Continuous Improvement Engineer

Job Description: Continuous Improvement Engineer

Location: Bridgwater
Salary: £45,000 per year
Hours: Monday–Friday, 37 hours per week
Benefits: 25 days holiday + bank holidays, up to 4% annual bonus, sick pay scheme

Role Summary

We are seeking a proactive and driven Continuous Improvement Engineer to lead and support improvement initiatives across the site. This role is instrumental in identifying inefficiencies, improving processes, reducing waste and costs, and embedding a strong culture of continuous improvement throughout operations.

You will work closely with the Operations Manager and wider leadership team to prioritise, plan and deliver CI projects aligned with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and promote continuous improvement initiatives across all operational areas.
• Support leadership teams with identifying, prioritising, and selecting improvement projects.
• Assist Project Sponsors and Project Managers with project scoping, chartering, valuation and performance evaluation.
• Lead CI projects using recognised Lean tools and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Capture and standardise best practices, ensuring improvements are shared and sustained.
• Provide CI training and coaching to employees at all levels.
• Monitor, report and analyse cost-saving and performance-improvement activities.
• Maintain and update the site's Continuous Improvement Roadmap.
• Conduct annual Value Stream Mapping workshops and create project plans based on findings.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure improvement projects deliver measurable results.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Technical, Engineering or Manufacturing qualification desirable.
• Proven experience with Lean, continuous improvement, and structured problem-solving.
• Strong project management background, including managing multiple improvement projects.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence at all levels.
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.

Key Competencies

• Strong change-management capability and ability to embed new ways of working.
• Highly organised, structured and results-driven.
• Analytical thinker with strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confident presenting and training groups of employees.
• Able to work under pressure and manage both short-term demands and long-term improvements.

Key Interfaces & Stakeholders

• Production
• Operations
• Technical
• Quality
• Engineering

Travel Requirements

• Primarily based at the Bridgwater site, with some flexibility for home working.
• Occasional travel (5–20 days per year) to other UK or international sites.
• Must have the right to work in the UK.

Person Profile

• Engaging, approachable and able to build trust quickly.
• Highly motivated with strong leadership potential.
• Quality and cost-conscious, with a mindset geared toward improvement.
• Comfortable challenging established processes in a constructive way.
• Able to deliver to tight deadlines and manage competing priorities.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Improvements to operational KPIs such as:
  • Labour efficiency
  • Material and waste reduction
  • Product quality
  • Employee engagement
• Achievement of annual CI targets agreed during the performance cycle.