Head of Continuous Improvement Jobs
There is no such thing as the perfect business. Every hour, inefficiencies and bad practice are going on without the owners’ knowledge, or the owners know they exist but are powerless to act. This is where the head of continuous improvement comes in. It is an analytical role that constantly audits every business process and looks for inefficiencies that can be ironed out. Depending on the size of the company, this can be a one-person job, heading up a small team or employing dozens of auditors to make the business better.
But it’s not just about the money – not directly, anyway. Often, an improvement is simply one that helps staff with their work and removes those irritations and bureaucracy that reduces job satisfaction. Sometimes it’s an environmental improvement that doesn’t have obvious financial implications but can have longer-term benefits. Improvement takes many forms, and once the head of continuous improvement has got under the skin of the company and found out exactly how it operates, it’s inevitable that the financial benefits will follow.
The skills required
The job of head of continuous improvement has two main strands – analyzing the financial matters and seeking out other procedural activities that can be improved. You will need to be prepared to get your hands dirty (sometime literally) by delving into the business, talking to employees, observing and measuring the way people work and researching alternative methodologies that can create efficiencies.
The head of continuous improvement may sometimes need to make unpopular decisions, for example choosing to outsource elements of the business or making it less top-heavy if inefficiencies are identified. While the final decision will be made by the board, you must have the confidence in your convictions to make such recommendations. Of course, the opposite is also true, and your recommendations could lead to the growth of the company. As long as you have performed detailed analyses, you will be able to present accurate projections to the board.
Head of Continuous Improvement Jobs in Gateshead
Located just over the River Tyne from Newcastle, Gateshead has always been somewhat overshadowed and culturally engulfed by its neighbour in the public conscious, but it’s a happening town in its own right, with a huge amount going for it in terms of art, sport and industry. Gateshead was busy during the Industrial Revolution, with coal mining and ironworks playing important roles; the town produced ships’ anchors and chains for which demand was insatiable.
As the availability of electric energy took hold, Gateshead would become known as a cable manufacturing town, and the first trans-Channel telegraph wire was made there, as was half of the first transatlantic one. Sir Joseph Swan, one of those credited with the invention of the lightbulb, lived and performed his experiments in Gateshead, and it is thought that his house was the world’s first to be electrified for lighting. Modern Gateshead is still thriving. It is home to Europe’s largest shopping centre, the Metro Centre, as well as several trading and industrial estates. Gateshead, and its neighbour Newcastle, are ideal places to look for a Head of Continuous Improvement position. The region is doing well economically, and there’s still a good deal of industry to complement the huge opportunity offered by its retail sector.
Culturally, Gateshead is head and wings above many larger towns and cities. Right at its south point is Antony Gormley’s towering Angel of the North statue, and at its northernmost point are the Sage Gateshead and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, which occupies what was a flour mill. Tow of the north’s most iconic bridges, the “Blinking Eye” and the steel arch Tyne Bridge, both join Newcastle with Gateshead (along with five others). Gateshead stadium plays host to top athletics meetings, and for a month in 2006 was the location of the world 100 m sprint record (9.77 seconds) set by Asafa Powell.
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Find Head of Continuous Improvement Jobs with Cast UK
Most businesses realise that they are sitting on inefficiencies and bad practice, but the best businesses do something proactive about it, and it’s these forward-looking businesses who come to Cast UK to help them find a head of continuous improvement. Because it falls under one of our specialisms, change and transformation, we can usually supply them with a shortlist of candidates in double quick time.
We only deal with recruitment of managerial and executive level candidates, so if you have the qualifications and the experience to become a head of continuous improvement for one of the UK’s top companies, call Cast UK today on 0333 121 3345.
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