Director of Continuous Improvement: Top Recruiters in Toledo, Ohio
The Toledo Advanced Manufacturing Market
Toledo is anchored by Jeep's Wrangler and Gladiator production at Stellantis' Toledo Assembly Complex, alongside Owens Corning's global headquarters and First Solar's thin-film photovoltaic manufacturing operations.
About This Role
The Director of Continuous Improvement leads the enterprise's deployment of operational excellence programs, training Lean/Six Sigma practitioners, facilitating high-impact Kaizen events, and building a culture of systematic problem-solving and waste elimination across all manufacturing and business support functions.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead enterprise continuous improvement program including lean deployment, Six Sigma, and operational excellence initiatives
- Facilitate high-impact Kaizen events and Value Stream Mapping (VSM) exercises across all manufacturing sites
- Develop and manage the organization's Six Sigma Black Belt and Green Belt training and certification program
- Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities based on financial impact, quality, and customer experience data
- Track and report savings from CI projects, ensuring proper financial validation and accounting recognition
- Coach site leadership teams and plant managers on lean principles and continuous improvement leadership behaviors
- Lead Kaizen event pipeline management and ensure improvement projects are completed on schedule
- Partner with operations, engineering, and supply chain to embed CI methodologies into daily management routines
- Develop the CI roadmap and multi-year improvement targets aligned with business strategy
- Represent CI achievements at executive leadership reviews and communicate improvement culture externally
Leading Employers in Toledo
The Advanced Manufacturing talent pool in Toledo is shaped by movement between these anchor employers and their tier-one supplier base:
Required Experience & Background
- 10+ years in manufacturing with 5+ years specifically in continuous improvement, lean, or operational excellence roles
- Six Sigma Master Black Belt (MBB) or Black Belt with demonstrated savings track record
- Lean manufacturing expert with extensive VSM, kaizen facilitation, and lean transformation experience
- Demonstrated track record of delivering + in annual CI savings
- Experience deploying CI programs across multi-site manufacturing organizations
- Training and facilitation skills
- Experience training and certifying BB/GB candidates
Core Leadership Competencies
- Lean Transformation Leadership: Ability to drive enterprise-wide lean culture change beyond individual tools
- Six Sigma Mastery: Expert-level statistical and analytical capability applied to complex manufacturing problems
- Facilitation Excellence: Skill in leading engaging, productive Kaizen events that generate sustainable results
- Change Management: Ability to overcome resistance and build momentum for continuous improvement culture
- Financial Validation: Discipline in quantifying and validating improvement savings through proper financial methods
Regulatory & Compliance Context
Directors of Continuous Improvement must ensure CI programs comply with applicable ISO standards (ISO 9001 Clause 10 Improvement), OSHA requirements for workplace changes affecting safety, and any industry-specific requirements for process changes (AS9100 change control, IATF 16949 PPAP for process changes, FDA 21 CFR Part 820 for design control).
Compensation Benchmarks for Toledo, OH
Nexoval Search Partners' Approach in Toledo
Nexoval Search Partners's dedicated Advanced Manufacturing practice maintains active relationships with the executive talent community across Toledo and the broader Ohio market. Our consultants conduct thorough market mapping of available passive and active candidates across the region's leading employers, from established industry leaders to innovative growth companies. Every engagement includes confidential outreach, rigorous competency-based assessment, and candidate presentation within 45 to 60 days of engagement launch. Nexoval Search Partners's retained search model and one-year replacement guarantee ensure every executive we place in Toledo, Ohio delivers long-term organizational value.