Performance Improvement Manager

Company: Coates Group
Location: Chicago
Posted on: February 24, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Be Part of Our Next Chapter For over almost 60 years, our solutions have enabled impactful connections between some of the world’s leading brands and their customers. And while we’ve already done a lot of work we’re proud of, we’re just getting started! We’re a global technology company focused on creating dynamic, smart, personalized and engaging customer experiences powered by our range of digital hardware, our proprietary content management system and our industry leading signage solutions. (For example: If you’ve ordered in-store or in the drive-thru at McDonald’s somewhere in the world in the last few years, chances are you’ve interacted with our digital solutions.) We work in over 50 global markets and have 9 offices around the world, with a global headquarters proudly located in our founding home of Sydney, Australia. Coates Group has the values of a family-owned business and the innovative spirit of a start-up, both which fuel our purpose – Creating Connections. Empowering Partnerships. Always Evolving . Through hard work, dedication and creativity, we’ve become industry leaders who have won awards and set records while remaining focused on continual growth and evolution. We are a 2x Australia Good Design Award winner and successfully completed the largest hardware deployment in Quick Service Restaurant history. We are curious, charismatic, authentic and we value and leverage the diversity of our crew. We are imaginers, kindness enthusiasts, experts, creators, thinkers, challengers, collaborators and over-achievers. And together, as a Crew, we are revolutionizing the way the world’s leading brands leverage technology to drive the best customer experiences. The Performance Improvement Manager will play a critical role in driving operational efficiency & quality improvements across our direct & indirect supply base by applying appropriate Lean / Six Sigma methodologies to improve product quality, reduce waste, streamline processes, and ensure quality stability for existing products. Working closely with cross-functional teams (Design engineering, Account Management, Manufacturing, Deployment, Support, and Supply Chain teams), the Performance Improvement Manager will identify areas for improvement, develop data-driven solutions, and ensure sustainable, high-quality outcomes. Responsibilities Continuous Improvement: Apply Lean and Six Sigma principles to identify opportunities for New Product Introduction (NPI) and other process optimization, waste reduction, and efficiency improvements across production lines and support the implementation of improvement initiatives, and track effectiveness. Root Cause Analysis and Problem Solving: Analyze quality issues, lead root cause investigations, and implement corrective and preventive actions to enhance product quality and reliability. Change Management: Lead ERB for existing products, including recommendations for design adjustments, material substitutions, and process improvements to align with company goals for quality, cost, and regulatory compliance. Data Analysis and Reporting: Utilize statistical tools to analyze data, track key performance indicators (KPIs), and present findings to stakeholders. Leverage data to make informed recommendations on process improvements. Documentation and Compliance: develop, document and maintain standard work procedures, control plans and workflows. Ensure product and process changes comply with industry standards and regulatory requirements. Actively promote the culture of continuous improvement by providing training and mentorship on Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques to stakeholders. Increase awareness of Lean Six Sigma methodologies across cross-functional teams to enhance collaboration and drive operational excellence. Cost Reduction Initiatives: Collaborate with Strategic Sourcing, Engineering and Design teams to identify cost reduction opportunities and support implementation without compromising quality or functionality. Capabilities Excellent written and verbal communication skills Able to prioritize tasks and work under minimal supervision Demonstrate adaptability in responding to challenges and evolving business needs. Be able to demonstrate ownership and accountability A good team player, displays honesty and integrity Is respectful and empathetic in drive engagement & change Exceptional project management, organizational, and communicational skills Qualifications Bachelor degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Minimum of 5 years of experience in process and quality improvement, sustaining engineering, manufacturing, or related roles. Strong analytical skills, with experience in data-driven decision-making and problem-solving. Proficiency in statistical tools, MS Office, and Lean Six Sigma methodologies (e.g., DMAIC, 5S, Value Stream Mapping). Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment and influence across all organizational levels. Desirable Qualifications: Black Belt certification Familiar with quality management system (e.g., ISO 9001) and new product introduction processes Hands-on experience implementing and sustaining Lean practices. About Coates We are industry leaders who have won awards and set records. We are a 2x Australia Good Design Award winner and we successfully completed the largest hardware deployment in Quick Service Restaurant history. We are led by a forward-thinking CEO who has demonstrated a true passion for people and making Coates a place where people genuinely enjoy working. Our growth plans enable a focus on providing rapid career advancement opportunities for our talent. Together, we are creators, allowing us to make our purpose a reality – to create immersive brand experiences for everyone. Join a Crew that Cares Be part of a global team of talented, ambitious, creative people that value integrity, individuality and inclusivity. (Ask us about our Equality Empowerment Initiatives). The benefits include an annual market competitive bonus program and our “Thrive Program” which includes a suite of flexible work options because we’re strong believers that you should never miss an important life or work moment. Thrive also provides dedicated time to prioritize our health and wellbeing (think virtual Yoga or meditation sessions), a Global Wellness paid day off to recharge as well as a “Give Back Day” to allow our Crew an opportunity to make an impact in the community. Be inspired To Be More We skip the red tape and aim to always stay nimble. We’re proud of where we’ve been and are energized by where we’re going. We encourage ideas and perspectives because we know the more we have, the better we are. We work hard but have fun along the way. We push the boundaries but keep it real and authentic. We believe in the values that got us here are the ones that will continue to lead us forward. We are excited by what we’ve accomplished, but know the best is yet to come. Coates Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, political affiliation or belief, disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam Era, or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law). Fraud Alert: Employment Scam Advisory It has come to our attention that unauthorised individuals are impersonating our company and reaching out to job seekers through fraudulent emails, falsely claiming to represent Coates. These emails often request personal information and appear to come from domains that are not affiliated with our organisation, such as coatesgroupcareer.com . We take this matter very seriously. Coates has reported these incidents to law enforcement and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation. We are committed to protecting the integrity of our recruitment process and the privacy of our applicants. Please be advised of the following: - Coates does not operate or communicate through any domain resembling " @coatesgroupcareer.com " - We do not contact employment candidates via email to solicit personal or financial information - All applications for employment must be submitted through our official website https://coatesgroup.com/careers or directly through our LinkedIn profile: Coates Group - All emails from us will come from our official domain, which is [at]coatesgroup[dot]com or via our Applicant - Tracking System (ATS) email address, which is no-reply[at] hire.lever [dot]co If you receive any suspicious communications purporting to be from Coates, we urge you not to respond, do not click any links, and do not provide any personal information. Your safety and trust are of the utmost importance to us. Thank you for your vigilance. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Keywords: Coates Group, Elgin , Performance Improvement Manager, IT / Software / Systems , Chicago, Illinois