Value Stream Operations Manager
Fortive · Irvine, CA
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Lean / CI
- Degree
- Preferred
- Experience asked
- 8+ years
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management continuous improvement role at Fortive (industrial) in Irvine, CA. Lead, facilitate, and actively participate in KAIZEN events to drive rapid, focused improvements.
- They ask for
- 8+ years · degree preferred · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Kaizen, Value stream mapping, Assembly lines
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Continuous Improvement roles in California: typical posted base $109k–$167k.
Median of the low and high ends of 13 live postings that list pay, out of 25 continuous improvement openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 24 other live lean / ci postings in California.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (8+ vs 5+)
Typical $109k–$167k, from 13 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 80%
- ✓ Six Sigma 64%
- ✓ Kaizen 64%
- ✓ Value stream mapping 56%
- Root cause 44%
- ✓ Black Belt 36%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Assembly lines, 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 Fortive
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?
- The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- 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: Fortive in Irvine
1 other open role at this site.
- Sr Design Quality Engineer (Consumables) · Quality · Senior
Full description from FortiveAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Lead a team a team of hourly employees, managing schedules, timecards, and performance to ensure alignment with production goals.
- ◆Oversee and coordinate the activities of the manufacturing assembly line across two shifts (typically Monday through Friday).
- ◆Monitor daily operations to ensure efficiency, safety, and adherence to quality standards.
Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field; advanced degree (e.g., MBA) preferred.
- ✓Minimum of 8 years of leadership experience in operations management or process.
- ✓Strong leadership and communication skills, with a track record of building high-performing teams.
- ✓Comfortably operating under stretch goals while maintaining a process improvement mindset to achieve exceptional results.
- ✓Exceptional analytical skills and the ability to use data-driven insights to inform strategic decisions.
- ✓Proven expertise in Lean and Six Sigma methodologies (Black Belt certification preferred).
- ✓Experience managing and developing teams of hourly associates in a production environment.
- ✓Demonstrated success in overseeing assembly line operations and ensuring performance across multiple shifts.
- ✓Availability to support operations during off-hours as needed.
Physical & Work Environment
Requirements
The physical demands identified are representative of the physical
requirements
necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of this job. While performing the
responsibilities
of this job, the employee may be required to talk and hear.
Fortive Corporation Overview
Fortive's essential technology makes the world safer and more productive. We accelerate transformation in high-impact fields like workplace safety, build environments, and healthcare.
We are a global industrial technology innovator with a startup spirit. Our forward-looking companies lead the way in healthcare sterilization, industrial safety, predictive maintenance, and other mission-critical solutions. We're a force for progress, working alongside our customers and partners to solve challenges on a global scale, from workplace safety in the most demanding conditions to advanced technologies that help providers focus on exceptional patient care.
We are a diverse team 10,000 strong, united by a dynamic, inclusive culture and energized by limitless learning and growth. We use the proven Fortive Business System (FBS) to accelerate our positive impact.
At Fortive, we believe in you. We believe in your potential—your ability to learn, grow, and make a difference.
At Fortive, we believe in us. We believe in the power of people working together to solve problems no one could solve alone.
At Fortive, we believe in growth. We're honest about what's working and what isn't, and we never stop improving and innovating.
Fortive: For you, for us, for growth.
About Advanced Sterilization Products
ASP is a leading global provider of innovative sterilization and disinfection solutions, and a pioneer of low-temperature hydrogen peroxide sterilization technology.ASP’s mission is to protect patients during their most critical moments. We support healthcare facilities in the fight to protect patients against hospital acquired infections, which are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. ASP’s products, which are sold globally, include the STERRAD system for sterilizing instruments and the EVOTECH and ENDOCLENS systems for endoscope reprocessing and cleaning.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
At Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), we believe in the potential of every individual to contribute, innovate, and drive meaningful change. As part of our commitment to excellence, we’re seeking a dynamic and experienced Value Stream Operations Manager to lead and optimize our Biological Indicators assembly manufacturing and supply chain operations. This leadership role is critical in ensuring operational efficiency, driving continuous improvement, and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence. You will oversee production, planning, supply chain, and warehouse operations, with a focus on delivering exceptional results in a fast-paced environment.
Continuous Improvement
- •Lead, facilitate, and actively participate in KAIZEN events to drive rapid, focused improvements.
- •Champion Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to identify inefficiencies, eliminate waste, and enhance operational workflows.
- •Promote a culture of continuous improvement by fostering innovation and empowering team members to suggest and implement changes.
Performance Metrics & Reporting
- •Lead and own daily management metrics pertaining to Operations, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.
- •Develop, monitor, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure operational success and identify opportunities for improvement.
- •Leverage data analytics to drive decision-making, resolve challenges, and capitalize on opportunities.
Strategic Collaboration
- •Build strong cross-functional partnerships with quality, R&D, engineering, facilities, and other teams to ensure alignment with business objectives.
- •Foster collaboration across departments to streamline workflows and improve overall efficiency.
- •Ensure operational strategies support company goals, creating a seamless connection between teams to drive success.
Project & Change Management
- •Manage multiple projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within scope, and on budget.
- •Drive change management initiatives, engaging stakeholders and ensuring smooth implementation of operational changes.
