The posting
For more than 70 years, MasterBrand has been shaping the places where people come together, enriching lives and creating meaningful memories for our customers. We are the #1 manufacturer of residential cabinets in North America, and our associates produce the most comprehensive portfolio of superior cabinetry products for the kitchen, bath and other parts of the home. Come see why our associates love working at MasterBrand.
Job Description:
Position Summary
The Manager, Continuous Improvement is responsible for leading the deployment and sustainment of the MasterBrand Business System (MBS) across a mid-size manufacturing organization. The role partners with the General Manager and functional leaders to improve safety, quality, delivery, inventory, productivity, cost, and associate engagement through structured problem solving, Lean methodologies, leadership coaching, and measurable process improvements.
Organizational Relationship
Reports to: General Manager or Site Leader
Direct reports: Recommended for a mid-size organization: 1 to 3 CI Specialists, Engineers, or Technicians, depending on plant complexity and deployment maturity
Primary Purpose
Create a sustainable culture in which leaders and associates:
Use MBS tools to solve business problems.
Make decisions based on data and facts.
Improve their own work instead of waiting for CI to solve problems.
Convert strategic priorities into measurable, executable initiatives.
Sustain gains through clear ownership, Standard Work, visual controls, and leadership follow-up.
Key Accountabilities
1. Champion the MasterBrand Business System
2. Lead Strategic Improvement Planning
3. Facilitate Lean and CI Activities
- Lead, coach, or support activities such as:
- Value Stream Mapping
- Kaizen events (All Tools )
- Daily Management
- Leader Standard Work
- Visual Management
- 6S
- A3 and structured problem solving
- TPM
- Changeover reduction
- PFMEA
- Line balancing
- Process flow and material flow improvement
4. Deliver Measurable Business Results
5. Build Organizational Capability
6. Establish and Sustain Daily Management
7. Ensure Sustainment and Process Discipline
8. Lead and Develop the CI Team
CI Execution
Improvement events completed versus plan.
Percentage of events delivering their defined target.
Timely completion of post-event actions.
Percentage of benefits validated by Finance.
Percentage of completed projects sustaining results after handoff.
MBS Maturity
Daily Management maturity.
Standard Work maturity and adherence.
6S maturity.
Leader Standard Work deployment.
Model Cell or value-stream maturity.
Percentage of priority business problems using the appropriate MBS method.
Capability Building
Number of active facilitators by tool.
Facilitator certification progress.
Leader participation in CI training and events.
Percentage of events led by trained operational or functional leaders.
Successor readiness for critical CI roles.
Demonstrated independent use of MBS tools by site leaders.
Culture and Engagement
Associate participation in improvement activities.
Number of implemented employee improvement ideas.
Action closure and escalation discipline.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Five or more years of experience in manufacturing, operations, Lean, or Continuous Improvement.
- Demonstrated experience facilitating Kaizen events and structured problem-solving activities.
- Experience coaching leaders and cross-functional teams.
- Experience establishing baselines, analyzing data, and tracking measurable results.
- Strong project-management, facilitation, presentation, and change-leadership skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Power BI, Project, or Visio.
- Ability to communicate effectively with frontline associates, technical professionals, managers, and senior leaders.
Preferred Qualifications
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.
- Lean leadership, Kaizen facilitation, or MBS tool certification.
- Project-management or change-management certification.
- Experience leading CI deployment in a mid-size manufacturing operation.
- Experience validating financial benefits with Finance.
- Experience developing facilitators, Lean leaders, or CI specialists.
- Bilingual English and Spanish capability when supporting cross-border or Mexico and Texas operations.
- Critical Competencies
- Continuous Improvement mindset
- Data-driven decision making
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Business and financial acumen
- Change leadership
- Coaching and talent development
- Facilitation and influence
- Goal accountability
- Project management
- Process discipline
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Clear written and verbal communication
- Courage to challenge the status quo
- Bias for action
- Follow-through and sustainment
Equal Employment Opportunity
MasterBrand Cabinets LLC is an equal opportunity employer. MasterBrand Cabinets LLC’s policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability/handicap status, marital status, military status, sexual orientation, genetic history or information, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. MasterBrand Cabinets LLC also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also MasterBrand Cabinets LLC’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.
Reasonable Accommodations
MasterBrand Cabinets LLC is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability and wish to discuss potential accommodations related to applying for employment, please contact us at [email protected].
