Continuous Improvement Manager (Navy)
Continuous Improvement Manager, Navy
Wärtsilä is a world leader in marine technology and leading the industry's transformation towards a decarbonised and sustainable future. With the world’s widest portfolio and service network, we deliver efficient, safe and sustainable integrated products and solutions to enhance the business of our customers.
Wärtsilä Defence Solutions Ltd, WDSL, is part of the wider Wärtsilä Marine Business, which focuses on enhancing the business of its marine and oil & gas industry customers by providing integrated shaftline systems, packages and products that offer lifecycle efficiency, decreased costs and reduced risks through the provision of reliable and environmentally sustainable products.
As our business is growing we are seeking a Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager for our Navy Value Stream to develop the end to end flow to efficiently serve our customers’ needs. You will play a key role setting up CI practices, being a training facilitator and CI coach.
Our organisation is supporting customers from locations all over the world. The successful candidate for this position will be employed on a permanent basis and will be based out of our office in Havant, Hampshire, United Kingdom.
As a Continuous Improvement Manager, you will focus on these responsibilities:
1. Lead improvement initiatives, both within our Navy business and across our global organisation as part of the global Wärtsilä Shaft Line Solutions CI team
2. Coach the organisation on CI to make it an integral part of our daily business
3. Participate in deploying our growth strategy through executable action plans
4. Lead the Continuous Improvement work within our Navy Value Stream, using the Wärtsilä CI framework Perform value stream mapping and analysis Launch improvement initiatives within and across manufacturing sites and global sales and service organisation to increase customer satisfaction and optimize operations
5. Drive continuous improvement of the value stream together with WDSL Management Team members through KPI’s and regular dialogues with key stakeholders
What do we expect from you?
6. Proven experience in growing an organisation to include continuous improvement in their culture
7. High level of cultural awareness and experience in leading initiatives in a multinational environment
8. Experience with a wide range of CI methods to apply in different contexts
9. Capacity to work in close collaboration across all areas of the organization covering production, office, site work etc.
10. Comfort with constant change
11. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
12. Exceptional conceptual, analytical and critical thinking skills
13. Systems Thinking as basis for both small and big improvements
14. Motivation and positive attitude to identify practical solutions
15. Ability to take responsibility for your work and take the initiative to secure the completion of your tasks
16. Diplomatic in approach to energise and persuade needed efforts across varied functions
17. Willingness to travel on occasion
18. Understanding of the navy market is seen as an advantage
The job is offered subject to successfully obtaining security clearance. Any applicants must hold a British Passport or be eligible to hold one and have resided in the UK continuously for the last 5 years
Why you and us?
We at Wärtsilä believe in empowerment, ownership and taking responsibility of our work. We support each other’s growth, and co-creation is the true basis of our innovation. We have courage to see opportunities and take initiative.
We are authentic and honest, and we strongly believe in that by being your own true self you can accomplish so much more. We don’t always get it right the first time, and if mistakes are made, we value how we can learn and grow from them. We want everyone to voice their opinions freely. That is why we have built an environment that empowers you and everyone around you, and where you can feel safe and cared for. Are you eager to be part of this ambition?
Contact & next steps
We hope to hear from you soon, by submitting your application through our careers portal. We aim to keep you updated on the process throughout.
For further questions please reach out to Jess Baxter at with any questions related to this position (only for questions from direct job applicants, applications through email will not be recorded or responded to). NO AGENCIES.
Last application date: 16/09/2025
At Wärtsilä we value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities; everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job-relevant merits and abilities.
Please note that according to Wärtsilä policy, voluntary consent for a security check may be required from candidates being considered for this position, depending on the applicable country.
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