Continuous Improvement Manager-Midwest

Continuous Improvement Manager

At Daniels Health, our mission is simple but powerful - to make healthcare safer and more sustainable. As a global leader in reusable healthcare waste management systems, Daniels is redefining how healthcare facilities handle medical waste through innovation, environmental responsibility, and operational excellence. We don't just manage waste - we protect people, reduce environmental impact, and help our partners achieve safer, cleaner, and more efficient operations. The Continuous Improvement Manager plays a key role in advancing that mission by embedding a culture of efficiency, safety, and performance improvement throughout our operational network.

Position Overview : The Continuous Improvement Manager (CIM) will lead strategic and hands-on initiatives that drive efficiency, cost reduction, and process optimization across Daniels Health's U.S. operations - including plants and transfer stations. Based in Chicago, IL, this role partners closely with regional operations leadership, as well as local and national Maintenance and Engineering teams, to identify and execute practical, sustainable improvements that enhance operational performance. The CIM focuses on the practical application of Lean, continuous improvement, and industrial engineering principles, delivering measurable results in productivity, safety, quality, and cost efficiency while fostering a culture of collaboration, experimentation, and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence : Identify and implement opportunities to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance across processing plants and transfer stations. Apply Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and structured problem-solving methodologies to streamline processes, eliminate waste, and drive measurable cost savings. Conduct time studies, workflow analysis, and labor utilization reviews to identify bottlenecks, process constraints, and opportunities to rebalance work for improved throughput. Develop and standardize best practices that improve reliability, reduce variability, and enhance overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Support and lead site-level and national continuous improvement initiatives aligned with Daniels Health's operational goals.

Cost Reduction & Financial Impact Partner with regional and site leadership to identify cost-reduction opportunities in labor, materials, logistics, and maintenance. Drive initiatives that lower operational expenses through improved process efficiency, waste minimization, and resource optimization. Quantify and track the financial impact of all CI projects, providing regular reporting to leadership on savings achieved and ROI. Collaborate with finance and operations teams to integrate cost improvement metrics into site KPIs and performance dashboards.

Collaboration & Influence Work through regional operations leadership to prioritize and execute improvement initiatives that align with regional and national objectives. Influence and engage individuals at all organizational levels - from frontline team members to senior leaders - to participate in ideation, active problem-solving, prioritization, solution development, testing, and full-scale deployment. Serve as a trusted facilitator and coach, guiding teams through structured improvement processes and ensuring strong engagement and ownership of outcomes. Communicate progress, learnings, and successes across the organization to build awareness and sustain a continuous improvement mindset.

Hands-On Plant Floor Engagement Maintain a strong and visible presence on the plant floor, working directly with operations teams to identify and implement process improvements.