Director of Continuous Improvement

As Director of Continuous Improvement, you will build the systems, capabilities, and leadership routines that support a consistent culture of continuous improvement across Silgan Containers manufacturing locations.

• ◆Establish and lead a Continuous Improvement organization focused on improving manufacturing operations across a multi-plant network.
• ◆Develop, implement, and track the organization’s multi-year Continuous Improvement strategy and roadmap.
• ◆Lead the Continuous Improvement Steering Committee and partner with senior management and plant leadership on CI priorities, progress, and results.
• ◆Lead, coach, and develop Continuous Improvement Specialists who provide direct support to manufacturing plants.
• ◆Apply Lean manufacturing methods including 5S and Visual Factory, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Kaizen events, Quick Changeover and SMED, and Value Stream Mapping.
• ◆Provide hands-on leadership for multiple concurrent improvement projects through structured problem solving, facilitation, and disciplined execution.
• ◆Advance the Silgan Containers operational excellence system by strengthening process discipline, standard work, and adoption of CI tools.
• ◆Partner with manufacturing teams to identify and deliver cost savings, production throughput improvements, waste reduction, and process optimization opportunities.
• ◆Develop and maintain dashboards, tracking tools, reporting processes, and governance routines to measure plant and department progress against CI goals.
• ◆Create and manage Lean training materials specific to Silgan Containers and support capability building across the manufacturing organization.
• ◆Communicate CI performance, project status, risks, and results to plant leaders and senior management.
• ◆Travel to manufacturing sites to lead and support CI activities, approximately 30%.

What We're Looking For

• ✓10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience, including responsibility for Lean manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, operational excellence, or Six Sigma initiatives.
• ✓Experience leading Lean implementation teams or Continuous Improvement programs across a multi-plant manufacturing organization.
• ✓Demonstrated success developing and implementing Lean principles, systems, and processes that produce sustainable operational improvements.
• ✓Hands-on experience applying CI tools in a high-speed manufacturing environment.
• ✓Experience leading people and multiple cross-functional teams while managing concurrent projects, milestones, and deliverables.
• ✓Strong problem-solving, project leadership, coaching, facilitation, and change management skills.
• ✓Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with employees and leaders from the manufacturing floor through the executive level.
• ✓Ability to travel approximately 30% to Silgan Containers manufacturing locations.

• ✓Experience building a CI or operational excellence function, governance model, training program, and performance tracking system.
• ✓Lean Six Sigma certification or comparable expertise in structured problem solving and process improvement.
• ✓Experience improving production throughput, changeover performance, equipment reliability, cost, and plant operating results.

Why Join Silgan?

Silgan Containers is North America’s largest metal food packaging producer and a recognized advisor in sustainable packaging innovation. We continuously invest in operational excellence, technology, and our employees to build a stronger future for our customers and communities.

At Silgan, you will have the opportunity to shape enterprise-wide Continuous Improvement strategy, develop manufacturing talent, and build scalable systems that strengthen performance across our manufacturing footprint.