Continuous Improvement Manager

Why work for us?  
 
Alkegen brings together two of the world’s leading specialty materials companies to create one new, innovation-driven leader focused on battery technologies, filtration media, and specialty insulation and sealing materials. Through global reach and breakthrough inventions, we are delivering products that enable the world to breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before.   
 
With over 60 manufacturing facilities with a global workforce of over 9,000 of the industry’s most experienced talent, including insulation and filtration experts, Alkegen is uniquely positioned to help customers impact the environment in meaningful ways.  
 
Alkegen offers a range of dynamic career opportunities with a global reach. From production operators to engineers, technicians to specialists, sales to leadership, we are always looking for top talent ready to bring their best.  Come grow with us!   

Responsibilities

• Reduce Operating Cost:
  • This role is ultimately responsible for delivering the cost savings target for the Business Unit in the current year and populating the pipeline to achieve cost savings in future years. Target 4-5% cost improvement annually.
  • The role holder works closely with direct stakeholders such as plant managers who control plant resources that can deliver cost saving projects.  They hold plant managers accountable to meet/exceed their cost objectives for the financial year and ensure that they apply resources to meet cost objectives.
• Safety and Sustainability
  • The role holder commits to business & plant safety processes and drives continual improvement in safety, with no compromises to safety as a results of cost savings and improvement initiatives.
• Quality Assurance and Compliance
  • The role holder will be a change agent and an advocate for a zero defects and losses quality culture. 
• Project Management:
  • The role holder works across all sites in the segment to develop a robust “Loss Intelligence” view, using a range of improvement tools, such as VSM, mass balance, energy balance to build a robust understanding of the cost of conversion in the manufacturing process and opportunities to improve.
  • The role holder acts as a project manager of significant multi-site projects that drive operational improvement.
• Team Leadership and Development:
  • The role holder must be an effective influencer of plant managers, quality managers and other operational stakeholders to ensure that sites and functions operate with a sense of urgency and commitment to meet the objectives of the business unit.
  • This role will own the CI toolset and develop competence in the tools across the organization.

Key Competencies

• Is a consistent role model for the Alkegen Core Values.
• Be able to lead, coach, and develop team members.
• Have a strong sense of urgency and proven ability to turn innovation into action.
• Be highly motivated and possess vision and enthusiasm.
• Communicating in an open and honest way, that quickly builds trust and respect.
• Drives execution with the team and has a bias towards action, and results.
• Change Management: Proven, change management skills. Sets the scene for change, develops workable plans, communicates changes effectively, building commitment and overcoming resistance to change.
• Problem Solving: Demonstrated problem solving skills.  Quickly able to ascertain the cause of a problem through the use of disciplined, data driven problem solving techniques.  Not driven by emotional thinking when understanding problems.
• Deadline Management:  Is resilient under pressure and capable of meeting deadlines to ensure that the needs of the business are maintained.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field. A Master’s degree is preferred.
• L6S Master Black Belt, or experienced Black Belt. Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in continuous improvement, preferably within the automotive supply or battery industries.
• Held leadership roles in large-scale manufacturing operations.
• Strong analytical skills and experience with statistical process control and manufacturing data analysis
• Travel: Up to 50% of the time may be required at certain times.

Location

• This position may be based in Dallas, TX; Tonawanda, NY; or Glastonbury, CT, depending on the selected candidate's location and business needs. Candidates are expected to work from their assigned location in accordance with the role's onsite/hybrid requirements.

New York Pay Transparency

• For candidates based in Tonawanda, NY, the anticipated annual base salary range for this position is $140,000 - $160,000. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, education, and internal equity. In addition to base salary, this position may be eligible for an annual incentive bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.

At Alkegen, we strive every day to help people – ALL PEOPLE – breathe easier, live greener and go further than ever before. We believe that diversity and inclusion is central to this mission and to our impact. Our diverse and inclusive culture drives our growth & innovation and we nurture it by actively embracing our differences and using our varied perspectives to solve the complex challenges facing our changing and diverse world.

Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, nation of origin, religion, color, gender identity and expression, age, disability, education, opinions, culture, languages spoken, veteran’s status, or any other protected class.