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About Us

Freeman is a global leader in events, on a mission to redefine live for a new era. With a data-driven approach and the industry’ largest network of experts, Freeman’s insights shape exhibitions, exhibits, and events that drive audiences to action. The integrated full-service solutions leverage a 97-year legacy in event management as well as new technologies to deliver moments that matter.

Summary

The Vice President of Continuous Improvement is a pivotal senior leadership role responsible for shaping and executing the strategic vision of our continuous improvement initiatives within the Event & Exhibit Services (E&ES) organization. This executive leader spearheads the development, planning, and implementation of industry-leading methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen, ensuring their seamless integration across all operational facets to drive efficiency, minimize waste, and elevate quality standards.

In close collaboration with cross-functional leaders, the VP ensures that all process enhancements are strategically aligned with the company’s long-term objectives and overarching strategic initiatives. This role also encompasses the mentorship and development of a high-performing team of continuous improvement professionals, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous growth.

The Vice President of Continuous Improvement will drive the enhancement of existing processes and the identification and implementation of new “best in class” methodologies to optimize labor resources, systems, flow creation, and waste reduction. This executive role will lead both strategic and tactical initiatives to achieve the organization’s strategic plan objectives.

Key focus areas include warehouse optimization, inventory management, job site delivery and setup, and internal process improvements. The VP will collaborate closely with Freeman Next initiatives, ensuring alignment and integration of change management practices to drive enterprise progress.

This position will support our Event & Exhibit Services team. It is eligible to work a hybrid schedule, generally requiring work in-office and/or show-site 2-3 days per week. The ideal candidate will be located in Chicago, IL; however, we are also open to candidates based out of:

• Las Vegas, NV

• Orlando, FL

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Strategic Oversight : Drive the strategic vision, progress, and alignment of the Continuous Improvement (CI) program across all E&ES operations, ensuring scalability, sustainability, and alignment with corporate goals.

• Transformational Leadership : Lead large-scale CI transformation efforts, demonstrating the ability to manage complex projects, collaborate and influence across the organization, and drive significant organizational change.

• Performance Metrics : Establish and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assess the effectiveness and progress of continuous improvement initiatives and existing processes.

• Executive Reporting : Present to senior executive leadership, detailing the status of ongoing initiatives, KPIs, achieved milestones, and identified risks with mitigation plans.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration : Partner with cross-functional leadership to advise on improvement opportunities, define project roadmaps and targets, and ensure the successful execution of CI initiatives across the E&ES organization.

• Leadership and Team Development : Lead and mentor a team of Continuous Improvement Directors, driving the execution of the CI program for E&ES.

• Project Management : Oversee priority projects to ensure they achieve targets for cost efficiency, operational efficiency, customer service, and controls; initiate new projects as priorities are completed.

• Process Audits : Oversee the completion of comprehensive audits of existing processes, procedures, and methods to enhance business operations through standardization, improvement, simplification, or discontinuation as appropriate.

• Risk Management : Drive risk management best practices, including understanding of risks and dependencies, effectively evaluating the impact of issues, and providing actionable recommendations to stakeholders.

• Escalation : Establish engagement and escalation processes to ensure the business addresses risks and dependencies.

• Process Optimization : Advise on process design and development to optimize flow, reduce variability and costs, improve capability, and enhance employee safety.

• Data-Driven Decision Making : Promote data-driven decision making by sponsoring data collection and analysis through evaluations and experiments; advise stakeholders on how to use insights to make informed, strategic decisions on product and process improvements.

• Change Management : Incorporate effective change management practices into continuous improvement activities to ensure smooth implementation and acceptance across the organization.

• Additional Responsibilities : Perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business or a related field from an accredited four year college or university is required.

• A minimum of 10-12 years of experience in a senior Continuous Improvement role, preferably in the manufacturing or service industry.

• Demonstrated track record of applying Continuous Improvement and/or Quality methodologies to drive business improvements.

• Proven experience in leading and participating in large-scale infrastructure transformation efforts, demonstrating the ability to manage complex projects and drive significant organizational change.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate, influence, and motivate across levels of leadership and functions in a matrixed organization.

• Demonstrated experience in presenting and communicating with executive leadership.

• Strategic thinker who can develop a strategy to achieve key business objectives with short- to mid-term impact (1 to 3 years).

• Excellent communicator with demonstrated ability to articulate a strategic plan down through an organization.

• Proven experience as a people leader in managing and developing a team.

• Ability to understand financial statements, manage budgets, and oversee job costs.

• Excellent internal and external customer service skills.

• Strong math/computational skills (analytical problem solving).

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Must be able to balance and prioritize multiple projects effectively and be a self-starter.

• Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint skills are required.

Expertise in the following tools and skills are required:

• Continuous Improvement/Lean tools such as Hoshin Planning, A3 Thinking, Value Stream Analysis, Kaizen, Kan-Ban, Heijunka, Poka-Yoke, TPM, KATA, 5s, SIPOC, DMAIC, and Visual Management.

• Optimizing inventory control and distribution.

• Waste reduction.

• Safety, quality, delivery, cost and innovation improvements.

• Standard work implementation and training.

• Problem solving, including root cause analysis and preventive action implementation.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Black belt certification in Lean or Six Sigma required.

Travel Requirements

Travel 25% to 50%

What We Offer

Freeman provides benefits that aim to empower our people and their families to thrive mentally, physically, and financially. These are a handful of the types of programs and benefits our full-time people may be eligible for. There may be some variances in specific benefits across regions.

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Paid Parental Leave

• Life, Accident and Disability

• Retirement with Company Match

• Paid Time Off

Diversity Commitment

At Freeman, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is helping us to create not only a great place to work, but also an environment where our employees, our customers and our communities around the world can reach their goals and connect with each other. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status and other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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