.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and develop leaders and employees in Lean and CI methodologies.
• Expert-level knowledge of Lean tools, structured problem-solving frameworks, and strategic prioritization techniques.
• Strong sustainment capability, including experience managing 30‑, 60‑, and 90‑day follow‑up plans to ensure long‑term effectiveness of improvements.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and coaching skills, with the ability to influence and build engagement across all organizational levels

Health, Safety, Physical & Travel Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, and move throughout both office and plant environments with normal mobility; capable of performing standard computer-based work.
• Up to 40% travel required.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Life at Dakkota

Our success is rooted in meaningful relationships and a culture that feels like family. We champion compassion, respect, and work-life balance, while supporting each team member’s personal and professional growth. Through ongoing development, competitive pay, and a comprehensive benefits package, we empower our people to thrive both at work and in life.

Our benefits include paid time off, medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a 401(k) plan for eligible employees.

Explore everything we have to offer at Dakkota Careers!