Why work for us?
Alkegen brings together two of the world’s leading specialty materials companies to create one new, innovation-driven leader focused on battery technologies, filtration media, and specialty insulation and sealing materials. Through global reach and breakthrough inventions, we’re delivering products that enable the world to breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before.
With over 60 manufacturing facilities with a global workforce of over 9,000 of the industry’s most experienced talent, including insulation and filtration experts, Alkegen is uniquely positioned to help customers impact the environment in meaningful ways.
Alkegen offers a range of dynamic career opportunities with globe-spanning reach. From production operators to engineers, technicians to specialists, sales to leadership, we’re always looking for top talent ready to bring their best. Come grow with us!
About the Role
The Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager is responsible for driving operational excellence and creating measurable value across a thermal engineered materials manufacturing site. This is a highly hands-on role that requires deep engagement with day-to-day operations, learning the manufacturing processes end-to-end, and identifying practical opportunities for improvement, throughput gains, and cost savings.
The ideal candidate is a strong floor presence—someone who actively partners with operations, understands the process at a granular level, and leads sustainable change.
Key Responsibilities
Partner with plant leadership to develop and execute a site-wide Continuous Improvement roadmap aligned with financial and operational goals
Become fully immersed in the manufacturing process to understand workflows, constraints, and improvement opportunities firsthand
Drive throughput and capacity improvements by identifying bottlenecks, optimizing workflows, and improving process reliability
Lead cross-functional teams using Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving methodologies (DMAIC, A3, 8D)
Implement and sustain layered process audits (LPAs) to reinforce standards and drive accountability
Conduct regular Gemba walks to observe processes, engage teams, and identify real-time improvement opportunities
Identify inefficiencies and cost drivers, and implement sustainable corrective actions
Develop and maintain value stream maps to eliminate waste and improve flow
Ensure Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are updated and standardized following process improvements
Support capital projects by ensuring operational efficiency and risk reduction are built into design and execution
Performance & Analytics
Analyze production and performance data to identify trends, constraints, and root causes
Translate CI initiatives into quantifiable cost savings, throughput gains, and operational improvements
Track, validate, and report results of improvement initiatives
Culture & Leadership
Maintain a strong and visible presence on the plant floor; lead by example
Coach and develop employees at all levels in Lean tools and continuous improvement practices
Facilitate Kaizen events and hands-on improvement workshops
Foster a culture of accountability, standardization, and continuous improvement
Qualifications
3–5+ years of on-site manufacturing experience, including leadership or management responsibility (required)
Demonstrated success improving throughput, capacity, and operational performance
Experience implementing LPAs, conducting Gemba walks, and driving standard work
Strong problem-solving, analytical, and leadership skills
Ability to work cross-functionally and influence at all levels of the organization
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field (preferred, not required)
Experience with Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma methodologies
Background in industrial, materials, or process manufacturing environments
Experience with data analysis tools (Excel, Power BI, Minitab, etc.)
If you are interested in being part of a world class continuous improvement function here at Alkegen then we would love to hear from you.
At Alkegen, we strive every day to help people – ALL PEOPLE – breathe easier, live greener and go further than ever before. We believe that diversity and inclusion is central to this mission and to our impact. Our diverse and inclusive culture drives our growth & innovation and we nurture it by actively embracing our differences and using our varied perspectives to solve the complex challenges facing our changing and diverse world.
Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, nation of origin, religion, color, gender identity and expression, age, disability, education, opinions, culture, languages spoken, veteran’s status, or any other protected class.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field
- Minimum 5 years of manufacturing or operations experience
- Demonstrated application of Lean Manufacturing principles with measurable results
- Strong problem-solving, analytical, and facilitation skills
- Ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams
Alkegen Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Alkegen and has not been reviewed or approved by Alkegen.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered fair or strong in several roles and locations, with mentions of great pay and fair pay for the job. Competitive hourly operator wages and overtime opportunities in some sites reinforce this perception.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Generous PTO, paid holidays, and paid sick days are available, with some salaried roles offering manager‑approved unlimited time off. These elements indicate broad time‑off options across the package.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with employer match, in some cases with immediate vesting, is part of the offering. This reflects structured retirement support across many roles.
Alkegen Insights
What We Do
Alkegen is a specialty materials leader serving mission-critical systems that the world is focused on for the future, including: battery technologies, electric vehicles, filtration media, and specialty insulation materials that enable customers to reduce fossil fuel consumption, save energy, and live greener. We help people breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before. Our experience speaks for itself. Bringing together two of the world’s leaders in specialty materials, Unifrax and Lydall, Alkegen is a leader in innovation. We are a vertically integrated manufacturer with the global reach and talent to solve your most demanding applications. With 60 manufacturing facilities and 9,000+ highly skilled employees located around the world, we can solve any challenge. Dedicated to sustainability and human health, we are uniquely positioned to help customers impact the environment in meaningful ways. We are Alkegen.
