
Sr Spec Continuous Improvement
Medline · Northfield, IL
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Lean / CI
- Base pay
- $101k–$152k
- Travel
- 25%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 4+ years
- Certification
- Black Belt required
- Industry
- Medical devices
- Posted
- 29 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior continuous improvement role at Medline (medical devices) in Northfield, IL. , genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
- They ask for
- 4+ years · degree required · Black Belt required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Green Belt, Kaizen, FDA / GMP
- Base pay
- $101k–$152k
- Day to day
- about 25% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
Your game plan for this job
Most people just hit Apply. Do these first and you show up with someone on the inside.
- 1
Find 2–3 people on the Lean / CI team at this site
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply most.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
Ask about the work, not for a referral. We write it for you.
- 3
Have a 15-minute chat
Good questions for this role:
- 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 25% travel. Between which sites?
- The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- 4
Apply, ideally with a referral
Ask if they'd refer you or introduce you to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link and tell them the day you apply.
- 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
Job Summary
The Sr Spec Continuous Improvement is responsible for leading and executing complex, high-impact process improvement initiatives across corporate and manufacturing environments. This role applies Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to deliver sustainable results, drive measurable business value, and strengthen a culture of Continuous Improvement. The Senior Specialist operates with a high degree of independence, serves as a subject matter expert and coach to others, and partners with cross-functional stakeholders to improve performance, quality, and customer satisfaction.
Job Description
Responsibilities
Lead end-to-end continuous improvement initiatives, including opportunity identification, data analysis, solution design, implementation, and benefit realization.
Apply Lean Six Sigma tools and methodologies to solve complex problems and improve process efficiency, quality, and effectiveness.
Serve as a change agent by influencing stakeholders, promoting CI principles, and ensuring improvements are understood, adopted, and sustained.
Design and implement effective process controls, metrics, and governance to ensure long-term sustainability of improvements.
Facilitate workshops, kaizen events, and process mapping sessions with cross-functional teams ranging from front-line associates to leadership.
Develop business cases, baseline metrics, and return-on-investment (ROI) analyses for improvement initiatives; track and communicate realized benefits.
Coach, mentor, and provide technical guidance to Continuous Improvement Specialists and other team members on CI tools, methodologies, and best practices.
Contribute to the development and delivery of CI training and capability-building efforts.
Partner with business, Quality, Operations, and IT stakeholders to align process improvement efforts with organizational priorities.
Identify opportunities to standardize best practices and scale successful improvements across the organization.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Certification / Licensure
Lean and/or Six Sigma Green Belt required.
Six Sigma Black Belt certification preferred or willingness to obtain.
Work Experience
4+ years of successful experience leading continuous improvement, Lean, or Six Sigma initiatives.
Demonstrated experience independently managing complex projects and delivering measurable results.
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
Advanced problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret and apply data to drive decisions.
Strong facilitation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to influence without direct authority and work effectively in a matrixed environment.
Proven ability to coach and mentor others in CI methods and tools.
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiency with common CI and analytical tools (e.g., process mapping, statistical analysis, and Microsoft Office applications).
Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time for business purposes, as needed.
Education
Master’s degree in Engineering, Industrial & Systems Engineering, or a related field.
Certification / Licensure
Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
Experience facilitating multi-day kaizen events and workshops.
Familiarity with regulated environments and quality systems (e.g., FDA, QSR, ISO).
Experience working with ERP systems (e.g., SAP).
Medline Industries, LP, and its subsidiaries, offer a competitive total rewards package, continuing education & training, and tremendous potential with a growing worldwide organization.
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