Continuous Improvement Manager
Emerson · Marshalltown, IA
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Lean / CI
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 9 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management continuous improvement role at Emerson (industrial) in Marshalltown, IA. In this Role, Your Responsibilities Will Be.
- They ask for
- 3+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Root cause, Automation
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Continuous Improvement roles in the US: typical posted base $105k–$150k.
Median of the low and high ends of 139 live postings that list pay, out of 361 continuous improvement openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Iowa plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 360 other live lean / ci postings in the US.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 5+)
Typical $101k–$144k, from 125 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 84%
- ✓ Six Sigma 54%
- Value stream mapping 48%
- Kaizen 48%
- ✓ Root cause 44%
- 5S 32%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Power BI / Tableau, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
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
Pick 2–3 people on the Lean / CI team at Emerson
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 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.
- 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?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 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
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.
This plant: Emerson in Marshalltown
4 other open roles at this site.
- Quality Control Technician (2nd Shift) · Quality · Technician
- Industrial Engineer · Industrial
- Manufacturing Process Engineer · Process
- Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing
Full description from EmersonAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Who You Are
- ✓You use data and facts to identify opportunities and drive decisions.
- ✓You are comfortable moving between the manufacturing floor and analytical project work.
- ✓You build credibility through collaboration and results.
- ✓You effectively communicate with operators, supervisors, engineers, and senior leadership.
- ✓You can manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining focus on measurable business outcomes.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Will Be
- •Identify, prioritize, and manage a portfolio of continuous improvement projects aligned with plant strategic objectives.
- •Lead cross-functional teams in the execution of manufacturing, operational, and business process improvement initiatives.
- •Analyze production, quality, inventory, labor, and transactional data to identify trends, performance gaps, and improvement opportunities.
- •Develop business cases, project charters, and implementation plans for improvement initiatives.
- •Facilitate structured problem solving and root cause analysis using data-driven methodologies.
- •Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, and IT teams to deliver sustainable improvements.
- •Lead projects focused on productivity, throughput, lead time reduction, quality improvement, cost reduction, and capacity expansion.
- •Design and implement dashboards, reports, visual management tools, and performance metrics that support operational decision-making.
- •Identify opportunities to automate manual processes, improve data accessibility, and enhance information flow throughout the organization.
- •Map and evaluate manufacturing and business processes to eliminate waste, reduce complexity, and improve efficiency.
- •Measure and communicate project results, ensuring improvements are sustained and documented.
- •Coach teams on continuous improvement principles and structured problem-solving techniques.
- •Support plant leadership by providing analysis, project updates, and recommendations based on operational data.
For this Role, You Will Need
- •Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Business Analytics, or related technical field.
- •Minimum 3+ years of manufacturing, engineering, operations, quality, or continuous improvement experience.
- •Experience leading cross-functional projects from identification through implementation.
- •Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- •Experience using data analysis and visualization tools such as Power BI, Excel, SQL, Power Query, or similar platforms.
- •Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and drive organizational change.
- •Strong written and verbal communication skills.
that Set You Apart
- •Lean, Six Sigma, or Operational Excellence certification.
- •Experience with Power Platform development, automation tools, or manufacturing systems.
- •Experience managing capital, productivity, or digital transformation projects.
- •Knowledge of ERP and manufacturing data systems.
- •Project management experience.
Our Culture & Commitment to You
- •At Emerson, we prioritize a workplace where every employee is valued, respected, and empowered to grow. We foster an environment that encourages innovation, collaboration, and diverse perspectives—because we know that great ideas come from great teams. Our commitment to ongoing career development and growing an inclusive culture ensures you have the support to thrive. Whether through mentorship, training, or leadership opportunities, we invest in your success so you can make a lasting impact. We believe diverse teams, working together are key to driving growth and delivering business results.
- •We recognize the importance of employee wellbeing and know that to do your best you must have flexible, competitive benefit plans to meet your physical, mental, financial, and social needs. We provide a variety of medical insurance plans, with dental and vision coverage. Our culture prioritizes work-life balance and offers flexible time off plans, including paid holidays and volunteer time. You will also get hands-on experience, professional development, and networking opportunities in our well-established and structured co-op program. There is also an easy to access on-site cafeterias, fitness facilities, employee resource groups, recognition, and much more.
Our Location
Marshalltown, Iowa , combines the charm of a close-knit community with the conveniences of a thriving city. Located in central Iowa, less than an hour from both Des Moines and Ames, Marshalltown offers easy access to urban amenities while providing a variety of local outdoor recreation activities like hiking, biking, golf, swimming, and exploring local parks. With its affordable cost of living, excellent schools, and vibrant diverse local culture, Marshalltown is a welcoming place to call home!
Why emerson
Our Commitment to Our People
At Emerson, we are motivated by a spirit of collaboration that helps our diverse, multicultural teams across the world drive innovation that makes the world healthier, safer, smarter, and more sustainable. And we want you to join us in our bold aspiration.
We have built an engaged community of inquisitive, dedicated people who thrive knowing they are welcomed, trusted, celebrated, and empowered to solve the world’s most complex problems — for our customers, our communities, and the planet. You’ll contribute to this vital work while further developing your skills through our award-winning employee development programs. We are a proud corporate citizen in every city where we operate and are committed to our people, our communities, and the world at large. We take this responsibility seriously and strive to make a positive impact through every endeavor.
At Emerson, you’ll see firsthand that our people are at the center of everything we do. So, let’s go. Let’s think differently. Learn, collaborate, and grow. Seek o
