Continuous Improvement & Projects Manager
Heraeus · Santa Fe Springs – California, CA
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Lean / CI
- Degree
- Required
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Metals
- Posted
- 29 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management continuous improvement role at Heraeus (metals) in Santa Fe Springs – California, CA.
- They ask for
- degree required · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Green Belt, Kaizen, 5S
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 $127k–$167k.
Median of the low and high ends of 11 live postings that list pay, out of 23 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 22 other live lean / ci postings in California.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $127k–$167k, from 11 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 7+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 78%
- ✓ Six Sigma 57%
- ✓ Kaizen 57%
- ✓ Value stream mapping 52%
- ✓ Root cause 39%
- ✓ Black Belt 35%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention 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 Heraeus
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: Heraeus in Santa Fe Springs – California
2 other open roles at this site.
- Engineering Manager · Manufacturing · Manager
- Maintenance Mechanic · Reliability · Technician
Full description from HeraeusAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
About the role
Heraeus Precious Metals is seeking a Continuous Improvement & Project Manager to lead site-wide continuous improvement initiatives and cross-functional projects at our Santa Fe Springs manufacturing site.
This role will translate business priorities and performance gaps into structured improvement initiatives that deliver measurable results across safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and operational performance. The position will play a central role in advancing Operational Excellence and Lean Manufacturing while ensuring that improvements are implemented effectively and sustained over time.
Working closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, EH&S, Maintenance, and site Leadership, you will combine data-driven problem solving with hands-on project execution in a chemical manufacturing environment.
qualifications
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical or business discipline.
- ✓At least five years of progressive experience in continuous improvement, project management, operations, manufacturing engineering, Operational Excellence, or a related field within a manufacturing environment.
- ✓Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional projects from planning through implementation and sustainment.
- ✓Strong working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
- ✓Demonstrated experience applying continuous improvement tools such as Kaizen, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, Root Cause Analysis, and process optimization.
- ✓Experience developing and using operational KPIs, performance metrics, and data analysis to identify opportunities and measure results.
- ✓Working knowledge of risk assessment, root cause investigation, Management of Change, and EH&S
requirements
in a manufacturing environment.
- ✓Strong analytical, organizational, facilitation, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
- ✓Demonstrated ability to influence and drive change across multiple functions and organizational levels without direct reporting authority.
- ✓Ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, deadlines, and changing business
requirements
in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- ✓Strong judgment and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate alternatives and recommend practical solutions.
- ✓Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint.
Preferred qualifications
- ✓Experience in chemical manufacturing, specialty chemicals, precious metals, materials, or another process-manufacturing environment.
- ✓Experience supporting CAPEX projects, equipment implementation, process modifications, manufacturing upgrades, commissioning, or process transfers.
- ✓Familiarity with Process Safety Management principles and regulated or hazardous manufacturing environments.
- ✓Familiarity with ISO quality and environmental management systems.
- ✓Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
- ✓Project Management Professional certification.
- ✓Experience with ERP systems, manufacturing performance systems, or project-management tools.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Continuous Improvement & Projects Manager
Heraeus Precious Metals
Location Santa Fe Springs – California
Permanent
Full Time
Pay Range Min. $114,818.00
Pay Range Max. $149,845.00
What you’ll do
- •Lead and facilitate Operational Excellence and Lean Manufacturing initiatives, including Kaizen, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, Root Cause Analysis, and other structured improvement methods.
- •Identify performance gaps, waste, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities, and develop practical solutions that deliver measurable and sustainable results.
- •Manage site-level projects from initiation through implementation and closeout, including process improvements, equipment upgrades, capital projects, process transfers, and strategic operational initiatives.
- •Develop project plans, schedules, milestones, resource requirements, risk assessments, and documentation aligned with project scope, budget, operational objectives, and business priorities.
- •Establish project priorities, coordinate cross-functional activities, remove execution barriers, and maintain accountability for milestones and commitments.
- •Develop and monitor KPIs, performance measures, and dashboards to evaluate operational performance, validate project results, and identify additional opportunities.
- •Facilitate cross-functional problem-solving sessions and coach employees and stakeholders on Lean tools, project management, structured problem solving, and continuous improvement practices.
- •Drive initiatives focused on productivity improvement, scrap reduction, downtime reduction, process optimization, waste elimination, cost improvement, and operational discipline.
- •Coordinate with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, Quality, EH&S, Supply Chain, external vendors, and site Leadership to support equipment installation, commissioning, process implementation, and project execution.
- •Lead or support Management of Change activities and ensure process, equipment, and operational modifications comply with applicable safety, environmental, quality, regulatory, and company requirements.
- •Monitor project performance, communicate status and risks, escalate issues, and recommend actions to stakeholders and site Leadership.
- •Verify project results, standardize successful improvements, document lessons learned, and transition completed initiatives to the responsible functional owners for sustainment.
Key capabilities
- •Practical, hands-on approach to continuous improvement and operational execution.
- •Ability to translate business priorities into structured projects and measurable outcomes.
- •Ability to build alignment, establish accountability, and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
- •Strong understanding of process