Continuous Improvement Manager
Date: Mar 23, 2026
Location: Blacksburg, VA, US
Company: Tenneco
At Tenneco, we don’t follow industry standards; we set them, and we don’t settle for being best-in-class because we hustle to be better than best-in-class. Whether it’s our Core Values – radical candor, simplify, organizational velocity, tenacious execution and win – or our Get Stuff Done (GSD) mindset, we’re determined to become the most trusted partner and best manufacturer and distributor to the transportation industry.
With a product portfolio as expansive as it is innovative, an obsessive commitment to quality and excellence, and a global presence, we’re all about getting stuff done, so we can win.
How do we make it happen? Through the Tenneco Way. Fueled by our Core Values, a winning mindset and a relentless commitment to excellence, the Tenneco Way is how we win. It’s what keeps Team Tenneco bold, driven, and unapologetically focused on pushing past limits and redefining success.
Here, you’ll work alongside a team of relentless problem-solvers who are committed to making a tangible impact. If you’re ready to break boundaries, deliver results, and enjoy the ride along the way, you’ll thrive here.
Want to learn more about who we are? Check out our website to discover the Tenneco Way
Job Description – Continuous Improvement Manager
ABOUT TENNECO
At Tenneco, we don’t follow industry standards; we set them, and we don’t settle for being best-in-class because we hustle to be better than best-in-class. Whether it’s our Core Values–radical candor, simplify, organizational velocity, tenacious execution and win–or our Get Stuff Done (GSD) mindset, we’re determined to become the most trusted partner and best manufacturer and distributor to the transportation industry.
How do we make it happen? Through the Tenneco Way. Fueled by our Core Values, a winning mindset and a relentless commitment to excellence, the Tenneco Way is how we win. It’s what keeps Team Tenneco bold, driven, and unapologetically focused on pushing past limits and redefining success.
Here, you’ll work alongside a team of relentless problem-solvers who are committed to making a tangible impact. If you’re ready to break boundaries, deliver results, and enjoy the ride along the way, you’ll thrive here.
Want to learn more about who we are? Check out our website to discover the Tenneco Way.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Continuous Improvement Manager will lead the site’s continuous improvement initiatives designed to eliminate non-value-added activities while improving operational excellence. This position ensures existing processes maintain a high level of performance while continuously reviewing and refining those processes. This individual will be responsible for the establishment of an operational excellence culture throughout all plant operations with emphasis on sustainable development. This role will also champion the adoption & utilization of Tenneco’s internal resources related to continuous improvement standards & initiatives.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Be accountable and ensure Tenneco’s internal CI standards (P3) are utilized to implement processes that meet or exceed company goals:
- Manage and identify continuous improvement projects
- Perform gap analysis to identify deficiencies in business processes, programs, and recommend adjustments.
- Identify process deficiencies directly impacting plant profitability.
- Lead cross-functional project teams to implement change and drive continuous improvement.
- Use appropriate problem-solving tools to provide rapid improvement with sustainable results.
- Plan budget and manages costs related to operational excellence initiatives.
- Directly supervise, train, and mentor full-time continuous improvement assigned resources.
- Build project plans for continuous improvement initiatives, resources, timelines, and critical paths
JOB REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience.
- Minimum 5+ years’ experience in operations required.
- Experience in a Continuous Improvement function.
- Must have thorough understanding of cycle time reduction, waste reduction, yield improvement, productivity and throughput improvement.
- Hands-on experience using Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement methods (LEAN, TPM, Six Sigma, TQM).
- Proven leadership skills to coach and lead teams to fully deliver chartered objectives and projects.
- Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification highly preferred.
We don’t want average. We want exceptional. We want someone who’s hungry to build, unafraid to challenge, and bold enough to lead with empathy, speed, and precision. Sound like you? Let us know.
Equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities