Continuous Improvement Manager

California Dairies, Inc. • Fresno, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Join the California Dairies, Inc. (CDI) team, a farmer-owned cooperative dedicated to sustainably producing the highest quality dairy products while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. CDI products are delivered locally and around the world. Strategically located along Highway 99, our Fresno facility produces bulk butter, processed fluids, and milk powder. We encourage you to be part of our team that's shaping the future of dairy, right from the heart of California!

This role responsible for delivering process innovation and continuous improvement initiatives across multiple departments. It will play an essential role in helping to foster a culture of sustainable change through the creation and embedding of LEAN-Six Sigma-Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) methodology and the supporting framework to deliver lasting results.

Requirements

• Must demonstrate good judgment when carrying out duties as assigned.
• This position requires the ability to lead teams of people to achieve positive results through others (e.g., influence).
• Responsible for supervising project teams and assigning tasks.
• Manage project objectives to keep the project in scope and on time.
• In conjunction with the Talent Team, coordinate on-the-job training.
• In conjunction with site management and Human Resources, oversee adherence to company policies and procedures.
• Must have the ability to work with all levels of the organization to facilitate change and improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and communicate Lean / Six Sigma / TPM methodologies.
• Proven history of project execution while staying within scope and timeline.
• Ability to understand strategic plans and synthesize a roadmap, including individual projects, which ultimately achieve the objectives.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to achieve results in cross-functional teams.
• Strong demonstrated understanding of: Dairy/Food processing and packaging technology and methods
• Process qualification & validation in the dairy industry
• Bachelor of Science in a related field or a minimum of 5 years of proven continuous improvement analytical experience from a similar role, with an excellent understanding of continuous improvement concepts, including Six Sigma, Lean, TPM or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Formal problem-solving training with examples of application and results.
• Possess an accredited Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt
• High tolerance for ambiguity in a complex environment, ability to shift priorities, settings, and audiences.
• Ability to set up, facilitate, and lead Kaizen-style improvement sessions with various business stakeholders.
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office and experience with SharePoint and Power BI.
• Taking accountability for ideas from inception to delivery in an environment that requires robust metrics to confirm success.
• Experience in hands-on implementation of continuous improvement programs and Lean solutions.
• Experience designing remediation plans to address productivity and efficiency issues and a track record of following through to ensure closure.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with diverse employees and subject matter experts. Able to make the complex clear and easily understood.
• Demonstrated strong analytical, project, and product management skills, including a thorough understanding of interpreting business needs and translating them into operational requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in the entire project life cycle, able to operate in the initial conceptual design stage, in the depths of system testing, and at each stage in between.
• Must have the ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions given in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Must be able to discern when issues may require input from levels of authority within the corporation.
• English is required as the written and spoken language.
• Accredited Green Belt Certification
• Must possess or be able to acquire a state-issued driver’s License.

Responsibilities

• Implement sustainable improvements across the value chain by applying Lean-Six Sigma-TPM methodologies.
• Partner with plant leadership to develop execution plans for corporate initiatives and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to deliver improvements and achieve business objectives.
• Lead and manage the plant productivity agenda across five productivity streams: Design, Source, Plan, Make, and Deliver.
• Execute loss analysis processes as needed to support the timely identification of trends, losses, and process variation to establish plant improvement projects.
• Define and implement processes to support a continuous improvement culture: annual improvement planning, results review, understanding issues, taking actions, launching problem-solving or projects, and implementing sustainable solutions to drive improvement.
• Elicit requirements and drive process change using staff interviews, document analysis, requirements workshops, surveys, site visits, business process descriptions, business analysis, and workflow analysis.
• Provide accurate and timely progress against key objectives, savings projects, potential risks, and risk mitigation efforts to the Director of Program Management & Continuous Improvement.
• Function as a core team member and subject matter expert in working sessions designed to improve business operations cross-functionally.
• Coordinate with the Talent Team and Technical Services to develop and publish SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures), OPL’s (One-point lesson), and SWI (Standard Work Instructions) for various manufacturing processes across the organization.
• Assist in building a Daily Management System platform for plants for 3 organizational levels: Operator, Supervisor, and Plant Leadership.
• Audit improved processes and CI initiatives for sustainability and compliance.
• Provide on-going training and expertise regarding Continuous Improvement tools.
• Provide analytical support to continuously identify gaps, project opportunities, and solutions.
• Share successful best practices with other plants and teams.
• Implement problem-solving and improvement methods of Lean-Six Sigma-TPM through formal training and hands-on coaching.
• Drive use of focused Kaizen improvement efforts aimed at breakthrough and incremental improvements in plant processes, department, and/or line-specific opportunities that meet and exceed performance metrics.
• Effectively deploy change management tools and techniques to ensure the adoption and buy-in of all stakeholders to improve processes and systems across CDI through documentation, training, and support to ensure sustainability.
• Make decisions independently on project topics that are in the best interest of the project, teams involved, and the business.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and incentive programs
• Competitive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Generous paid time off
• Sick days & holidays
• Retirement plans
• Variety of valuable programs focused on personal well-being and professional growth

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager