We’re looking for an experienced Continuous Improvement Manager to Drive operational excellence at our Darlington manufacturing site. In this role, you will leverage data-driven insights, Lean methodologies, and Six Sigma expertise to deliver measurable gains in productivity, quality, efficiency, and waste reduction. You will play a key part in fostering a culture of continuous improvement and empowering teams to make informed, data-enabled decisions across the factory.
What’s in it for you?
- Competitive salary
- 10% company bonus
- Private medical insurance
- Fantastic company discounts: Up to 80% off our stylish kitchen ranges and products
- Flexible holidays: Buy up to five extra days with our holiday purchase scheme
- Wellbeing support: Access to our virtual GP service and employee assistance platform 24/7
- Lifestyle perks: Cycle to work scheme and savings on hundreds of top brands via our benefits app
- A collaborative culture built on care, inclusion, and continuous improvement
What you’ll be doing:
- Lead sitewide Continuous Improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving methodologies
- Act as Six Sigma Black Belt, coaching teams, facilitating workshops, and ensuring disciplined project execution
- Develop and maintain a Continuous Improvement roadmap aligned with business priorities and operational targets
- Design and manage performance dashboards, KPIs, and reporting systems to enable data-driven decision-making
- Analyse operational data to identify trends, inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and waste, translating insights into actionable improvements
- Lead cross-functional Kaizen events, Value Stream Mapping, and Root Cause Analysis to drive process optimisation and waste reduction
- Collaborate with Production, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Planning teams to align priorities and deliver impactful outcomes
- Manage multiple CI and analytics projects, tracking performance, reporting progress, and supporting digital transformation initiatives
Who we’re looking for:
- Certified Six Sigma Black Belt with proven experience in high-volume or complex manufacturing environments (or equivalent level of experience in a similar role)
- Strong track record of delivering measurable process improvements and performance outcomes
- Advanced capability in Lean tools including 5S, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Kaizen, Standard Work, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and SMED/OEE optimisation
- Proficient in Business Intelligence and data analytics tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Qlik) with strong Excel and data manipulation skills
- Highly analytical with a structured, data-driven approach to problem solving and decision making
- Excellent communication, influencing, and facilitation skills across all organisational levels, including leading CI workshops and training
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects, prioritise effectively, and deliver to agreed timelines in fast-paced environments
- Results-driven leader with strong attention to detail, resilience under pressure, and a passion for continuous improvement and operational excellence
You’ll also be successful in this role by living and breathing our core values - Care, Deliver, Inspire.
Care – Building strong relationships, fostering collaboration, and supporting others while caring about our customers
Inspiring – Communicating with impact, leading with purpose, and helping bring our strategy to life
Delivering – Making sound decisions, using data and insight to drive action, and staying focused on results with a mindset of continuous improvement
Why choose Magnet?
At Magnet, we’re proud of our 100-year heritage—and even more excited about what’s ahead.
As the UK’s leading kitchen specialist, our success is built on the passion and creativity of our people. We’re on a journey of transformation, and we’re always open to fresh ideas. So even if you don’t meet every requirement, we’d still love to hear from you.
We’re committed to providing equal opportunities for all candidates. If you require any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.
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