Continuous Improvement Engineering Manager

Reports To: Director of Manufacturing Engineering

Position Summary: IEM is currently seeking a Continuous Improvement Engineering Manager for our Surrey, B.C. locations.  This role will lead site-based continuous improvement activities, focusing on kaizen event facilitation, lean training, and driving implementation of standard work. The Continuous Improvement Manager will partner closely with operations and engineering to improve productivity, quality, and flow using lean tools.

Please note: This position requires 100% in-office presence in our Surrey, B.C. offices and does not offer remote work.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and facilitate kaizen events (labor productivity, layout, material flow, etc.)

Develop and deploy standard work across production and support areas

Train and coach operators, supervisors, and engineers on lean fundamentals

Support site-level strategy deployment and KPI management systems

Sustain improvements through layered process audits and tiered accountability

Analyze process performance and identify opportunities for improvement

Ideal Candidate Profile:

Lean Manufacturing Expertise

Deep hands-on experience applying lean tools (standard work, takt time, value stream mapping, problem-solving, etc.)

Proven ability to implement lean systems in high-mix, low-volume or complex manufacturing environments

Kaizen Leadership

Led numerous formal kaizen events (5–10+ per year ideally)

Skilled in pre-event planning, team facilitation, event execution, and post-event sustainment

Trained in or has led training in standard work development and implementation

Strategy Deployment / Hoshin Kanri Experience

Demonstrated capability in translating company-level priorities into actionable functional goals

Has experience facilitating X-matrix, catchball, and tiered management systems

Academy Company Background

Worked in a structured continuous improvement environment (e.g., Danaher, Parker Hannifin, Crane, Fortive, Illinois Tool Works, etc.)

Exposure to formal operating systems and cadence-based management practices

Strong Change Management and Coaching Skills

Able to coach operators, supervisors, and executives on lean behaviors and systems

Experience with resistance management and organizational transformation

Results-Oriented and Metrics-Driven

Has delivered measurable performance improvements (e.g., labor productivity, inventory turns, lead time, quality)

Cultural Fit for Fast-Paced, High-Growth PE Environment

Comfortable working with urgency, ambiguity, and high accountability

Flexible and pragmatic with strong bias for action

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, or a related field

5–8 years of experience in manufacturing or operational excellence roles

Experience planning and leading cross-functional kaizen events

Strong working knowledge of lean tools: standard work, VSM, 5S, problem-solving

Demonstrated career ambition with a track record of growth and increasing responsibility; highly promotable with the potential to take on broader leadership roles within a fast-paced, high-growth organization

Prior experience implementing lean in a hands-on, shop-floor setting

Excellent facilitation and coaching skills

Compensation actually offered for this role will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered