Continuous Improvement Manager

About the role

**We offer a competitive salary, great benefits, and work that matters to our community.**

**The Organization:** The Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) is a mission\-driven leader in affordable housing, headquartered on Elliott Avenue West with sweeping views of Elliott Bay and the Puget Sound. With additional field offices across Seattle, we’re committed to expanding housing opportunities, strengthening communities, and supporting a workplace where people grow and thrive.

**The position:** We’re looking for a Continuous Improvement Manager to join our team! This role is perfect for someone who can lead agency\-wide continuous improvement using a human centered Lean approach to strengthen processes, systems, and culture, improving engagement, reducing waste, and increasing value to the communities we serve. We are seeking a leader who has experience leading major organizational or program changes.

**The Location:** 101 Elliott Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119

**The ideal candidate will have:**

* 5\+ years of change\-leadership experience leading Lean initiatives and full\-cycle improvement efforts. * Expertise in organizational change management—from communication planning to stakeholder engagement to sustainment. * 2\+ years of senior\-level management guiding teams and aligning strategic priorities. * Lean/Continuous Improvement certifications (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen). * Change Management certification demonstrating structured, people\-centered transformation. * Project management credentials supporting disciplined planning and execution. * Human\-centered design training to elevate user experience and service delivery.

**Education:**

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Engineering, Human Services, or related ?eld required; OR may substitute an additional four years of relevant work experience for the required degree.

**What will you do?**

* Lead Lean strategy by serving as the agency’s go\-to expert guiding cross\-functional teams and embedding continuous improvement into everyday work. * Champion a human\-centered Lean culture by modeling curiosity, influencing mindsets, and inspiring organization\-wide commitment to better ways of working. * Guide organizational change by building readiness, engaging stakeholders, and helping teams confidently adopt new processes and behaviors. * Coach leaders and staff in Lean thinking and facilitate structured improvement activities that deliver measurable, meaningful results. * Partner with leaders across all levels to uncover opportunities, align priorities, and drive cultural and operational transformation. * Develop and mentor the CI team to deliver high\-impact improvements and strengthen organizational capability. * Build agency\-wide capability by designing and delivering training that deepens Lean thinking, problem\-solving, and change leadership skills. * Analyze processes and design solutions that address root causes and elevate performance and service delivery. * Strengthen performance systems by developing, interpreting, and applying metrics and quality indicators. * Stay ahead of Lean trends and bring fresh insights to enhance the agency’s improvement strategies. * Contribute to agency goals by shaping work plans, performance measures, and service\-delivery improvements that advance SHA’s mission. * Promote a safe workplace by following all safety and health rules, standards, and procedures. * Engage fully in learning by attending required training and meetings to stay aligned and informed. * Support additional needs by performing related duties that contribute to team and agency success.

**Application Tips:**

* Update the Work Experience and Education sections with your most current information. *Note: SHA does not accept external attachments such as resumes or cover letters.* * Complete the Agency\-Wide questions. Even if you’ve applied to SHA before, please review and update your responses. * Respond to any Supplemental Questions, if applicable.

**Why Should You Apply?**

* **Our Culture:** SHA offers a supportive, energetic workplace where collaboration and growth thrive. Our talented team has helped make us a nationally recognized leader in affordable housing and community development. * **Competitive Salary** * **Comprehensive Benefits** + Medical, dental, and vision insurance + Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) + Generous paid leave and holidays * **Work\-Life Balance** + Reasonable hours + Opportunity for part\-time remote work (dependent on the position) * **Professional Development** + On\-the\-job training and growth opportunities

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**Our Commitment to Equity**

SHA values your unique background and perspective \- we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every listed qualification. Learn more in our diversity and application equity statement.

**Benefits**

Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) is pleased to offer an excellent benefits package for Regular and Project full\-time and part\-time employees scheduled to work at least 80 hours per month. (Temporary and On\-Call positions are not eligible for the full benefits package).

The following is a brief summary of the SHA benefit programs:

**Eligibility**

As a new hire, your coverage begins on the first calendar day of the month if your hired date is on the first of that month. Otherwise, your coverage begins on the first of the following month.

**Medical**

Employees may select from four medical plans – Kaiser Permanente Standard Plan, Kaiser Permanente Deductible Plan, City of Seattle Preventive Plan, and City of Seattle Traditional Plan.

The monthly cost for each of the plans are as follows:

Kaiser Permanente Standard Plan is $48\.40 with or without children or $99\.90 with spouse/domestic partner with or without children

Kaiser Permanente Deductible Plan is $25\.00 with or without children or $56\.92 with spouse/domestic partner with or without children

City of Seattle Preventive Plan is $48\.12 with or without children or $98\.50 with spouse/domestic partner with or without children

City of Seattle Traditional Plan is $0 with or without children or $32\.34 with spouse/domestic partner with or without children

**Dental**

Employees may select from two dental plans \- Delta Dental, an incentive plan, or Dental Health Services, a managed care plan. Our dental plans include coverage for eligible dependents and are paid for by SHA.

