Continuous Improvement Leader

About Us:

Founded on a commitment to relentless, continuous operational improvement and extraordinary customer service, we at Pursuit Aerospace pride ourselves on competitive cost structures, exceptional on-time delivery, and industry-leading quality.

The Pursuit family of companies has cultivated long-term relationships with our customers around the world through respect, teamwork, technology, and trust. We are driven to develop industry-leading process innovations and manufacturing techniques on behalf of our customers.

About the Opportunity:

We are seeking a Continuous Improvement Leader [also known in Pursuit as a Kaizen Promotion Office (KPO) Leader] for our Thomasville, GA location. The KPO Leader will drive continuous improvement initiatives by developing and implementing Kaizen methodologies. This role will focus on fostering a workplace culture that empowers employees at all levels to streamline and enhance safety, quality, delivery, and cost. The KPO Leader will collaborate with leadership and cross-functional teams to drive process improvements and sustain operational excellence. The Thomasville site employs approximately 150 people and generates $50 million of revenue per year.

At Pursuit Aerospace, a leading contract manufacturer of high-quality, precision-machined aerospace parts, we need individuals who thrive in fast-paced environments, embrace challenges, and are dedicated to building strong customer relationships. If you have a can-do attitude and are a solutions-focused professional ready to make a positive impact, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

Responsibilities:

• Leads and drives Kaizen workshops and continuous improvement events, ensuring all relevant stakeholders are involved.
• Champions the identification, planning, and execution of cost-out initiatives to improve operational efficiency and reduce waste.
• Develops and implements strategic initiatives to boost productivity and optimize shop floor processes.
• Acts as a key leader within the site leadership team, providing strategic insights and data-driven recommendations to drive business and operational improvements.
• Champions and sustains continuous improvement efforts, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and long-term impact.
• Leads and delivers training and mentorship programs on Kaizen principles and Lean methodologies to build a culture of continuous improvement.
• Owns performance tracking, analyzing key data and metrics to measure progress, drive informed decision-making, and identify new improvement opportunities.
• Ensures accountability for Kaizen Newspaper Action Items, driving follow-through and measurable results.
• Serves as a change agent, embedding continuous improvement principles across all levels of the organization and ensuring initiatives are sustained.
• Manages and maintains Kaizen resources, training materials, and standard templates to support ongoing improvement efforts.
• Fosters cross-functional collaboration, ensuring initiatives are successfully executed across all business areas.
• Ensures long-term sustainability of implemented improvements, providing hands-on leadership and support where needed.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, a related field or an alternate degree with relevant experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a manufacturing environment, with leadership roles in Continuous Improvement, Lean, Operational Excellence, and/or Kaizen.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience facilitating Kaizen workshops and training in Lean Manufacturing.
• Experience leading cost reduction projects and process improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of Kaizen, Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Strong analytical skills, including data-driven analysis and performance metrics.
• Experience managing change to improve the business while positively impacting the employee experience.
• Experience mentoring and coaching others. 
• Strong interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint. (Moved from preferred to required).
• Ability to provide leadership and strategic direction as part of the site leadership team.

Working Conditions:

• This role requires up to 10% travel, including visits to other company sites, suppliers, or industry events as needed.
• Working conditions typically include both office and shop floor environments.
• Personal protective equipment (e.g., safety glasses and safety shoes) is required on the shop floor.
• Lifting up to 20-30 lbs. may be occasionally required.
• Occasional weekend and evening work may be required to accommodate priorities, deadlines, and schedules.

Compensation & Benefits:

We offer a competitive salary and benefit package, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, paid time off, and company-paid holidays.

Must be willing and able to work onsite full-time in Thomasville, GA. This position is eligible for relocation.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Pursuit Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment, and we do not tolerate workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.