MB Manager, Continuous Improvement

About the role

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.

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

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

• Champion the MasterBrand Business System
• Lead Strategic Improvement Planning
• 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
• Deliver Measurable Business Results
• Build Organizational Capability
• Establish and Sustain Daily Management
• Ensure Sustainment and Process Discipline
• 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