**Vision**

SHA offers two vision plans through VSP Vision Care. The Basic plan is fully paid for by SHA. The Vision Buy\-Up plan is paid for by the employee. The Buy\-Up plan provides more frequent coverage of lenses, frames, and contact lenses and includes coverage of progressive lenses.

**Long Term Disability Insurance**

If you are disabled, the Basic Plan will be combined with other sources of income to pay you up to $400 a month after a 90\-day waiting period. Employees may purchase long\-term disability coverage that provides up to 60% of gross monthly salary during disability.

**Group Term Life (GTL) Insurance**

You can select from one of two plans \- Basic GTL, which is one\-and\-a\-half times your annual earnings or Limited Basic GTL of $50,000\.00\. SHA will contribute 40% of the cost for the GTL insurance.

If you have elected Basic GTL, you may purchase supplemental term life insurance for yourself, your spouse/domestic partner, and your dependent children. The maximum amount of supplemental life insurance available is four times your annual income for the employee, 50% of the amount of coverage you elect for the spouse, and $2,000, $5,000 or $10,000 for children.

**Accidental Death \& Dismemberment (AD\&D) Insurance**

SHA offers an employee\-paid group AD\&D insurance plan. An employee may cover themself or a family member for amounts from $25,000 to $500,000 in $25,000 increments. AD\&D insurance pays a death benefit if the insured person dies due to an accident or a percentage of the full insurance amount if the covered person loses a limb.

**Retirement Plan**

Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) membership is defined by Washington State statutes and is mandatory if you are hired into an eligible position. However, if you are retired from or have been a member of the City of Seattle, Spokane or Tacoma Employee's Retirement System, your PERS enrollment must be verified and approved by the Washington State Department of Retirement System.

**Flexible Spending Account (FSA)**

Employees have the option of making pre\-tax contributions to pay for IRS eligible expenses. There are two accounts: a Health Care Flexible Spending Account and a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account. Employees can sign up for one or both accounts.

**Leave Benefits**

Annual Leave is provided for vacation and personal time off. First year employees earn up to 3\.84 hours per bi\-weekly pay period (100 hours annually), increasing incrementally due to service years \- up to 7\.69 per hours per pay period at 25 years of service (200 hours annually). Leave hours for part time staff are pro\-rated. There is a 240\-hour annual carryover limit for annual leave.

Sick leave is provided for health care and related appointments. Employees earn 3\.69 hours per pay period. Hours for part time staff are pro\-rated. There is no maximum or carryover limit for sick leave.

Seattle Housing Authority has twelve legal, as detailed below.

New Year's Day

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Presidents Day

Memorial Day

Juneteenth

Independence Day

Labor Day

Indigenous People's Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

The day following Thanksgiving

Christmas Day

Additionally, up to three personal holidays are granted to regular employees each calendar year. They are available to be scheduled in advance by the employee with supervisor approval.

Regular administrative non\-represented employees hired between January 1 and May 31 are granted three personal holidays. If hired from June 1 until November 10, two personal holidays are granted. If hired beginning November 11 or later, no personal holidays are granted until January 1\.

**Pay for Performance Program \& Merit Awards**

Regular Administrative non\-represented staff are eligible for Merit Pay and Merit Leave awards based on their annual performance evaluation, as well as on the agency's fiscal year performance from January through December of each year. An employee's merit awards are based on the employee's performance rating, the position of the employee's salary within the salary range, and the fiscal performance of the agency. For new and promoted employees, the merit awards will be pro\-rated based on length of time in the current position during the calendar year.

**Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)**

As an SHA employee, you may be eligible for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This federal program was created to assist full\-time public service professionals in reducing their federal student loan debt burden.

**Employee Transportation Program**

A fully subsidized commuter ORCA Passport is offered for use on Metro, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, Everett Transit, Sound Transit, Link Light Rail, Sounder Commuter Train routes. It can also be used on the Seattle Center Monorail. ORCA Passport also provides reduced or fully covered fares on most vanpool routes.

Additionally, an Emergency Ride Home Program, bike racks at various sites, and shower facilities at several offices are also provided, along with discount Zipcar membership (if accepted). Finally, group discount parking is available for registered vanpools in certain areas.

**Flex\-Time**

With supervisor approval, work hours may be scheduled around core hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm or a compressed 4/10 workweek. This option is not available for every position.

**Telework**

With supervisor approval, employees can perform assigned duties from home at certain times. This option is not available for every position.

**Employee Assistance Program**

Confidential counseling, referral, and information services are available through ComPsych .

**Washington Deferred Compensation Program**

Tax deferred savings plans are available through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems' Deferred Compensation Program.