Continuous Improvement Engineering Manager

Glanbia•West Haven, CT

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Continuous Improvement Engineer is responsible for leading and driving First Time Quality (FTQ) improvement initiatives at the West Haven facility through a robust, data-driven Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) process. This role serves as the site leader for continuous improvement activities, partnering closely with Operations, Quality, Engineering, R&D, Procurement, and Commercialization teams to identify root causes, eliminate waste, reduce Cost of Quality (COQ), improve process capability, and establish sustainable manufacturing practices. The position will be accountable for improving manufacturing performance, reducing rework and quality holds, driving CAPA effectiveness, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement through structured problem-solving methodologies and operational excellence tools. The ideal candidate is a hands-on manufacturing improvement leader who can own the CAPA process, drive FTQ improvement, reduce quality losses and rework, and lead sustainable operational excellence initiatives across the West Haven site. This person should be equally comfortable analyzing manufacturing data, leading cross-functional problem-solving teams, and influencing site leadership to implement change.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Process Engineering, Industrial Engineering or related technical discipline.
Minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing, quality, process engineering, or continuous improvement roles.
Experience conducting and leading CAPA investigations and root cause analysis in a regulated manufacturing environment.
Strong understanding of statistical analysis and process capability concepts.
Proven track record of implementing measurable process improvements.
Experience working in cross-functional manufacturing environments.
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and R&D teams.
Strong project management and leadership skills
Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret Technical Literature, technical drawings, and schematics.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Experience tracking, trending and interpreting process data
Basic understanding of controls including PLC, sensor selection, electrical components
Proficient personal computer skills including electronic mail, record keeping, routine database activity, word processing, spreadsheet, graphics, etc.
Ability to prioritize tasks, handle multiple projects simultaneously and delegate assignments to others.
Comply with all safety policies, practices and procedures. Report all unsafe activities to supervisor and/or Human Resources
Fluent in written and spoken English a requirement

Nice To Haves

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
Experience in food, nutrition, dietary supplement, pharmaceutical, flavors, or related process manufacturing industries.
Experience with Statistical Process Control [SPC], Minitab, Power BI, or similar analytics tools.
Knowledge of GMP, HACCP, FDA, or other regulated manufacturing systems.
Experience with digital manufacturing systems and manufacturing automation platforms
Statistical programming a plus.

Responsibilities

Serve as the site owner and facilitator of the CAPA process.
Lead cross-functional investigations into quality issues, customer complaints, deviations, non-conformances, and recurring process failures.
Ensure effective root cause analysis utilizing methodologies such as 5 Why, Fishbone, Fault Tree Analysis, and statistical analysis tools.
Drive timely implementation and verification of corrective and preventive actions.
Monitor CAPA effectiveness and identify systemic opportunities for improvement.
Develop a data-driven approach to CAPA prioritization and execution.
Lead initiatives to improve site FTQ performance and reduce product quality failures.
Analyze manufacturing data, process capability, and specification alignment to identify opportunities for improvement.
Establish performance dashboards and KPI tracking for FTQ, OOS events, rework, scrap, and Cost of Quality.
Drive reduction of recurring quality issues through sustainable process improvements.
Identify, prioritize, and execute continuous improvement projects focused on safety, quality, cost, delivery, and productivity.
Utilize Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Operational Excellence methodologies to reduce waste and process variability.
Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping exercises, and process optimization projects.
Establish standardized work practices and support development of manufacturing best practices.
Develop and maintain a prioritized site continuous improvement roadmap.
Work closely with Quality, Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Supply Chain, and R&D teams.
Facilitate review meetings to communicate improvement opportunities, project status, and CAPA progress.
Influence stakeholders at all levels to support operational excellence objectives.
Provide coaching and training on problem-solving, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Work with QA and plant management to ensure common objectives are agreed on and achieved (e.g. master cleaning protocols, microbiological quality and sanitation procedures).
Work with Supply Chain to ensure that co-manufacturing outcomes meet Glanbia expectations.
Set expectations to promote and grow a culture of safety as a non-negotiable.
Either directly or indirectly ensure all necessary operator and management training is understood and achieved.
Assist with the development of SOPs and educating operators on processes.
Provide nutritional product oversight for quality, sensory, and functional properties.
Work with Glanbia Quality team to provide effective quality assurance functions & resolutions and minimize quality complaints.
Lead the communication effort within Technical Engineering.
Grow and develop people’s skills and capabilities to build a strong global footprint.
Provide process and project support to new capital projects.
Integrate key financial factors into all decision making.
Attend seminars and shows for vendor meetings and information gathering.
Provide customer support as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.