Director Continuous Improvement & Learning and Development

Job Summary

The Director of Continuous Improvement and Learning & Development for Innovation and Operations is responsible for shaping and executing the strategic vision for Continuous Improvement and Learning & Development initiatives at Cirrus. This role is pivotal in cultivating a high-performance, lean-driven, and innovation-focused culture that drives operational excellence and sustainable growth.

Blending process optimization with people development, the Director will lead cross-functional efforts to enhance efficiency, elevate customer value, and strengthen employee engagement, leadership capability, technical training, and talent development across the organization.

This individual will be the architect and steward of Cirrus’s Lean Roadmap, guiding teams at all levels through their Lean journey and ensuring improvement efforts are closely aligned with business objectives. By championing a mindset of continuous learning and performance improvement, the Director will integrate targeted learning and development strategies that empower employees, build organizational capability, and support the agility and long-term success of the company.

Supervisory Responsibility 

Serves teams that include supervisors, managers, and individual contributors. 

Duties and Responsibilities/Essential Functions

Lead Continuous Improvement Efforts:

• Inspire and challenge stakeholders to seize opportunities for process improvements that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Guide teams, managers, and employees in identifying, defining, and executing continuous improvement activities that support key initiatives and drive impactful results.
• Oversee annual continuous improvement targets, conducting external research and benchmarking to ensure strategies and execution models deliver industry-leading results.
• Provide leadership and guidance in cross-functional problem-solving to improve quality, reduce costs, shorten cycle times, and eliminate waste.
• Define clear Lean project goals that are measurable, sustainable, and aligned with operational excellence objectives.
• Champion Lean principles across the organization by creating and executing a strategy that raises awareness and fosters commitment to Lean at all levels.
• Lead and facilitate Kaizen (Rapid Improvement) events, and mentor/coach Kaizen team leaders for effective execution.
• Lead enterprise-wide continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or other process improvement methodologies.
• Define clear annual objectives, actionable plans, resources, and metrics of success to track performance and achievement.
• Manage budgets effectively, ensuring continuous improvement initiatives are delivered within budget and timeline.

Learning & Development Strategies:

• Design and execute a comprehensive learning and development strategy aligned with business goals and workforce needs.
• Lead the creation and delivery of technical skills, compliance, and soft skills training programs.
• Implement modern learning technologies, platforms, and blended learning solutions (e.g., eLearning, microlearning, LMS).
• Assess training effectiveness, learning transfer, and ROI through data analysis and feedback mechanisms.
• Build a strong learning culture that supports continuous personal and professional growth.
• Design and implement programs to build leadership competencies in continuous improvement methodologies, ensuring sustainability and growth.
• Direct Cirrus University technical resources such as the learning management system, compliance tracking, onboarding courses, area specific training plans.
• Strategic direction of Training Operations, including but not limited to:
  • New hire and ongoing curriculum development within Cirrus University
  • Lead the creation of courses, virtual and in-person trainings, and train-the-trainer programs
  • Facilitate learning
  • Lead strategy of training and/or messaging to support team members through challenging or unprecedented times/situations such as production rate changes
• Partner with Learning Leaders across the Enterprise to align with learning systems and processes that standardize learning.
• Coordinate with industry experts and subject matter experts to create and deliver learning strategies that meet organizational needs.
• Support the onboarding and training of new team members, ensuring they are equipped to contribute to the organization's Lean and continuous improvement goals.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed