Level 6 – Improvement Leader (Master Black Belt)

Improvement Leaders are responsible for developing improvement strategy, providing leadership in improvement for the business and for coaching and supporting Improvement Specialists in advanced analysis. The Improvement Leader typically reports to Board members or Heads of Department and manages (directly and/or matrix) a team of Improvement Specialists, who deploy the strategy, and lead improvement projects.  They work closely with all functions of the business to support the setting and achievement of business goals, often accountable for Improvement activities within the largest-scale and highest priority programmes of work. For example, they may develop top-level Value Stream Maps to identify improvement opportunities that are then scoped into projects to be delivered by Improvement Specialists or they may design new products/processes/services. The role is typically office-based but involves working wherever their improvement activities are focussed for example they could be working on the shop floor or at customer/supplier premises.

Typical roles and responsibilities include:

• Developing Improvement strategy and providing leadership in improvement for the business
• Developing processes and resources to support improvement strategy deployment such as guidance for structured project reviews
• Training, coaching and mentoring Improvement Specialists and senior stakeholders
• Designing and sourcing training solutions for the business
• Leading large-scale, complex Improvement activities and Sustainability (Improvement or Sustainability activities)
• Managing a team of Improvement Specialists

Improvement Leaders have high-level expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, Project and Change management and are recognised as the specialists in leading improvement strategy.