To meet the basic qualification for this role, you will have a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Lean, or Continuous Improvement. Quick question for you - click here In addition, to be a good fit for the Continuous Improvement Manager opportunity, you will have:

• 10+ years’ experience leading Lean/Six Sigma transformations
• Strong knowledge of Toyota Production System (TPS) methodology
• Demonstrated project management skills
• Advanced training in Lean Manufacturing, 5S, SMED, Standardized Work, Job Instruction and other continuous improvement methodologies is strongly preferred
• Lean and/or (TPS) certifications are preferred Quick question for you - click here
• Intermediate computer skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• An MBA or other relevant master's degree is a plus

Just as important will be the following competencies and characteristics:

• Demonstrated strong leadership skills, including the ability to:
  • Build and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority
  • Help people develop professionally
  • Balance a high-energy results orientation with a humble approach
• A hands-on approach to leading projects
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Articulate oral, written and presentation communication skills
• Strong problem-solving skills
• The ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment
• A desire to build a career home and grow with the company

As an essential business, we have strong protocols in place protecting our employees and safeguarding their health. Once it is safe to do so, you may travel about 15% of the time to other Utilimaster and Shyft locations for kaizen events, workshops, or for other reasons. Pictured: Utilimaster's Velocity F-Series offers big-truck interior space without requiring a commercial driver's license -- thus expanding the pool of potential drivers for fleet operators. You will see these vehicles on the road and be able to tell friends and family, "I'm part of the team that builds those."

Continuous improvement expertise, strong leadership skills and a knack for balancing different needs. If this describes you, this position offers you some intriguing opportunities. You will:

• Play an important role in the implementation of the Shyft Production System in our Bristol facility, taking CI to new levels
• Provide the strong management necessary to accommodate ongoing growth -- we have quadrupled production over the past year, and we're continuing to ramp up
• Make your mark leading important transformations, including standardizing work instructions, digitizing processes and more
• Demonstrate your potential to advance along a variety of career paths at a company that is proactive about supporting career growth
• Join at an exciting time -- across The Shyft Group we are pursuing aggressive growth strategies, creating opportunities for strong performers

Utilimaster moves ahead of the competition when commercial trucks and upfit services require precision, planning, peerless people, and the perfect vehicle. Our vehicles deliver for well-respected global brands in the package delivery, ecommerce, food and beverage, linen and laundry, grocery and pharmaceutical markets. Utilimaster is a top-tier go-to-market brand of The Shyft Group (NASDAQ: SHYF), North America's leader in specialty vehicle manufacturing, assembly, and upfit for the commercial, retail, and service specialty vehicle markets. The Shyft Group rebranded in 2020 to reflect a new focus on high-growth end markets to help ensure long-term profitable growth.

Reporting to the Director of Continuous Improvement (CI), you will lead a team in Bristol that includes three CI Engineers, each of whom is paired with a CI Associate. You will be responsible for measuring, monitoring, and leading initiatives to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost. You'll also act as a project / Kaizen facilitator, providing technical expertise in continuous improvement and driving results by leading the development and execution of our Shyft Production System. Quick question for you - click here

Some of the projects you will lead include:

• Ensuring and sustaining standardized work through auditing and updating work instructions
• Transforming material replenishment processes, including implementing containerization, fixed delivery parameters, parts presentation and more
• Transforming information flow in conjunction with the implementation of a new manufacturing execution system (MES)

You also will actively participate in functional site meetings with Quality, Operations, Materials to discuss safety, quality, performance, cost and other metrics. Here is a sampling of specific responsibilities:

• Manage, lead, and follow-up the transformation to a lean culture at Utilimaster
• Manage, develop, and monitor Ci Team Engineers and Associates in the Shyft Production System
• Lead, mentor, and follow-up to sustain the cultural and technical changes necessary to make Utilimaster a world-class Lean organization
• Collaborate with functional areas to install and monitor effective countermeasures which eliminate waste
• Promote the development and implementation of a Shyft Production System
• Provide leadership and be a catalyst for implementing Lean Enterprise principles, tools, and techniques
• Coach and lead Lean and continuous improvement projects across the organization
• Constantly strive to optimize work, material, and information flows and processes, eliminate nonvalue added activities, weak process design, and improve internal and external customer satisfaction through sustainable processes
• Communicate with cross-functional (engineering, materials, purchasing, sales, etcetera) and cross-location teams to design common work standards, systems, and other elements of superior manufacturing practices
• Support the development and implementation of Lean Production systems design, tools and techniques
• And more

Note: this description is intended to give you a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive listing of duties and responsibilities.

Professional development
The broad exposure provided by this role can set you up to pursue opportunities in a variety of areas -- we don't put people in silos. You could set your sights on moving up within the Continuous Improvement organization, or move into Quality, Materials, Manufacturing, or other functions.

Stability and growth
The Shyft Group is financially sound and will continue to be an aggressive market disrupter through strategic acquisitions, relevant product innovations, and aggressive growth models that serve strong and growing end markets. Be assured, our accelerated growth trajectory will create opportunities for strong performers.

Focused transformation
Utilimaster, alongside The Shyft Group's family of well-respected brands, continues to lead in every segment in which they compete. The Shyft name represents speed, efficiency, agility, and a high-intensity approach, which corresponds with the company's pivot in market focus and the forward momentum garnered in the work truck, specialty service, and delivery vehicle markets.

Driven to deliver
Ever evolving and advancing, The Shyft Group is driven to make an impactful difference in how effectively goods, people, and services are delivered in today's and tomorrow's marketplace. Through our unmatched industry knowledge, engineering expertise, and manufacturing reach, we continue to deliver job-enhancing, efficiency-driving, ever-reliable products and services made for the road ahead.

Excellent compensation
In addition to a competitive salary and bonus, we offer medical, dental, vision, and prescription insurance plans; a health savings account; a flexible savings account; wellness credits; a wellness program; a 401(k) plan with a corporate match; an employee stock purchase program and more.

As a change leader, you will need to influence people and help them get on board with improvements. On the whole, you should use a collaborative and motivating approach. Humility is important -- those who think "I'm always right" don't fit in well in our environment. You should be able to balance the needs of the organization and the needs of team members. Just the same, there may be times when you need to be assertive.

We understand that there will be a learning curve, and we'll provide training and support. However, with your experience and expertise, you should be able to hit the ground running and start making an impact in short order. In our fast-paced environment, you will need to be versatile and flexible, and able to pivot quickly to manage constantly changing priorities effectively. Against this backdrop, you will need to maintain a commitment to excellence and uphold high standards.

In addition, in order to be an outstanding CI Manager, you will:

• Communicate the CI big picture while also paying close attention to detail
• Remain open to learning on an ongoing basis
• Use sound judgment and make timely, and sometimes difficult, decisions
• Combine analytical savvy and creativity in solving problems
• Achieve individual goals autonomously and also contribute as a team player
• Bring a strong sense of urgency, but also take the time necessary to ensure high-quality results