Continuous Improvement Manager

Job Summary:
The Continuous Improvement Manager – Aftermarket leads operational excellence by deploying Lean, Six Sigma (LSS), and Operational Excellence (OPEX) methodologies across the site through both hands-on execution and leadership enablement. This role serves as a key partner to site leadership, ensuring the effective implementation of corporate Aftermarket priorities while aligning local initiatives with global strategies and projects to drive sustained performance improvement.

The Continuous Improvement Manager is responsible for coaching, training, and mentoring leaders and teams while ensuring the successful adoption of Safran's LSS and OPEX works. The role oversees assessment processes, deployment roadmaps, and governance structures to embed a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Additionally, the Continuous Improvement Manager actively manages and executes continuous improvement initiatives, project portfolios, and cross-functional teams, working closely with site leadership, functional managers, and employees on the shop floor and within operational processes to deliver measurable improvements in quality, delivery, cost, and waste reduction.

Essential Job Functions
• Manage, coordinate, and execute continuous improvement initiatives across the site.
• This role is a working manager position, requiring direct ownership and execution of continuous improvement projects in addition to leadership, coaching, and governance responsibilities.
• Manage LSS and OPEX deployment plans, including governance, training, and sustainment to support cultural transformation.
• Develop and oversee continuous improvement strategies aligned with Aftermarket objectives and BSC, including project prioritization, resource alignment, and performance tracking.
• Serve as a key site representative to support the deployment and local execution of strategic initiatives aligned with company objectives and the Balanced Scorecard (BSC).
• Deploy improvement programs to achieve targets in quality, turnaround time, cost, and safety.
• Act as a change agent by identifying, analyzing, and addressing process improvement and quality opportunities using LSS and problem-solving methodologies.
• Maintain and report LSS and OPEX scorecards and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Coach, mentor, train and develop leaders and employees in LSS, 5S, and continuous improvement practices.
• Support improvement projects by removing barriers, driving engagement, and facilitating project reviews and tollgates.
• Provide process improvement expertise to optimize operational and business processes, ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and compliance.
• Collaborate with shop floor teams and support functions to ensure adoption and sustainability of improvements.
• Lead LSS projects and OPEX workshops, including shop transformations and layout improvements.
• Contribute to the Annual BSC Plan related to LSS and OPEX initiatives.

Job Summary:
The Continuous Improvement Manager – Aftermarket leads operational excellence by deploying Lean, Six Sigma (LSS), and Operational Excellence (OPEX) methodologies across the site through both hands-on execution and leadership enablement. This role serves as a key partner to site leadership, ensuring the effective implementation of corporate Aftermarket priorities while aligning local initiatives with global strategies and projects to drive sustained performance improvement.

The Continuous Improvement Manager is responsible for coaching, training, and mentoring leaders and teams while ensuring the successful adoption of Safran's LSS and OPEX works. The role oversees assessment processes, deployment roadmaps, and governance structures to embed a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Additionally, the Continuous Improvement Manager actively manages and executes continuous improvement initiatives, project portfolios, and cross-functional teams, working closely with site leadership, functional managers, and employees on the shop floor and within operational processes to deliver measurable improvements in quality, delivery, cost, and waste reduction.

Essential Job Functions
• Manage, coordinate, and execute continuous improvement initiatives across the site.
• This role is a working manager position, requiring direct ownership and execution of continuous improvement projects in addition to leadership, coaching, and governance responsibilities.
• Manage LSS and OPEX deployment plans, including governance, training, and sustainment to support cultural transformation.
• Develop and oversee continuous improvement strategies aligned with Aftermarket objectives and BSC, including project prioritization, resource alignment, and performance tracking.
• Serve as a key site representative to support the deployment and local execution of strategic initiatives aligned with company objectives and the Balanced Scorecard (BSC).
• Deploy improvement programs to achieve targets in quality, turnaround time, cost, and safety.
• Act as a change agent by identifying, analyzing, and addressing process improvement and quality opportunities using LSS and problem-solving methodologies.
• Maintain and report LSS and OPEX scorecards and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Coach, mentor, train and develop leaders and employees in LSS, 5S, and continuous improvement practices.
• Support improvement projects by removing barriers, driving engagement, and facilitating project reviews and tollgates.
• Provide process improvement expertise to optimize operational and business processes, ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and compliance.
• Collaborate with shop floor teams and support functions to ensure adoption and sustainability of improvements.
• Lead LSS projects and OPEX workshops, including shop transformations and layout improvements.
• Contribute to the Annual BSC Plan related to LSS and OPEX initiatives.

