Continuous Improvement Engineer

Westrock Coffee Company•Concord, NC

50d

About The Position

The purpose of this position is to provide technical leadership, continuous improvement and project management skills in a plant support and R&D capacity that ensures safe, efficient and low cost plant operations. This position reports to the Corporate Director of Engineering and Technical Services with a dotted line to the Commercial Park Plant Manager.

Requirements

4+ years operations experience in a food, beverage or chemical products production environment.
BA/BS in a chemical or food engineering discipline.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong working knowledge of Windows applications (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook).
Ability to effectively establish working relationships with various Westrock departments/supervisors/management.
Ability to travel via plane and car (travel less than 10%)
Ability to work weekends and extended hours as needed to support project and operational needs.

Nice To Haves

Experience with micro sensitive products in an FDA or USDA regulated food safety system preferred.
Experience in thermal processing of liquid products including hot fill and aseptic packaging, liquid evaporation/concentration equipment and aroma systems.
Knowledge of design engineering in food science, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, sanitary piping practices and process and instrumentation diagrams.
Working knowledge of Process Controls and Instrumentation systems
Experience in beverage manufacturing is strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Works as a member of a cross-functional team including Sales, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Research / Development and Supply Chain professionals to set strategy and operationalize new product and process opportunities.
Works closely with the operations team to determine improvement opportunities and develop cost effective resolutions to improve performance and limit risk.
Manages capital projects often up to $6 MM.
Implements best practices in process control, monitoring, HMI interfaces, and operational practices.
Develops and implements operating methods / procedures designed to eliminate problems, improve quality and cost.
Recommends designs for new and existing production lines, processes to improve efficiency, safety and productivity.
Creates, submits and executes projects that meet established budgets and schedules.
Promotes a safe working environment in compliance with all OSHA and Westrock safety standards.
Assures that production practices are in compliance with FSMA, SQF standards, and FDA requirements where applicable.
Conducts technical specification reviews and resolution.
Coordinate the collection and dissemination of technical information between/within the company and customer.
Schedule's and monitors program activity to achieve an "on-time" and "on-budget" result including follow-up with external suppliers to ensure timely response to action items.
Prepares quotations utilizing supplier information, cost standards, technical information from quality, manufacturing engineering, design.
Ensures that project costs are correctly managed to ensure they are properly represented for accounting's closing process.
Assignments involve activities requiring knowledge of standard principles and techniques.
Prepares designs, drawings, plans and specifications for projects, engineered systems, technical equipment or components.
Assists in the preparation of probable construction cost estimates.
Reviews and monitors project progress to assure quality and adherence to requirements of contract documents.
Responsible for control of work-in-progress, ensures accurate client billings, monitors outstanding accounts receivable and collection efforts on related projects.
Understands Project Management principles and managing to an established scope. Identifies scope changes and takes appropriate action to address changes.