Join our Growing Team and see why Summit Utilities, Inc was named as one of the Fastest Growing Denver Area Private Companies 2019 and 2020; Best Places to Work in Maine 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and Best Places to Work in Arkansas 2020 and 2023, Oklahoma 2022 and 2023 and Missouri 2023. Summit was also recently named one of Forbes 2023 America's Best Small Employers.

Summit is a growing natural gas utility company providing safe, reliable and clean burning natural gas service to homes and businesses in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri and Oklahoma. Being part of the Summit team means embracing excellence and innovation, committing to safety each and every day, and doing all that we can to serve each other, our customers and the communities where we live. We aim to bring warmth and energy to everything we do.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Manager of Continuous Improvement & Change Management, is a strategic leader responsible for driving enterprise-wide transformation initiatives. This role involves building and leading a high-performing team focused on continuous improvement and change adoption. The manager will define and execute a comprehensive strategy that aligns with organizational goals, fosters a culture of operational excellence, and ensures successful implementation of change initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership capabilities, a deep understanding of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams to achieve measurable outcomes.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Manager of Continuous Improvement and Change Management. This hybrid role will be based in one of our offices in Little Rock, Fayetteville, or Fort Smith, Arkansas; Lawton, Oklahoma; or Portland, Maine.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and execute a comprehensive Continuous Improvement and Change Management strategy aligned with business transformation goals.
• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of CI Practitioners and Change Managers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
• Oversee strategic projects, ensuring delivery of measurable outcomes and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Partner with senior leaders to embed CI and change principles across departments, promoting ownership and accountability.
• Facilitate workshops, training sessions, and coaching to build CI capabilities across the organization.
• Utilize Lean Six Sigma tools to identify inefficiencies, reduce waste, and improve processes.
• Establish performance metrics and reporting mechanisms, in collaboration with the Strategic/Business Intelligence team to track progress and impact of CI initiatives.
• Drive a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and operational excellence.
• Champion change adoption through effective communication, stakeholder engagement, and resistance management. 
• Ensure alignment of CI initiatives with customer experience, employee engagement, and business outcomes.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in business, Engineering, or related field; MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in Continuous Improvement, Change Management, or Business Transformation.
• Certifications: Lean Six Sigma (Black Belt preferred), Prosci or equivalent.

 KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES 

• Proven leadership experience in building and scaling CI functions.
• Strong strategic thinking, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams in a dynamic environment.
• Experience in developing and implementing enterprise-wide transformation initiatives.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all personnel so classified.

Summit Utilities, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or veteran status.