Continuous Improvement Lead (Operational Excellence Lead)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Identify process bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities across business functions and develop recommendations to enhance operational performance.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives and Kaizen events, partnering with cross-functional teams to implement sustainable process improvements and drive measurable results.
• Evaluate operational workflows and design solutions that improve efficiency, quality, service, and productivity.
• Develop, maintain, and optimize process documentation, workflow maps, and standard operating procedures (SOP).
• Own departmental KPI reporting and operational data analysis, providing insights and recommendations to support business decisions.
• Design project-specific performance metrics, dashboards, and reporting tools to monitor progress, risks, outcomes, and organizational impact.
• Lead planning and execution of integration and process improvement projects, including project scope, timelines, stakeholder coordination, and implementation activities.
• Prioritize improvement opportunities and project activities based on business needs, operational impact, and organizational objectives.
• Collaborate with Operations, IT, Product, Customer Support, and other business partners to evaluate challenges and implement effective solutions.
• Present findings, recommendations, project updates, and improvement results to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Train, coach, and influence employees and leaders on continuous improvement principles, problem-solving methodologies, and process optimization practices.
• Facilitate change management activities to support adoption and sustainment of new processes and operational improvements.
• Travel approximately 10-15% to support improvement initiatives at domestic locations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

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.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and documentation abilities
• Experience with Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma, or other CI methodologies
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment
• Experience with data analysis tools and dashboard reporting platforms
• Experience supporting operational improvement or process optimization initiatives

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with methodologies such as Kaizen, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act)
• Experience leading Kaizen events or CI workshops
• Familiarity with tools such as Microsoft Project, Power BI or similar platforms

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, Engineering, Operations, or related field preferred
• 2-5 years of experience in continuous improvement, operations, or process optimization roles

Language Skills

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Core Competencies

• Detail-oriented with a strong process-driven mindset
• High level of accountability and follow-through
• Collaborative team player with the ability to influence and coach others
• Passion for improving workflows, creating structure, and driving efficiency

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 and stand. The employee frequently is required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment can be loud.

Ethics/Compliance/Safety

• Maintain a working environment that embodies the UPM and ONI Code of Conduct and Ethics policy.
• Actively contributes to the achievement of the Company's goals for safety, security, compliance to company policies and procedures, OSHA Compliance, EPA Compliance, and Housekeeping 5S/Lean Culture.

Full Compliance to all Safety Policies and Procedures while promoting a culture of safety awareness