Continuous Improvement EngineerThe Continuous Improvement Engineer at the Franklin Park Novolex facility is a hands-on change agent responsible for driving cultural, operational, and analytical excellence on the shop floor. This role is designed for someone with high energy, a proactive mindset, and a strong passion for being physically present in the operation.The CI Engineer will spend the majority of their time on the floorcoaching operators, partnering with supervisors and managers, and identifying improvement opportunities in real time. They will execute Lean tools, lead kaizen events, improve SQDCPP performance, and elevate the plant's daily discipline by leading through example.Primary report to the Plant Manager with a strong dotted-line partnership to the Regional Continuous Improvement Manager.Key Responsibilities:Hands-On Lean Implementation (High Emphasis)Spend significant time on the production floor engaging operators and identifying improvement opportunities at the source.Lead daily Gemba walks with plant leadership to assess SQDCP performance and drive immediate countermeasures.Model Lean behaviors and drive cultural adoption through presence, enthusiasm, and hands-on coaching.Facilitate full kaizen events focused on SMED, waste elimination, material flow, centerlining, and reliability. Regional CI Manager to assist if necessary.Reinforce and sustain 5S, Standard Work, Problem Solving, Leader Standard Work and Daily Management routines.SQDCP Performance ImprovementPartner closely with supervisors, managers, Plant Manager, and Regional CI Manager to drive improvements across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Productivity.Support implementation and follow-up on daily SQDCP boards, short-interval control, and frontline accountability routines.Identify top SQDCP gaps and convert them into structured CI projects using PDCA, A3s, and root cause analysis.Culture Building & Leadership by ExampleServe as a visible CI leader on the floor, demonstrating ownership, intensity, urgency, and high standards.Coach operators and leads on problem solving, waste identification, and process discipline.Help build a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement across all shifts.Data & AnalysisSupport downtime analysis, scrap trending, production variance analysis, and bottleneck identification.Pull and validate SAP and internal Manufacturing system data; assist with building and maintaining Power BI dashboards (preferred).Track all CI actions, verify savings, and maintain accurate documentation on project progress.Convert operational problems into data-driven insights and clear recommendation paths in partnership with Regional CI Manager.Partnership & Cross-Functional LeadershipWork side-by-side with the Plant Manager and Regional CI Manager to ensure alignment on top priorities.Collaborate with technical, maintenance, warehouse, scheduling, HR and quality teams to resolve operational issues.Support new initiatives, pilot technologies, and changes related to the Novolex Production System.Special Projects & Cross-Plant ExposureSupport select improvement initiatives that provide visibility across the Operating Unit and Business Unit, contributing analysis, Lean tools, or hands-on support where broader impact is needed.Participate periodically in cross-plant kaizens and best-practice sharing, helping transfer learnings and demonstrate Franklin Park's leadership in Continuous Improvement.Engage in special CI projects that offer opportunities to influence system-wide improvements, expand technical expertise, and build relationships with leaders beyond the home site.QualificationsRequiredVery strong analytics 5+ years of experience in manufacturing with 2+ including administrative tasks.High comfort being on the floor 70%+ of the time; must love Gemba.Strong analytical skills with proven Excel capability.Practical understanding of Lean tools: 5S, PDCA, SMED, Standard Work, A3, problem solving.Strong communication and coaching ability with hourly and salaried teams.PreferredBachelor's degree in manufacturing, Operations, Industrial or related.SAP experience (production data, scrap, downtime).Power BI (viewing; building preferred).Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent training.Experience supporting kaizen events in a fast-paced environment.Exposure to TPM, centerlines, and manufacturing reliability tools.Key CompetenciesHigh Energy & Proactivity Acts with urgency, follows through relentlessly, anticipates issues before they occur.Hands-On Leadership Leads side-by-side with operators, engages naturally on the shop floor.Gemba Mindset Believes improvement starts at the source; visible in operations daily.Ownership & Accountability Takes charge of issues and ensures closure.Strong Collaborator Works exceptionally well with Plant Manager, supervisors, and Regional CI leadership.Analytical Thinking Translates operational problems into clear data-driven actions.Culture Builder Drives positive change through influence, coaching, and example.Integrity & Reliability Trusted to deliver what they say; respected by all levels.Adaptability Thrives in changing priorities and rapidly shifting environments.Results Driven Obsessed with improving SQDCP performance and delivering measurable impact.