Manager, Continuous Improvement

Support operations to optimize operational performance to achieve desired business results. Promote business effectiveness, efficiency, innovation, flexibility and integration with technology through an ongoing focus and commitment to continuous improvement.

Essential Functions:

• Analyze, design, develop, implement, evaluate, and audit business processes, including but not limited to Reliability, Operational Improvement, and Maintenance, as well as other workflow systems.
• Review key performance metrics for Business Processes for the purpose of identifying, quantifying, and resolving operating problems.
• Expand and apply standard methodologies, including configuring workflows for the customers and their businesses.
• Evaluate employees’ tasks and responsibilities, identifying procedures or tools to improve productivity.
• Design, redesign, and enhance work areas and layouts to improve ergonomics, reduce repetitive motions and inefficient methods.
• Train affected associates on the theory and utilization of the business processes and business performance.
• Communicate with departments to continuously assess business processes to identify enhancement opportunities and training required for programs and operations improvements.  Assist with deployment of continuous improvement and business processes changes with detailed communication plan and the development of monitoring and reporting resources and tools.
• Manage projects and take the project lead position as assigned for initiatives relating to improving business processes.
• Champion a culture accepting and promoting change, improvement, and reliability.
• Partner with the Ops L&D team to facilitate all change initiatives training as required.
• Prioritize CI projects by value-add, ROI potential, and impact on facility resources.
• Provide client support during "Go-Live" of each project, evaluate results, and create "lessons learned".
• Prepare and maintain all technical and business documents and collaborate with clients to provide support to all issues.
• Perform other duties as necessary.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering, operations management, or related field.
• Five (5) to seven (7) years of experience in a process engineering or CI role within a food processing environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and performance drivers (e.g., OEE, yield, labor efficiency, downtime, throughput).
• Familiarity with emerging technologies and applications in relation to business processes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organization through change and adapt to change.
• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, MOC, and optimizing processes to achieve results.
• Demonstrated project management skills required.

Language Skills:

• Exceptional communication skills (oral and written), with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and concisely across different levels and functions of the organization.
• Leadership & facilitation skills to conduct workshops and drive continuous improvement

Mathematical / Systems Skills:

• Must have basic math skills and the ability to perform calculations of formulations, ingredients, yields, man-hours, etc.
• Must be able to create, read, and analyze charts, graphs, and logs.
• Proficient with MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Reasoning Ability:

• Highly analytical with superior problem-solving abilities, skilled in making data-driven decisions.

Certificates, Licenses, and Registration:

• Certifications in lean manufacturing, such as but not limited to Lean Six Sigma, Lean Management, Lean Principles, Leader Standard Work (LSW), and Lean Production, are helpful.

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to lift overhead up to 30 pounds
• Must be able to stand and/or walk for extended periods of time, in a refrigerated environment as well as in cooking areas.

Work Environment:

• Must be able to work in a refrigerated or cooking environment
• Must be able to work in a meat-processing environment