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Continuous Improvement Manager

Vigor Marine
$138,000.00 - $148,000.00 / yr
United States, Oregon, Portland
5555 North Channel Avenue (Show on map)
Jun 14, 2025

Description


Who We Are
Vigor is a values-driven, diversified industrial business operating in six locations with 1,800 people in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. Built around a collection of powerful, unique assets and differentiated capabilities, Vigor excels at specialized shipbuilding and ship repair, supporting both commercial customers and our national defense. With deep respect for people and the planet, Vigor strives to be a positive, regenerative force for good - environmentally, in the lives of its employees and in the community. Vigor ... Industrial Evolution. For more information, visitvigor.net.

SALARY RANGE:$138,000 - 148,000

POSITION SUMMARY:
This position executes the ship repair Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) activities. Lead the identification, prioritization and implementation of continuous process improvement projects across Ship Repair organizations. Develop sustainable improvements through engagement using a team-based approach and continuous improvement toolsets. This role is designed to bring about a cultural change in the company consistent with the core value "Evolution" using results, training and communication. Partner with functional leaders to solve operational and business problems, create efficiencies and improve financial results through process improvements that save costs, reduce risks and improve revenue.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES :
(This list is not intended to detail all aspects of the assigned work but is representative of the job's overall responsibilities.)
  • Assist in implementing the Continuous Process Improvement System for ship repair.
  • Engages, negotiates, resolves conflict, and builds strong consultative relationships and strategic partnerships with business leaders to drive change.
  • Assist in developing key performance indicators to establish baseline performance metrics on key processes required to assess the impact of change.
  • Facilitates updates, meetings and key communication with functional managers and executives.
  • Assist in develop the core continuous process improvement tools to be used to drive change within the shipyards. Key is to avoid "flavor of the week" toolsets and establish an over-arching approach.
  • Engage employees, communicate, and train to drive a cultural change.The goal is to establish an organization where the majority of employees want to improve processes and recognize it as a key part of their "day job."
  • Partner with leadership to identify and prioritize opportunities to create positive bottom-line results.
  • Direct the efforts of internal operations partners, vendors and Subject Matter Experts in the execution of approved Improvement Initiatives.
  • Execute continuous improvement events using appropriate process improvement tools and personnel to affect sustainable change. Develop processes to assess the current state (including costs), affect change, forecast the financial improvement over time, and codify the change and drive implementation to reduce associated budgets to realize the financial improvement.
  • Coordinates and develops communications to publish change results in order to share improvements amongst the various business entities.
  • Develops and delivers training on continuous process improvement to various audiences.Training would include training on the strategic change to implement continuous process improvement, establish employee expectations, general and specific training on "how" to do continuous process improvement.
  • Establish processes to share process improvements between business entities.
  • Benchmark key processes both within and outside ship repair to learn best practices.


JOB SCOPE:
Operates within general parameters but must use sound judgment and decision-making while exercising daily job responsibilities.Makes recommendations on which projects to pursue. He/she reports to Director, Continuous Process Improvement while maintaining a strong reporting alignment with regard to estimating support to the Project Managers.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
The facilitator will be required to lead group activities with participants drawn from all areas and all titles across the company.A key leadership component will be to drive participation and commitments from non-direct reports across the business.

INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS:
The position serves as an internal advisor and consultant with peers and senior executives with regard to his/her functional areas of expertise. He/she interacts with leaders of other business units as required to assist in CPI activity. The ability to establish and maintain positive business relationships with internal and external contacts is a key component of this position. The ability to influence, negotiate, direct and accommodate competing business and/or leadership interests is required.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
  • Demonstrated understanding and experience deploying Lean, Six Sigma or other Continuous Improvement methodologies.
  • Strong knowledge or ability to quickly obtain knowledge of process improvement methodologies.
  • Demonstrated experience effectively leading and managing diverse teams.
  • Strong ability to effectively and efficiently facilitate process improvement events.
  • Superior leadership, management and team-building skills with cross functional teams.
  • Ability to work with leadership across the business to bring about positive cultural change.
  • Ability to clearly and concisely report on CPI progress and impact.
  • Proficiency in developing and analyzing key performance indices to measure change.
  • Analytical ability to assess the impact of change.
  • Strong and convincing communication skills.
  • Ability to develop and deliver appropriate training to all employees on a variety of process improvement topics.
  • Ability to work positively with front line employees.
  • Proven track record of successful change management and accomplishments implementing productivity and cost reduction programs.
  • Ability to schedule, direct and organize work within a diverse department and coordinate work with other departments to maintain efficiency and facilitate group decision-making, team building and conflict resolution.


EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
  • BS degree in technical, engineering (civil, electrical, or mechanical), business, or the equivalent in related ship repair work experience is required.
  • Minimum twelve (12) years of experience in production, construction, or marine or administration. Prior marine industry experience preferred.
  • Minimum five (5) years of experience in a senior management position with financial responsibility


CERTIFICATES, LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS:
Lean and/or Six-Sigma certification strongly preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands for this position are limited. Operating of a motor vehicle and a valid driver's license required. Travel required within North America, with possible overseas travel required as well.The role requires working extended hours, including weekends, holidays and evenings to perform assigned duties.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment for this job is primarily office-oriented; however frequent travel between Portland, San Diego, Norfolk and Seattle ship repair facilities is expected and observation of production work will be required. Travel (continental and/or international) may be required to visit other shipyards, training, or benchmarking opportunities. While in production areas, exposed to all types of weather conditions, noise, dusts and odors.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This role is with a federally contracted employer and is subject to regulations that restrict employment to US Persons only (i.e. US Citizens, lawful permanent residents, legally recognized asylees and refugees, and persons protected under INA). Successful job candidates will be asked to provide documentation of their US Persons status.

Vigor Industrial LLC and its wholly owned subsidiaries are drug, smoke and vape-free workplaces. Prospective employees must pass a drug and alcohol test and background check as pre-employment screening.

Vigor Values
Vigor expects all employees to enhance the atmosphere in which they work by living the Vigor Values every day.
Truth:We seek the truth, and we speak the truth
Responsibility:
We act on what we know is right
Evolution
: We seek mastery, and adapt to a changing world
Love:
We care about the people we work with, and the world we live in
Vigor and its wholly owned subsidiaries are committed to inclusion and diversity by providing equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veterans, age, genetics, the presence of a physical or mental condition or disability that can be reasonably accommodated, or any other protected class under relevant laws in the locations we operate. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and can be requested with Vigor's Human Resources Department.
In addition to federal law requirements, Vigor complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination and non-retaliation in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, benefits, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
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