Director, Continuous Improvement – Supply Chain & Distribution (Hybrid - Acton, MA)

Director, Continuous Improvement – Supply Chain & Distribution

Position Summary

The Director of Continuous Improvement, Supply Chain & Distribution, is a senior leader responsible for driving operational excellence across end‑to‑end supply chain and distribution operations. This role builds and sustains a culture of continuous improvement by deploying Lean principles, 5S, and structured problem‑solving methodologies across warehouses, distribution centers, transportation, and planning functions. The Director partners closely with Supply Chain, Operations, and Enterprise leaders to deliver measurable improvements in safety, service, cost, inventory, and productivity.

Key Responsibilities

Continuous Improvement Strategy & Culture

• Define and execute the continuous improvement strategy for supply chain and distribution operations, aligned with enterprise objectives.

• Serve as the primary champion of a Lean, continuous improvement culture across distribution centers, transportation, and supply chain planning teams.

• Influence senior supply chain and operations leaders to embed CI behaviors into daily management and operational routines.

• Foster frontline engagement by promoting problem solving, standard work, and continuous learning.

Training & Capability Building

• Develop and deliver hands‑on training for supply chain and distribution teams in:

  • 5S and workplace organization

  • Lean fundamentals and flow

  • Structured problem solving (A3, root cause analysis, PDCA)

• Coach leaders, supervisors, and CI practitioners on applying Lean tools in warehouse, logistics, and planning environments.

• Establish CI training standards and learning pathways for supply chain and distribution roles.

• Build internal CI capability by mentoring future Lean leaders and facilitators.

Project Ownership & Execution

• Own and lead high‑impact continuous improvement projects across supply chain and distribution functions.

• Identify opportunities to improve:

  • Warehouse productivity and space utilization

  • Order fulfillment, picking, and shipping performance

  • FG and Raw Material cycle time improvement

• Ensure projects are data‑driven, rigorously managed, and deliver sustainable results.

• Quantify and track benefits including cost reduction, productivity gains, service improvements, and risk reduction.

Lean Action Workouts & Kaizen Events

• Plan, facilitate, and lead Lean Action Workouts, Kaizen events, and rapid improvement workshops in distribution centers and supply chain functions.

• Drive cross‑functional participation including operations, planning, procurement, IT, and transportation partners.

• Ensure rapid implementation of improvements and closure of action items.

• Capture best practices and scale successful solutions across multiple sites and regions.

Governance, Metrics & Sustainability

• Establish governance processes to prioritize, track, and sustain CI initiatives in supply chain and distribution.

• Define and monitor key performance indicators such as safety, productivity, on‑time delivery, inventory performance, and cost.

• Implement visual management, standard work, and audit routines to sustain improvements.

• Regularly communicate CI progress and results to supply chain leadership and executive teams.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

• 10+ years of experience in continuous improvement, Lean, or operational excellence roles within supply chain, logistics, or distribution environments.

• Proven success leading CI initiatives across multi‑site distribution or supply chain networks.

• Deep knowledge of Lean principles, 5S, Kaizen, and structured problem solving applied to warehousing and logistics.

• Strong facilitation, training, and coaching skills with frontline and senior leaders.

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional teams and drive change in fast‑paced operational settings.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinker with strong supply chain and operational acumen

• Influential leader and change agent

• Hands‑on problem solver with a results orientation

• Effective communicator and teacher at all organizational levels

• Drives sustainable improvement through people, process, and standardization

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