Continuous Improvement Specialist (Finance)

We are looking for an experienced Continuous Improvement Specialist to join our dynamic and growing organization. This onsite role, based at our Clackamas office, offers an exciting opportunity to drive operational excellence and efficiency.

( This position is open to candidates within the Portland metro area )

Annual Salary Range: $75,000 - $85,000 (DOE).

We offer many company benefits:

• 10 paid holidays and PTO starting at two weeks per year
• 401K Plan - 3% employer contribution, and matching based on your contribution thereafter: immediate full vesting
• Two medical plans: a PPO and an HDHP with an HSA
• Dental/Vision coverage
• Pet Insurance
• Company-paid Employee Assistant Program (EAP)
• Two weeks of paid Parental Leave
• Company-Paid Life Insurance & AD&D, Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability
• Additional Voluntary Life Insurance & AD&D
• Safety Shoes: Get up to $250 reimbursed every two years
• Prescription Safety Glasses: Get up to $250 reimbursement every two years
• Employee Rewards and Recognition Program
• Coffee and healthy snacks are provided daily
• Free lunch with food truck Fridays throughout Summer, a summer party for the family, holiday events, and Santa Day for the kids

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

We are seeking a Lean Manufacturing Continuous Improvement Specialist to drive process optimization, waste reduction, and operational efficiency. This role will be responsible for implementing Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improve quality. The ideal candidate will lead Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and root cause analysis while fostering a culture of continuous improvement across all departments.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead, facilitate, and implement Lean manufacturing principles, e.g., 5S, Kanban, SMED, Standard Work, Visual Management, TPM, etc.
• Identify and eliminate waste to optimize efficiency, quality, and throughput.

• Drive Value Stream Mapping to identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement.

• Use root cause analysis tools such as 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams, and A3 Problem Solving.
• Standardize and document new processes to sustain improvements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement best practices.
• Drive cycle time reduction, setup time optimization, and waste elimination in production processes.

• Coach and train employees on Lean methodologies and problem-solving techniques.
• Promote a continuous improvement mindset across all levels of the organization.
• Develop and implement KPI dashboards to track and sustain improvement initiatives.
• Provide mentorship to frontline employees and supervisors on Lean tools and best practices.

• Collect, analyze, and present key operational metrics related to efficiency, productivity, quality, and cost savings.
• Conduct time studies, workflow analysis, and capacity assessments.
• Support leadership in making data-driven decisions based on improvement results.

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 essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, or Process Engineering.
• Experience in a discrete manufacturing or industrial environment is preferred.

Soft skills:

• Strong leadership and facilitation skills for driving change.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and analytical thinking.
• Effective communication and team collaboration skills.
• Ability to influence without authority and drive a culture of continuous improvement.

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.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws. The Applicant Privacy Notice link is also below. Click or copy and paste the link address below into your browser for more information:

• EEO/AA/M/F/Vet/Disability
• Oregon OSHA Rights
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act
• Family and Medical Leave Act
• https://cornellpump.com/employment-candidate-privacy-notice-concerning-personal-data-processing/