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Continuous Improvement Leader

3M · Wisconsin

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Level
Manager
Team
Lean / CI
Base pay
$165k–$201k
Travel
10%
Degree
Required
Certification
Black Belt preferred
Industry
Industrial
Posted
30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A management continuous improvement role at 3M (industrial) in Wisconsin. Of this position include that corporate policies, procedures and security standards are complied with while performing assigned duties.

They ask for
degree required · Black Belt preferred
Tools it names
Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Green Belt, Kaizen
Base pay
$165k–$201k
Day to day
about 10% travel · relocation help

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

At a glance

Relocation help

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

  1. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Lean / CI team at 3M

    We found 2 people at this company and state: 1 on the team, 1 leaders, plus 1 likely hiring manager. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓

  2. 2

    Send a short, curious note

    One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.

    Write to Steve → (free)
  3. 3

    Turn a reply into a short call

    Questions worth asking about this team:

    • What does a normal week look like on your team?
    • Is CI run from the plant floor or from a corporate OpEx group?
    • Which metrics does leadership actually watch: OEE, scrap, cost per unit?
    • The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
    • The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
  4. 4

    Apply with someone vouching for you

    If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.

  5. 5

    Bring proof to the interview

    One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

About the role

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

As a Continuous Improvement Leader, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative people around the world. Here, you will make an impact by:

  • ◆Works with site leadership team to set short-term strategic direction and operating plans for assigned area of responsibility and defines guidelines/methods.
  • ◆Responsible for development site CI strategy for Continuous improvement. Will have direct responsibility and work with site leader for strategic planning and establishing improvement objectives.
  • ◆Complex problem solving requiring in-depth interpretation, analysis and improvement approaches. Improvement expertise/experience should encompass production, materials, transactional, warehouse, supply chain, Materials Resource Planning (MRP), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Portfolio and/or information flows. Ability to link process, execution and master data failure modes with projects to drive operational improvements that drive financial performance.
  • ◆Responsible for site/organization level goals, objectives, strategy and performance.
  • ◆Driving financial improvement across the site/organization
  • ◆Collaborates with front-line employees, support teams, department/function, supervisors/managers and operations leaders to determine goals, direction, and approaches for improvement.
  • ◆Responsible for working with site/ organization leadership team to determine approach and strategy for achieving operational and financial objectives.
  • ◆Teaching, mentoring and developing others (e.g. peers, supervisors, managers) in their ability to establish Continuous
  • ◆Improvement as a primary mechanism to improving financial and operational performance in their work centers, departments or areas.
  • ◆Use CI Dashboard to manage, maintain and communicate CI impact/performance to leadership at all levels.

Your Skills and Expertise

To set you up for success in this role from day one, 3M requires (at a minimum) the following

qualifications

  • ✓Bachelor’s degree or higher (completed and verified prior to start)
  • ✓Five (5) years of experience in plant and/or operations leadership in a private, public, government or military environment
  • ✓Three (3) years of experience in developing and leading kaizen events in a private, public, government or military environment

Additional

that could help you succeed even further in this role include

  • ◆Strong communication skills across all levels of the organization
  • ◆Ability to develop and execute strategic plans
  • ◆Ten (10) years of experience in plant operations, engineering, and/or maintenance functions
  • ◆Strength in leading and managing culture change
  • ◆Advanced data analysis and Microsoft Excel skills
  • ◆Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt experience or certification
  • ◆Coaching and teaching skills.
  • ◆Lean Manufacturing experience.
  • ◆Demonstrated results using continuous improvement methodologies.

Work location: On-site Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin

Travel: May include up to 10% domestic travel

Relocation Assistance: May be authorized

Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).

Supporting Your Well-being

3M offers many programs to help you live your best life – both physically and financially. To ensure competitive pay and benefits, 3M regularly benchmarks with other companies that are comparable in size and scope.

Chat with Max

For assistance with searching through our current job openings or for more information about all things 3M, visit Max, our virtual recruiting

Good Faith Posting Date Range 09/14/2026 To 10/14/2026 Or until filled

All US-based 3M full time employees will need to sign an employee agreement as a condition of employment with 3M. This agreement lays out key terms on using 3M Confidential Information and Trade Secrets. It also has provisions discussing conflicts of interest and how inventions are assigned. Employees that are Job Grade 7 or equivalent and above may also have obligations to not compete against 3M or solicit its employees or customers, both during their employment, and for a period after they leave 3M.

Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @3M.

Responsibilities

of this position include that corporate policies, procedures and security standards are complied with while performing assigned duties.

Safety is

Show full description ↓

Job Description

Continuous Improvement Leader

Collaborate with Innovative 3Mers Around the World

Choosing where to start and grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the company that you choose to work at, and its leaders, will support and guide you. With a wide variety of people, global locations, technologies and products, 3M is a place where you can collaborate with other curious, creative 3Mers.

This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government or military experience to a 3M career.

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