Plant Administration - Continuous Improvement Manager

Build Your Future at NWPX

At NWPX Infrastructure, we manufacture welded steel pipe and precast products that form the backbone of America’s water infrastructure. It’s work you can be proud of—and an opportunity to advance your career with a company committed to your professional growth and well-being.

Our brands—Northwest Pipe Company, NWPX Park, and NWPX Geneva—set the standard for safety, quality, innovation, and performance. Guided by our core values of Accountability, Commitment, and Teamwork, our people work collaboratively to deliver reliable products and trusted service to our customers—while building stable, rewarding careers along the way.

For over 50 years, NWPX has been a leader in reliable water infrastructure solutions, and our people are the foundation of our success. Build your future with us and be part of a legacy grounded in water.

WHAT NWPX OFFERS YOU:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D Insurance
• Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Sick Time
• 401k Retirement Savings Plan with Employer Match
• On-Demand Pay (Access Your Earned Wages Before Payday) 
• Bonus Potential
• Up to $5,000 per year Tuition Reimbursement
• Safety Footwear and Eyewear Voucher (Day 1 of Employment)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Opportunities for Career Advancement
• Values-Driven Culture Committed to Equal Opportunities and Safety

Continuous Improvement Manager

Position Summary

The Continuous Improvement Manager is responsible for developing and executing the Company's Continuous Improvement strategy across multiple manufacturing facilities. This position serves as an internal change agent, partnering with Operations, Engineering, Sales, Administration, Quality, Supply Chain, Safety, and Executive Leadership to improve productivity, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement through Lean Manufacturing principles.

The Continuous Improvement Manager leads enterprise-wide Operational Excellence initiatives, develops standardized Lean systems, facilitates strategic improvement projects, and builds a culture of continuous improvement through coaching, training, and collaboration. This position influences organizational performance through partnership rather than direct operational ownership and is responsible for developing the Continuous Improvement function as the organization grows.

Must embrace and support the Company's core values of Accountability, Commitment, and Teamwork.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the Company's multi-year Continuous Improvement strategy aligned with business objectives.

• Partner with Executive Leadership to identify strategic opportunities that improve Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and Productivity.

• Build annual Continuous Improvement roadmaps, priorities, and project portfolios that support organizational growth.

• Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives from concept through implementation while ensuring sustainable results.

• Establish key performance indicators and executive dashboards to measure Operational Excellence performance.

Lean Manufacturing & Operational Excellence

• Lead the deployment and sustainment of the NWPX Lean Management System across all manufacturing locations.

• Facilitate Lean transformation through Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen events, Daily Management, Visual Management, Standard Work, Root Cause Analysis, PDCA, Kanban, SMED, One Piece Flow, Error Proofing and other Lean methodologies.

• Develop standardized Lean processes, tools and best practices that can be implemented consistently across all facilities.

• Identify and eliminate waste throughout manufacturing, administrative and support functions.

• Conduct operational assessments and recommend improvements that increase productivity, quality, customer service and operational performance.

• Develop and maintain systems to ensure improvements are sustained through audits, leader standard work and performance reviews.

• Measure and report Continuous Improvement performance on an ongoing basis.

Continuous Improvement Leadership

• Champion a culture of Continuous Improvement through coaching, mentoring and servant leadership.

• Develop Lean training programs and facilitate hands-on training for leaders and employees.

• Coach site leadership in structured problem solving utilizing ACT, PDCA and Root Cause Analysis methodologies.

• Foster employee engagement by encouraging participation in Continuous Improvement initiatives.

• Build organizational capability through development of standardized Continuous Improvement tools and training.

• Provide functional leadership and coaching to future Lean Coordinators as the Continuous Improvement organization expands.

Cross Functional Partnership

• Partner with Operations leadership to improve manufacturing flow, labor productivity and process stability.

• Partner with Engineering, Quality and Supply Chain to improve manufacturing processes, product quality and material flow.

• Support inventory optimization initiatives through Lean principles, Kanban systems and improved material management processes.

• Partner with Production Planning to improve scheduling, capacity utilization and on-time delivery through data-driven process improvements.

• Support capital improvement projects through process analysis, workflow optimization and return-on-investment evaluations.

• Partner with Safety leadership to integrate Lean principles into safety initiatives, standard work and visual management systems.

• Collect operational metrics, analyze data and recommend strategic improvement opportunities.

• Work collaboratively with Continuous Improvement, Operations and Engineering personnel throughout NWPX.

• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position currently has no direct reports.

As the Continuous Improvement function expands, this position will provide leadership, coaching and functional direction to Lean Coordinators supporting manufacturing operations across the organization.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis. 
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. 
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instruction in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Excellent communications, relationship-building, and facilitation skills.
• Strong computer skills necessary. Advanced MS office skills and statistical software packages (Minitab etc.).
• Thorough understanding of multiple business areas to include Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Safety and Quality Control.
• Advanced knowledge of Lean principles and applications.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. 
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. 
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of executives, managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• 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.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Strong project management, facilitation and change management skills.
• Proven ability to develop strategic improvement plans and execute complex Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Advanced knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles, Operational Excellence systems and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret operational data, financial reports, legal documents and develop actionable business recommendations.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Business or related technical discipline preferred.

• Minimum ten (10) years of experience leading Continuous Improvement or Lean Manufacturing initiatives within a manufacturing environment.

• Demonstrated success implementing enterprise-wide Lean Manufacturing systems and cultural transformation.

• Experience leading cross-functional strategic improvement initiatives.

• Proven ability to coach, mentor and develop leaders at all organizational levels.

• Experience utilizing Lean Manufacturing tools including Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, Standard Work, Visual Management, PDCA, Root Cause Analysis, Kanban and Daily Management Systems.

• Manufacturing leadership experience is highly preferred.

CERTIFICATES

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt required; Black Belt preferred.

• Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) certification preferred.

• Lean Manufacturing certification preferred.

• OSHA 30 certification preferred.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Except where prohibited by state law, offers of employment may be contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, drug test, and/or physical examination, as determined by the essential functions and physical requirements of the position.

NWPX Infrastructure is committed to equal employment opportunity. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

NWPX Infrastructure reserves the right to close the position, with or without notice, if a qualified candidate is identified prior to the close date.