Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence Manager

Job Description:

SECURITY CLEARANCE: You will be subject to BPSS and Export Control checks (including a criminal record check) 

TRAVEL REQUIRED: Some travel within UK and international

LOCATION: Belfast

GRADE: L2

TYPE: Full time 

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU

Financial Reward: Competitive salary, annual profit share, contributory pension, share options

Work / Life Balance: 36 hour week, flexible working around core hours and Friday afternoons off, flexible working

As the Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence Manager and site leader in Belfast, you will play an essential role in deploying Airbus continuous improvement and sustainability standards. Embedded within local plant teams and Final Assembly Lines (FALs), you will advise operational managers at Senior Leader and programme levels to optimize performance while serving as a role model for new and better ways of working.

HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEAM

• Accountable for continuous improvement maturity across the line, Business Area, and unit (shared with operational teams); co-lead governance and steering of the Tactical Implementation Plan while reporting maturity scores.
• Define and align the continuous improvement roadmap for each operational module, securing the resource plan (driver model) and facilitating Tactical Implementation Plans with operational teams.
• Manage a team of Continuous Improvement Experts and Agents on content, partnering with the Head of Production / Unit Leader for deployment and implementing alignment routines.
• Develop continuous improvement competence across the line—from operators to senior management and functional teams—through knowledge transfer, coaching, and on-the-job training for first-line and middle management.
• Run improvement initiatives and facilitate key workshops, including Kaizen, Hoshin Kanri, and Value Stream Mapping (VSM).
• Act as the local focal point for continuous improvement standards, leading self-assessments, participating in management Gemba walks to provide structured feedback, and capturing user satisfaction testimonies.

 * Includes all associated official digital solutions (MES, Smart SQCDP, etc.)  ** Key focus  

 ABOUT YOU

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that sufficient detail is provided to demonstrate how they meet essential job criteria, as this alone will be used for vetting purposes. 

Essential

• HNC up to a Bachelor's Degree in Business, Engineering, or Operations Management

• 5+ years driving Lean / Six Sigma implementation on an industrial site 
• Leadership - Track record coaching and mentoring direct reports and facilitating Kaizen / VSM 

Desirable:

• Certified Lean / Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt

Closing date: 16th of November 2026

Please note that meeting the mandatory criteria listed above guarantees consideration for the role, but does not ensure progression to the interview stage. In the event of a high volume of qualified applications, the selection panel reserves the right to shortlist and progress candidates who additionally meet one or more of the preferential (desirable) criteria. 

HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU

Many of our staff work flexibly in many different ways, including part-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need and we’ll always do our best to accommodate your request. 

Please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments for the selection process – you can share this with your Talent Acquisition Partner if you are invited to interview. Examples may include (but not exclusive to) accessible facilities; auxiliary aids; room layout, etc. Any information disclosed will be treated in the strictest confidence.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Airbus UK will offer an interview to any applicant that considers themselves to have a disability or long-term condition under the Equality Act 2010 and meets the minimum criteria of the role (as set out in the job advert). To ‘opt in’, just select the option during your application submission and your application will be considered accordingly.

#SP_TRA

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company:

Airbus Belfast Limited

Employment Type:

Permanent

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Experience Level:

Professional

Job Family:

Leadership

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Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to [email protected].

At Airbus, we support you to work, connect and collaborate more easily and flexibly. Wherever possible, we foster flexible working arrangements to stimulate innovative thinking.