At Medik8, we are pioneering the market and are a key leader in the skincare industry, differentiating ourselves through science, innovation, and technological advancements. This core focus allows us to produce some of the most advanced skincare on the market.
We are seeking a highly seasoned, proactive Continuous Improvement Manager to join our team at Medik8.
* Location: Based at our Aylesbury Innovation Centre.
* Mission: This is a senior, critical role focused on driving operational excellence across our manufacturing and wider business operations. You will govern a robust CI portfolio, strip out waste, and ensure our processes scale as flawlessly as our products perform. Salary £50,000 - £60,000
Key Responsibilities
* Act as the definitive subject matter expert and strategic partner to the operational business, designing and governing the overarching CI roadmap and portfolio of initiatives across the business.
* Horizon-scan for industry best practices, advanced manufacturing techniques, and technological advancements, integrating these into Medik8's operational strategy.
* Architect, implement, and continuously govern the company's CI framework, ensuring that project methodologies (DMAIC, Kaizen, Lean) are consistently applied, measured, and dynamically integrated into daily operations.
* Act as the architect and visible champion of Medik8's continuous improvement culture, comfortably navigating and leading within a highly matrixed organisational structure.
* Partner with department heads across Manufacturing, Logistics, Projects, Quality, and Supply Chain, breaking down silos to embed a culture of CI ownership deep within their respective teams.
* Transform complex operational challenges into shared organisational goals, coaching and empowering a network of operational leaders to drive change from within their own departments.
* Govern and execute high-impact CI initiatives, maintaining a highly visible site presence to identify bottlenecks and lead a proactive "find‑it, fix‑it" mentality.
* Lead complex, cross‑functional root‑cause investigations, focusing on systemic process improvements, waste reduction, and capacity unblocking.
* Own CI reporting, focusing on leading indicators, hard/soft financial savings, and ROI on process improvements.
* Translate raw operational data and project outcomes into actionable business intelligence for the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), escalating critical strategic recommendations with urgency.
Essential Qualifications & Experience
* A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt qualification is strictly essential.
* Complementary qualifications such as PRINCE2, Agile/Scrum, or Change Management certifications are highly advantageous.
* Seasoned, demonstrable experience driving continuous improvement within a complex, high‑speed manufacturing environment (FMCG, Pharmaceuticals, or Cosmetics strongly preferred).
* Proven experience successfully managing, influencing, and governing projects within a matrix organisation, without always having direct line‑management authority.
Technical Expertise & Attributes
* Deep, applied expertise in Lean manufacturing principles and CI methodologies (e.g., Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, OEE optimisation).
* Strong analytical skills with a rigorously data‑driven approach. You must be able to conduct high‑level capacity modelling, financial benefits tracking, and translate complex operational metrics into clear SLT‑level insights.
* Expert ability to deploy CI tools pragmatically in an environment that balances rapid innovation with strict quality and compliance standards.
* A natural coach, mentor, and strategic partner, with outstanding communication skills and the ability to build credibility, influence, and engage at all levels, from the factory floor operators to the SLT.
* A visible and engaging champion for change with high emotional intelligence and resilience and a genuine passion for transforming an operational culture.
* A highly organised, methodical problem‑solver with a relentless focus on scalable excellence and a pragmatic "find‑it, fix‑it" mentality.
Culture & Benefits
We are a team of collaborative go‑givers fuelled by a purpose‑driven mentality. Innovation is at our core; we pride ourselves on doing everything in‑house
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