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Business unit leader vs process improvement manager

The differences between business unit leaders and process improvement managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a business unit leader and a process improvement manager. Additionally, a business unit leader has an average salary of $111,361, which is higher than the $105,454 average annual salary of a process improvement manager.

The top three skills for a business unit leader include continuous improvement, quality standards and lean manufacturing. The most important skills for a process improvement manager are sigma, lean six sigma, and project management.

Business unit leader vs process improvement manager overview

Business Unit LeaderProcess Improvement Manager
Yearly salary$111,361$105,454
Hourly rate$53.54$50.70
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs88,824177,168
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age4444
Years of experience66

What does a business unit leader do?

A Business Unit Leader manages growth initiatives such as future acquisition opportunities, strategic partnerships, and organic innovation. These professionals control strategy deployment to ensure operational productivity and economy. They offer this service to sites focusing on Human Resources, Information Technology, Lead Operation, Lean Accounting, Lead Process, Strategic Pricing, and more. Business Unit Leaders also lead by promoting talent management, counseling, team concepts, individual development, training, coaching, mentoring, and retaining. They develop and manage the business unit department budget and strategic plan.

What does a process improvement manager do?

Process Improvement Managers oversee the operational processes of the company. These processes are usually related to production, sales, marketing, human resources, or finance. Process Improvement Managers are in charge of creating policies and procedures to guide the company's different departments. They analyze related data and craft recommendations to improve the procedures. They ensure that their recommendations lead to higher efficiency. Process Improvement Managers also ensure that these new processes are implemented properly and yield results.

Business unit leader vs process improvement manager salary

Business unit leaders and process improvement managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Business Unit LeaderProcess Improvement Manager
Average salary$111,361$105,454
Salary rangeBetween $64,000 And $191,000Between $80,000 And $137,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyGoldman SachsMeta
Best paying industryManufacturingTechnology

Differences between business unit leader and process improvement manager education

There are a few differences between a business unit leader and a process improvement manager in terms of educational background:

Business Unit LeaderProcess Improvement Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Business unit leader vs process improvement manager demographics

Here are the differences between business unit leaders' and process improvement managers' demographics:

Business Unit LeaderProcess Improvement Manager
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 81.1% Female, 18.9%Male, 69.0% Female, 31.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 6.3% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 6.3% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between business unit leader and process improvement manager duties and responsibilities

Business unit leader example responsibilities.

  • Manage and develop employee KPIs to assist in reaching monthly and annual gross profit goals.
  • Manage a team of four and hold matrix leadership responsibility for specialists assign to particular technical areas for business continuity projects.
  • Coordinate all KPIs and develop measurement tools of teams by line/shift.
  • Deliver meaningful fact-base guidance for visual analytics and data review to support decision making from patient safety and data review prospective.
  • Metal stamping, heading, screw machine, CNC, tapping, light press stamping and assembly work.
  • Utilize PDCA cycle to measure department goals.
  • Show more

Process improvement manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage enterprise applications such as ERP, CRM and commissions calculating software.
  • Manage projects and require personnel utilizing PMI tools and best practices from project initiation to close down.
  • Lead department through SharePoint implementation.
  • Focus are process, resource management and governance improvement opportunities to achieve breakthrough performance.
  • Lead successful, on-time, and on budget implementation of antiquate plant systems infrastructure and manufacturing enterprise applications.
  • Coordinate product re-launch project to execute Kanban program achieving target inventory level requirements improving lead time reduction from 12wks to 2wks.
  • Show more

Business unit leader vs process improvement manager skills

Common business unit leader skills
  • Continuous Improvement, 10%
  • Quality Standards, 6%
  • Lean Manufacturing, 6%
  • Safety Culture, 6%
  • World Class, 5%
  • Business Development, 4%
Common process improvement manager skills
  • Sigma, 15%
  • Lean Six Sigma, 13%
  • Project Management, 10%
  • Process Improvement, 8%
  • Kaizen, 3%
  • Value Stream, 3%

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