*global lean & continuous improvement manager*
company: rieke de mexico manufacturing, s. de r.l.de c.v.
Primary location: calle circuito corral de piedras, manzana 1, lote 16, san miguel de allende, guanajuato, 37888, mex
employment type: salaried | full-time
function: research & development
equal opportunity employer minorities/women/veterans/disabled
*main duties & responsibilities*
the lean & continuous improvement manager is responsible for leading the design, implementation, and governance of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement (ci) programs across all trimas packaging global operations. This leader will partner closely with operations, supply chain, and plant leadership to drive a world-class ci culture focused on operational excellence, waste elimination, and sustainable performance. The role also serves as a critical support to the global director of transformation in deploying the strategic vision of the transformation office, and aligning initiatives with the broader goals of esg, material management, ai adoption, and performance optimization.
*primary responsibilities*:
- map, assess, and redesign existing lean programs across divisions to identify scalable initiatives and areas requiring structured redesign.
- lead the deployment of lean tools including vsm, 5s, smed, tpm, a3 problem solving, heijunka, and kanban.
- develop and execute kaizen events and ci workshops in partnership with site leaders and functional teams.
- implement a lean maturity assessment framework (bronze, silver, gold levels) and provide coaching and progress tracking for each division.
- launch and manage a lean recognition program, inspired by the shingo model, to promote engagement and highlight excellence.
- support esg and sustainability teams by aligning waste reduction and energy-saving initiatives with lean methodologies.
- collaborate with ai and automation teams to identify and implement smart manufacturing technologies that complement lean systems.
- build a ci project portfolio with validated financial impact, and ensure proper documentation, tracking, and reporting.
- create a community of practice through regular sharing of best practices, success cases, and learning events across plants.
- coach, mentor, and train ci leaders, engineers, and plant teams to foster ownership and continuous learning.
*qualifications*
- bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, business administration or related field. Master’s preferred.
- lean six sigma green belt certification required; black belt or equivalent advanced training preferred.
- minimum 7 years of experience in lean/ci leadership roles within manufacturing environments (plastics/packaging preferred).
- strong facilitation and change management skills in cross-functional and multicultural environments.
- proven track record of implementing lean systems with measurable productivity, oee, and scrap reduction improvements.
- experience with esg or sustainability-focused process improvements is a strong plus.
- excellent communication and training skills; ability to lead workshops and influence all organizational levels.
- willingness to travel globally up to 50% of the time.