Job Requirements

Required Competencies

Education/Experience
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt preferred, experienced green belt preferred.

• Bachelor's degree or 5 years of experience in Lean Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, or similar process improvement roles.

Experience:
• Experience within the aerospace and defense industry is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional improvement initiatives.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship.
• This position requires access to information and/or hardware subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must qualify as U.S. persons under ITAR definitions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Advanced knowledge of Lean Six Sigma, DMAIC, Kaizen, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Strong knowledge of data analysis, statistical tools, and performance measurement
• Project and change management experience
• Experience coaching and influencing leaders and professional employees
• Knowledge of AS9100 preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Leadership Skills / Management Skills / Personal Skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills across all organizational levels
• Strong project and stakeholder management capabilities
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Demonstrated cross-functional leadership and coaching abilities
• Strong business acumen and understanding of end-to-end processes
• High level of initiative, accountability, and ability to work autonomously
• Customer-focused mindset
• High standards of integrity and professionalism

Job Requirements

Required Competencies

Education/Experience
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt preferred, experienced green belt preferred.

• Bachelor's degree or 5 years of experience in Lean Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, or similar process improvement roles.

Experience:
• Experience within the aerospace and defense industry is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional improvement initiatives.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship.
• This position requires access to information and/or hardware subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must qualify as U.S. persons under ITAR definitions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Advanced knowledge of Lean Six Sigma, DMAIC, Kaizen, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Strong knowledge of data analysis, statistical tools, and performance measurement
• Project and change management experience
• Experience coaching and influencing leaders and professional employees
• Knowledge of AS9100 preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Leadership Skills / Management Skills / Personal Skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills across all organizational levels
• Strong project and stakeholder management capabilities
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Demonstrated cross-functional leadership and coaching abilities
• Strong business acumen and understanding of end-to-end processes
• High level of initiative, accountability, and ability to work autonomously
• Customer-focused mindset
• High standards of integrity and professionalism

But what else? (advantages, specific features, etc.)

Travel Specificity:
Potential travel between Safran locations up to 10%.

Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position and occasionally move about the office and laboratory. Constantly operate and use a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copier/printer and laboratory machinery. The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information. The ability to observe, identify and assess details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds across office for various needs.

Work Environment:
The work environment is split between office & laboratory work, with most work being performed in the office. Noise level in the office is typically quiet while the noise level in the lab can occasionally require hearing protection.

Experience in relevant Business sector:
- Experience within aerospace industry is a plus but not required.

But what else? (advantages, specific features, etc.)

Travel Specificity:
Potential travel between Safran locations up to 10%.

Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position and occasionally move about the office and laboratory. Constantly operate and use a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copier/printer and laboratory machinery. The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information. The ability to observe, identify and assess details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds across office for various needs.

Work Environment:
The work environment is split between office & laboratory work, with most work being performed in the office. Noise level in the office is typically quiet while the noise level in the lab can occasionally require hearing protection.

Experience in relevant Business sector:
- Experience within aerospace industry is a plus but not required.

Company Information

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
Safran is in the 2nd place in the aerospace and defense industry in TIME magazine's "World's best companies 2024" ranking.

Safran Electronics & Defense offers its customers onboard intelligence solutions allowing them to understand the environment, reduce mental load and guarantee a trajectory, even in critical situations, in all environments: on land, at sea, in the sky or space. The company harnesses the expertise of its 13,000 employees towards these three functions: observe, decide and guide, for the civil and military markets.

Company Information

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
Safran is in the 2nd place in the aerospace and defense industry in TIME magazine's "World's best companies 2024" ranking.

Safran Electronics & Defense offers its customers onboard intelligence solutions allowing them to understand the environment, reduce mental load and guarantee a trajectory, even in critical situations, in all environments: on land, at sea, in the sky or space. The company harnesses the expertise of its 13,000 employees towards these three functions: observe, decide and guide, for the civil and military markets.