Continuous Improvement & Innovations Manager

Description & Requirements

Be part of something great

Maximus is a global organisation that specialises in providing health and employment services to millions of people every year. Here in the UK we employ around 5,000 people across the country to deliver services that have a profound impact on people's lives. From assessments and health services to employability programmes and specialist support, we do work that matters with people who care.

Role Summary

Essential for driving transformative change within the organisation through identification of opportunities to deliver value to our clients and our organisation, as well as a positive impact on revenue generation. They will have a key role in horizon scanning of solutions in the market. By fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, they help unlock ground breaking ideas and solutions that can significantly impact the company's growth and competitiveness and identify clear business rationale for deliver and gain senior stakeholder approval to progress. They will deliver toolkits and recognised innovation and CI methodologies to drive innovation and bridge the gap between incremental CI improvements and disruptive innovations, ensuring that Maximus stays ahead in a rapidly evolving market.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

1. Run Targeted Engagement Initiatives - Explanation: Lead initiatives to identify and explore opportunities with the greatest potential for transformation. Design and lead effective workshops and brainstorming activities. - So What: Ensures that that Maximus continuously identifies high-impact opportunities, driving significant change and growth.

2. Create and Implement Tools and Training Programs - Explanation: Develop resources to enable teams to self-identify and prioritise ideas for innovation and continuous improvement, including Lean Six Sigma tools and methodologies. - So What: Empowers employees to contribute to innovation and CI, enhancing the quality and flow of ideas into the improvement pipeline.

3. Design and Execute Improvement Campaigns. -Explanation: Organise campaigns, hackathons, and promote the improvement culture across all areas of the business. Be seen as role models in delivery of improvement and adding value to the business. -So What: Engages internal and external parties and consolidates business opportunities, fostering a collaborative environment for improvement solutions.

4. Drive a Company-wide Culture of Innovation and CI - Explanation: Actively engage and educate employees in the idea generation process, and delivery of smaller scale improvements. This will include delivery of training through all belts in Lean Six Sigma and providing recognition and support. - So What: Cultivates a culture of improvement, motivating employees to contribute and take ownership of identification of ideas and delivery.

5. Collaborate with External Partners : - Explanation: Engage with technology partners, universities, and analogous organisations to generate new perspectives across innovation and CI. - So What: Leverages external expertise and resources, enhancing the organisation's ability to innovate and stay competitive.

6. Drive and Manage Improvement Pipeline with all areas of Maximus UK: • Explanation: Ensure the flow of improvement ideas into the delivery pipeline, • So What: Maintains a steady stream of high-quality ideas, ensuring continuous innovation and improvement. 10%

7. Develop Business Cases and Charters • Explanation: Create proposals for new initiatives, outlining key information for review including benefits and any costs. • So What: Provides a clear framework for evaluating and implementing new ideas, ensuring they are feasible and impactful, leading to senior stakeholder approval to proceed.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• Proven experience in driving improvement culture within organisations

• Lean Six Sigma trained to Green Belt level (accredited)

• Proven experience in fostering innovation and generating ideas within an organisation.

• Experience in design thinking or lean start up

• Broad technology understanding

• Strong understanding of different innovation and CI methodologies and frameworks.

• Experience in designing and facilitating workshops, training sessions, and brainstorming activities.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and engagement skills with the ability to connect with and inspire people at all levels.

• Experience in developing basic business cases or proposals for new initiatives.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with diverse teams.

• A passion for driving transformative change and challenging the status quo.

• Experience in running hackathons and workshops to identify improvement opportunities.

• Familiarity with tools and platforms that support idea management and collaboration.

• Experience in the employability services sector or a similar domain.

• Understanding of continuous improvement methodologies and how they differ from transformational innovation.

• Experience in presenting ideas and concepts to stakeholders at various levels.

• System engineering mindset of how technology components and systems work together to deliver business value

Individual Competencies

• Innovation & Creativity: A natural ability to think outside the box and inspire others to do the same.

• Engagement & Influencing Skills: Ability to connect with and motivate individuals and teams to contribute their innovative ideas.

• Facilitation Skills: Excellent ability to design and lead effective workshops and idea generation sessions.

• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build rapport and influence stakeholders.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to understand the broader business context and identify ideas with the potential for significant impact.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Ability to work effectively with diverse teams across the organisation and with external partners.

• Proactiveness & Initiative: A self-starter who can identify opportunities and drive innovation initiatives forward.

UK Travel required not expected to be more than once a week

EEO Statement

Maximus is committed to developing, maintaining and supporting a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the recruitment process. We know that feeling included has a dramatic impact on personal well-being and are working to ensure that no job applicant receives less favourable treatment due to any personal characteristic. Advertisements for posts will include sufficiently clear and accurate information to enable potential applicants to assess their own suitability for the post.

We are a Disability Confident Leader, thanks to our commitment to the recruitment, retention and career development of people with disabilities and long-term conditions. The Disability Confident scheme includes a guaranteed interview for any applicant with a disability who meets the minimum requirements for a job. When you complete your job application you will find a question asking you if you would like to apply under the Disability Confident Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you feel that you have a disability and apply under this scheme, providing that you meet the essential criteria for the job, you will then be invited for an interview. YourGuaranteed Interview application will only be shared with the hiring manager and the local resourcing team. Where reasonable, Maximus will review and consider adjustments for those applicants who express a requirement for them during the recruitment process.

Minimum Salary


£

50,500.00

Maximum Salary


£

55,500.00