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Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist

Tenneco · Blacksburg, VA

Apply on Tenneco ↗
Level
Senior
Team
Lean / CI
Degree
Required
Experience asked
3+ years
Industry
Automotive
Posted
4 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A senior continuous improvement role at Tenneco (automotive) in Blacksburg, VA. Track, analyze, and communicate key performance indicators to measure progress and support decision-making.

They ask for
3+ years · degree required
Tools it names
Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Root cause

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

How this role compares

Against 10 other live lean / ci postings in Virginia.

Experience asked
Less than usual (3+ vs 7+)

Similar roles usually ask 7+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ Lean 100%
  • ✓ Kaizen 100%
  • ✓ Six Sigma 91%
  • Value stream mapping 64%
  • 5S 55%
  • Black Belt 36%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

It asks for 3+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone on the team first.

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. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Lean / CI team at Tenneco

    Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.

  2. 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. 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 did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 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. 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: Tenneco in Blacksburg

1 other open role at this site.

Full description from TennecoAs posted on their careers site.Show

About the role

The CI Manager leads continuous improvement efforts within the plant to drive operational excellence, cost performance, and standardization. This role partners closely with plant leadership and cross-functional teams to improve business results through training, process improvement, problem-solving, and disciplined execution of operational initiatives.

The ideal candidate brings deep operations experience, strong Lean manufacturing knowledge, and the ability to influence at all levels of the organization while building a culture of accountability, consistency, and continuous improvement.

Why The Tenneco Way Matters in This Role

This role plays an important part in bringing the Tenneco Way to life within the plant. That means helping create an environment where high standards, continuous improvement, accountability, and collaboration are part of everyday operations. For the CI Manager, this is important because success depends not only on improving processes and reducing cost, but also on building trust, developing people, and creating the discipline needed to sustain results over time. In this role, continuous improvement is not just a set of tools — it is a way of leading the business and strengthening performance.

Key Responsibilities

  • ◆Lead continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen plant performance, reduce cost, and improve operational consistency
  • ◆Deliver training and coaching to plant personnel on continuous improvement methodologies and standard work practices
  • ◆Partner with leaders and frontline teams to identify process variation, close performance gaps, and sustain improvements
  • ◆Conduct audits and assessments to monitor compliance with operational standards and drive corrective actions where needed
  • ◆Facilitate kaizen events and improvement workshops focused on productivity, efficiency, and cost reduction
  • ◆Track, analyze, and communicate key performance indicators to measure progress and support decision-making
  • ◆Support the development and implementation of plant operating standards that enable reliable execution and long-term performance gains
  • ◆Collaborate with stakeholders across the plant to simplify processes, strengthen accountability, and accelerate results

Qualifications

  • ✓Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field required
  • ✓2-3 years of experience in operations roles required
  • ✓2-3 years of experience driving operational improvement through Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies required
  • ✓Demonstrated ability to teach, coach, and embed continuous improvement practices across teams
  • ✓Experience leading kaizen events, process improvement initiatives, and cost reduction efforts in a manufacturing environment
  • ✓Lean, Six Sigma, or related certification is a plus, but not required
Show full description ↓

Job Description – CI Snr Specialist

About tenneco

At Tenneco, we don’t follow industry standards; we set them, and we don’t settle for being best-in-class because we hustle to be better than best-in-class. Whether it’s our Core Values–radical candor, simplify, organizational velocity, tenacious execution and win–or our Get Stuff Done (GSD) mindset, we’re determined to become the most trusted partner and best manufacturer and distributor to the transportation industry.

How do we make it happen? Through the Tenneco Way. Fueled by our Core Values, a winning mindset and a relentless commitment to excellence, the Tenneco Way is how we win. It’s what keeps Team Tenneco bold, driven, and unapologetically focused on pushing past limits and redefining success.

Here, you’ll work alongside a team of relentless problem-solvers who are committed to making a tangible impact. If you’re ready to break boundaries, deliver results, and enjoy the ride along the way, you’ll thrive here.

Want to learn more about who we are? Check out our website to discover the Tenneco Way .

The successful candidate will be

  • •A strong operator who can translate strategy into execution
  • •An effective coach who can build capability and engagement across teams
  • •A clear communicator who builds trust and works well across functions
  • •Adaptable, resilient, and comfortable leading change in dynamic environments
  • •Data-driven, practical, and focused on delivering measurable results

Core Competencies

  • •Continuous Improvement and Lean Manufacturing
  • •Operations Management
  • •Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis
  • •Project Management
  • •Stakeholder Management
  • •Analytical Thinking
  • •Manufacturing Processes and Technologies
  • •Resilience and Change Leadership

Functional Knowledge

  • •Plant operations and performance improvement
  • •Cost management and financial acumen
  • •Workplace safety standards and safety leadership
  • •Quality systems and process controls
  • •Lean tools, kaizen, and continuous improvement principles

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means building stronger plant capability, delivering measurable operational and cost improvements, sustaining effective standards, and creating a culture where continuous improvement becomes part of how the team works every day.

We don’t want average. We want exceptional. We want someone who’s hungry to build, unafraid to challenge, and bold enough to lead with empathy, speed, and precision. Sound like you? Let us know.

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