Opportunities:

• Do you excel at pre-planning and facilitating Kaizens?
• Can effectively engage team members to improve processes and/or systems?
• Does working for a family-centric organization based in a small-town environment appeal to you?
• Do the values of stewardship, versatility, and family resonate strongly with you?
• Do you find the improvement of people’s lives through stewardship of God-given resources inspiring?

Then Kaspar Companies is for you!

Primary Function: The Director of Continuous Improvement will oversee developing, planning, and executing the strategy that results in eliminating waste, improving customer satisfaction, and increasing market share. This position will execute critical transformational projects and programs that are aligned with the strategy of each of Kaspar companies.  The ideal candidate should possess strong creative thinking skills, problem solving ability, and deep knowledge of Kaizen, LEAN principles, and other continuous improvement principles. This role will be responsible for approximately 400 employees at several mid-sized family-owned businesses.

Primary Responsibilities (including but not limited to):

• Coach Team Leads during Kaizen pre-planning and facilitate kaizen events to effectively engage team members in improving processes and/or systems.
• Utilize value stream mapping techniques to visualize the current/future state and identify areas of improvement.
• Collaborate with subsidiary leaders to improve and develop systems that create breakthrough customer value.
• Identify, assess, and prioritize areas for process improvement across the organization, working closely with department heads and cross-functional teams to implement changes.
• Develop and implement training programs and resources to enhance the continuous improvement skills of employees at all levels of the organization.
• Partner with subsidiary leadership to engage a wide range of team members in kaizen events, fostering a culture of collaboration and ownership.
• Utilize data-driven insights to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas of improvement, and collaborate with team members to implement data-driven solutions to address them.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive continuous improvement strategy aligned with the company’s goals and objectives.
• Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) aligned with the organization’s strategy and establish a system for measuring, tracking, and reporting on the impact of continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead team members who are assigned to the Kaizen Promotion Office due to improvements in their area, providing guidance, coaching, and mentorship to drive continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Oversee change management efforts, ensuring successful adoption of process improvements and fostering employee engagement in the continuous improvement process.
• Continue to develop and stay abreast of industry best practices and emerging trends in continuous improvement and incorporate them into the organization’s strategy.
• Travel up to 25% required.
• All other duties assigned by management.

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of industry experience in Manufacturing, Distribution, and/or Supply Chain (cross-industry experience a plus)
• 7+ years of experience in continuous improvement and lean methodologies at a small to mid-cap company
• Proven track record of leading successful process improvement initiatives, thinking outside of the box, and strong problem solving skills
• Certification in Six Sigma or Lean is a plus.
• Bachelor’s Degree required (Business, Engineering, Operations preferred)

Physical Requirements:

• Extended periods of sitting and/or walking (33% – 75% of time)
• Lifting of 25-40 lbs. occasionally (0% – 33% of time)

Work Environment:

• Shiner, TX (100% onsite role)
• Manufacturing environment where the use and wear of proper protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses or side shields on glasses and closed toe shoes are mandatory