Clayton is a leading single-family, values-driven home builder dedicated to attainable housing, sustainable practices and creating a world-class experience for customers and team members. Our company portfolio includes a broad offering of attainable housing, and as a vertically integrated home builder, we are uniquely positioned to serve customers through every stage of the homeownership journey – building, selling, financing, and insuring homes. From entry-level to more experienced positions, we're actively recruiting individuals who are passionate, positive, and eager to learn. We then equip you for success, whether you're in the office, in the field, or on the floor. As a member of our team you'll enjoy excellent benefits, opportunities for growth, and an encouraging culture that supports work / life balance.

Regional Continuous Improvement Specialist

Reports to: Manager / Director of Continuous Improvement
Department: Continuous Improvement
Job Status: Full-Time
Mobility Profile: On location (Travel Required)

Position Summary

The Regional Continuous Improvement Specialist is a key driver of Operational Excellence across a designated region of home building facilities. This role blends hands-on industrial engineering expertise with strategic continuous improvement leadership, focusing on optimizing production systems, reducing waste, and improving quality and efficiency.

The Specialist partners with plant, regional, and corporate leadership to identify improvement opportunities, implement standardized CI methodologies, and sustain measurable results. Acting as both a change agent and technical expert, this role supports multiple facilities through data-driven decision-making, process optimization, and cross-functional collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

Regional CI Leadership & Execution

• Support a region of approximately 10–15 home building facilities, driving CI initiatives aligned with enterprise strategy.
• Partner with plant leadership (General Managers, Production Managers) to identify, prioritize, and execute high-impact improvement opportunities.
• Serve as a change agent, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence.

Process Optimization & Engineering

• Partner with and guide facility-based Continuous Improvement Specialists to analyze manufacturing processes, improving throughput, quality, ergonomics, and workforce balance across multiple sites
• Provide direction, standard methodologies, and coaching on line balancing, time studies, and work sampling to ensure consistent identification and elimination of waste and non-value-added activities.
• Lead regional deployment of Lean, Six Sigma, and engineering best practices, ensuring site-level CI teams effectively develop and implement sustainable process improvements.

• Collaborate with site CI resources to evaluate and standardize equipment, tooling, and layout enhancements, driving scalable improvements in production efficiency and quality across the region.

Data Analytics & Digital Enablement

• Leverage data analytics tools (e.g., Tableau, dashboards, BI tools) to monitor KPIs and drive decision-making.
• Develop reporting tools and visualizations to communicate performance trends and improvement results.
• Partner with IT and business teams to enhance digital systems and CI-related technologies.

Continuous Improvement Programs

• Lead and support cross-functional CI initiatives focused on cost reduction, quality improvement, and productivity gains.
• Implement and sustain standardized CI frameworks, tools, and best practices across facilities.
• Support quality initiatives such as defect reduction and root cause analysis programs.

Collaboration & Coaching

• Facilitate CI events (Kaizen, workshops, problem-solving sessions) across regional facilities.
• Coach plant-level personnel on CI tools, problem-solving techniques, and performance management.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, and support functions to ensure sustainable implementation of improvements.

Performance Tracking & Reporting

• Track and report performance improvements, including cost savings, efficiency gains, and ROI.
• Conduct audits to ensure adherence to standardized processes and CI methodologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or related field required.
• 3–7+ years of experience in continuous improvement, industrial engineering, or manufacturing operations.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and process improvement methodologies.
• Proven ability to analyze data and translate insights into actionable improvements.

Preferred

• Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt certification.
• Experience with data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI) and process simulation software.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and digital manufacturing tools.

Key Competencies

• Analytical thinking and problem solving
• Influencing and leadership without direct authority
• Project management and execution
• Effective communication across all organizational levels
• Change management and continuous improvement mindset

Travel Requirements

• Travel up to 50% to regional manufacturing facilities.

Physical Demands

• Combination of office and manufacturing floor environments
• Ability to use standard office equipment and communicate effectively in person and remotely
• Ability to stand, walk, and observe production processes during site visits

Why Clayton?

Full-time team members have the flexibility to create their own health, dental, and vision benefits package. Clayton provides competitive 401K programs, including investment options and company matching for full and part time team members after one year to help our team members achieve their financial goals. Additional benefits include paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, Employee Assistance Programs, and more.

As part of Clayton’s commitment to Opening Doors to a Better Life, Clayton is now providing paid time for Team Members to volunteer to causes that are meaningful to them through the Clayton Impact program.

At Clayton, we encourage holistic wellness with physical, nutritional, social, financial, spiritual and occupational programs available online or in-person for team members.

Clayton is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Clayton is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

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