Continuous Improvement Manager

Freightliner is the UK's largest maritime intermodal logistics operator, transporting containers from all major deep-sea ports to our national network of inland terminals, as well as a leading operator in the UK Heavy Haul rail freight market. Freightliner has operations across Europe offering both Intermodal and Heavy Haul rail freight services seamlessly connecting European countries and the UK.

In the UK the Freightliner Group operates under a number of legal entities including Freightliner Group Ltd, Freightliner Heavy Haul Ltd, Freightliner Ltd, Pentalver Transport Ltd, and Pentalver Cannock Ltd.

Freightliner was recently voted Rail Freight Company of the Year at the 2025 Multimodal Awards.

We are a proud WORK180 endorsed employer for women, highlighting the company’s commitment to increased diversity and a supportive work culture for all employees.

Continuous Improvement Manager

Freightliner Group Ltd

Location: Flexible

Who are we looking for?

A vacancy has arisen for a Continuous Improvement Manager to join the Engineering function of Freightliner to improve engineering production efficiency, depot processes and safety standards through the introduction of lean management and continuous improvement techniques.

On your first day, we’ll expect you to have:

• Demonstrable experience of lean management, applicable to ensuring standardisation and application across all engineering locations.
• Ability to ensure depot processes and procedures comply with all relevant legislation in conjunction with depot teams and implement best practice across all engineering locations to maintain the safe operation of sites.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills - able to analyse data to evaluate options, use facts and data to implement solutions.
• Ability to initiate, sponsor and implement required organisational change to optimise business performance.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with all levels of staff across the Freightliner UK/Europe region.  Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Ability to multitask and work well under pressure, prioritising tasks and workload and managing conflicting demands.
• Ability to navigate complex problems and ensure effective and sound decision making, systematically and under pressure.
• Ability to build healthy working relationships with business stakeholders while exhibiting independence and objectivity in thought and action.
• Effective management and delegation with the ability to build trust and motivate a team.

What your key responsibilities will be:

• Develop and implement lean management policies and processes to improve production efficiency and management.
• Define and implement 5s standards across all engineering locations.
• Ensure a suitable training strategy is in place for relevant staff and teams to use lean management and 5s techniques.
• Work closely with internal and external customers to ensure fleet requirements are delivered.
• Development and provision of resources required to support new business or changes to business including preparation of business case in liaison with appropriate staff.
• Provide dynamic leadership skills to all staff and to develop the workforce to be capable of working confidently under their own initiative.
• Develop and publish relevant KPI’s to monitor effectiveness and benefit of continuous improvement activities.
• Responsible for ensuring group company and legislative safety procedures, controls, audits and associated documents are correctly enforced and maintained in support of fleet managers and depot managers.
• Develop and support the roll out of best practice processes and procedures in depot locations including complying with health and safety legislation and guidance as appropriate.
• Ensure that liaison exists with all key suppliers and that the company’s best interests are protected. Ensure only approved contractors are used when purchasing services or materials.
• Challenge existing business protocols with your own initiatives, pro-actively adding value to the business.
• Actively promote engagement, communication and dialogue within the team for the benefit of information flow, to embed best practice and to solidify management control and commercial and operational direction of the business.
• Promote a mindset of “Safety First” and instil an ethos of continual safety improvement within your area of responsibility.
• Support and drive good governance and control (including Sarbanes Oxley (‘SOX’)) principles within your remit, identifying any potential deficiencies in controls and immediately remediate.
• Get involved in any ad hoc projects, including M&A activity, as may be required, from time to time.

Our Perks And Benefits:

Our people are our most important asset. We strive to empower our employees, ensuring they are trained and competent, fit for work, always informed, and completely engaged in our culture that places safety and wellbeing firmly at the heart of everything we do.

We are looking for the most committed and reliable individuals who possess the knowledge, skills and experience needed for their roles. In return we can offer considerable career progression, and a rewarding career in an award-winning team alongside:

• Competitive pay
• Fantastic final-salary pension scheme after an initial qualifying period
• Enhanced maternity & paternity pay
• Access to the company's life assurance scheme
• A range of benefits to make your own so you can get the most of your work and home life which will also help save you money and hassle. From reimbursement on health treatments, to savings on new cars.

This post is subject to standard pre-employment checks including employment references, medical & D&A screening and successful DBS background checks. This role requires frequent domestic travel between our engineering facilities, the majority of which are located in the North of England (Leeds, Manchester, Hope, Tunstead, Crewe) so would likely suit a candidate who is more northern based in their location.

Could it be time to start your career journey with us?

Apply Today!

Our commitment to you, once you join our team, is to foster growth and provide developmental opportunities to ensure you reach your utmost potential.

We are looking for the most committed and reliable individuals who possess the knowledge, skills and experience needed for their roles.

In return we can offer competitive pay, excellent benefits, a competitive pension scheme and a rewarding career in an award-winning team.