Job Description
Job DescriptionJob Title: Director of Continuous ImprovementJob Description
A global leader in the medical device industry is seeking a Director of Continuous Improvement to spearhead Operational Excellence initiatives across manufacturing and business operations. This role involves developing strategies that enhance safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost-effectiveness, while fostering a culture of operational excellence and standardizing methodologies.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development and deployment of Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence initiatives across manufacturing and business functions.
- Partner with executive leadership to identify strategic opportunities for improvements in productivity, efficiency, quality, and cost.
- Establish and maintain Continuous Improvement programs focused on Lean Manufacturing, waste elimination, process optimization, and operational excellence.
- Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure organizational performance and improvement initiatives.
- Drive initiatives aimed at improving Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC) metrics.
- Facilitate change management efforts to ensure successful implementation and adoption of improvement initiatives.
- Coach and mentor leaders and employees on Lean principles, Continuous Improvement tools, and best practices.
- Lead cross-functional teams focused on root cause analysis, process optimization, and performance improvement.
- Develop and maintain a portfolio of Continuous Improvement projects, tracking achievements and financial impact.
- Support strategic planning by identifying operational risks, improvement opportunities, and resource requirements.
- Build a sustainable culture of Continuous Improvement through leadership development, employee engagement, and accountability.
Essential Skills
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, Life Sciences, or another technical discipline.
- 10+ years of experience in manufacturing, operational excellence, continuous improvement, or process improvement.
- 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams, projects, or large-scale Continuous Improvement programs.
- Proven experience leading enterprise-wide Lean Manufacturing or Operational Excellence initiatives.
- Strong experience driving measurable improvements in productivity, quality, delivery, cost, and operational performance.
- Demonstrated success leading organizational change and influencing cross-functional stakeholders.
- Experience utilizing data and performance metrics to drive business decisions and improvement initiatives.
- Strong communication, leadership, and executive presentation skills.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, or other highly regulated manufacturing experience.
- Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification.
- Lean Manufacturing certification and extensive Lean implementation experience.
- Experience leading multi-site or enterprise-wide Continuous Improvement programs.
- Experience managing large transformation initiatives with measurable cost savings and operational improvements.
- Experience working in high-volume manufacturing environments.
- Familiarity with FDA, GMP, or other regulated manufacturing systems.
Work Environment
The work environment is within the medical device manufacturing sector, requiring adherence to high standards and regulatory compliance.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Irvine, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $100.00 - $100.00/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Irvine,CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jul 31, 2026.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.