Continuous Improvement Manager

Simmons Foods • Southwest City, MO

12d

About The Position

The Continuous Improvement Manager directs and guides organizational change, including developing and upskilling managers and team members. The role establishes appropriate measurements, benchmarks, and targets, and develops plans and actions to achieve or exceed goals for reducing overall production costs. This is a salary-exempt position.

The manager collaborates with leadership on strategy, master planning, employee engagement, loss elimination, and results delivery. As a change agent on the plant leadership team, the role integrates actions that support the cultural vision and business needs, with a focus on how results are achieved and sustained. The manager builds organizational leaders’ capabilities in continuous improvement tools, methodologies, and standards, and ensures these are used to address site opportunities and sustain or improve results.

The role leads the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) process, including measurement standards, improvement-plan coaching, training, and monthly reporting. It also participates in team development, communication, and implementation of concepts, programs, and policies; coordinates work toward best practices and team cohesion; and supports Simmons operating systems, including quality, security, office environment, company policies, and Lean. Other duties may be assigned in support of business objectives.

The position involves working in manufacturing environments and surrounding property, communicating with customers, vendors, and employees, and potentially presenting to groups. Travel between facilities is 10%–30%, depending on assigned location. Required PPE is determined by the facility being visited.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, continuous improvement, or an engineering discipline.
• At least 1 year of experience in food processing or manufacturing management.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Lean Six Sigma training and certifications.
• Understanding of Lean principles, systems, and tools.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or 4 years of prior management-level experience.
• Ability to work in various temperatures and move about a manufacturing environment and surrounding property.
• Ability to travel 10%–30% between facilities, depending on assigned location.
• Ability to use facility-required personal protective equipment.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with leadership to set strategies, masterplan activities, plan employee engagement, identify loss-elimination ideas, and deliver results.
• Integrate actions that support the cultural vision and compelling business needs, serving as a change agent on the plant leadership team.
• Build leaders’ capabilities to implement continuous improvement tools, methodologies, capabilities, and standards.
• Ensure continuous improvement tools and methodologies are applied to site opportunities and that results are sustained or improved.
• Lead the OEE process, maintaining measurement standards, coaching improvement plans and strategies, providing training and coaching, and preparing monthly reports.
• Participate in team development, communication, and implementation of team concepts, programs, and policies; coordinate work to support best practices.
• Promote team cohesion, identify and raise areas lacking cohesion, and work with the team to resolve issues and achieve organizational synergy.
• Maintain familiarity with Simmons operating systems and support them, communicating concerns and improvement ideas.
• Perform other duties as necessary in support of business objectives.

What This Job Offers

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