Continuous Improvement Specialist (4794)

WESTERN VALLEY MEAT COMPANY•Fresno, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Specialist plays a critical role in supporting Operational Excellence across Western Valley Meat (WVM) and the Coelho Family of Companies. This position leads, coordinates, and executes improvement initiatives focused on waste reduction, yield optimization, process standardization, digital transformation, downtime reduction, and KPI visibility. The CI Specialist partners daily with Operations, FSQA, Maintenance, Warehouse, Safety, and Senior Leadership to build and sustain a culture of continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is analytical, organized, and passionate about problem-solving, coaching teams, and delivering measurable financial and operational results.

Requirements

3–6+ years of experience in CI, Operational Excellence, or industrial/manufacturing leadership.
Lean/Six Sigma training required (Yellow Belt or higher preferred).
Strong proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools: Power Automate, Power BI, Lists, Forms, SharePoint, Planner, and Excel.
Experience leading cross-functional projects in food manufacturing preferred.
Strong communication, coaching, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities with strong attention to detail.
Ability to work in a cold environment when going to the production floor
Ability to work with and around knives when going to the production floor
Must be able to pass background check and drug & alcohol screening

Nice To Haves

Yellow Belt or higher preferred for Lean/Six Sigma training.

Responsibilities

Lead site-wide CI initiatives aligned with business goals and plant operational priorities.
Partner with Plant Management, General Forepersons, and Supervisors to identify and execute impactful improvement opportunities.
Maintain alignment with plant leadership expectations while supporting the operational needs of sister sites when required.
Facilitate Gemba Walks, Waste Walks, Kaizen events, and focused improvement workshops.
Manage and coaches Root Cause Analysis (RCA) process.
Support reduction of operational variation, quality defects, rework, and downtime through data-driven methodologies.
Deploy and manage the IDEX visual management system across departments.
Improve yield and reduce waste through standardized tracking, analysis, and corrective actions.
Monitor equipment downtime, analyze root causes, and collaborate with departments to implement corrective and preventive measures.
Strengthen daily operational control through Standard Work, visual cues, KPI dashboards, tiered communication, and structured accountability systems.
Lead workshops aimed at identifying cost-reduction, cost-avoidance, and income-generation opportunities.
Build, maintain, and troubleshoot Power Automate flows for MRO approvals, RCA routing, Waste Walk processes, audits, corrective actions, and departmental notifications.
Develop and manage Power BI dashboards.
Maintain digital registers, SharePoint lists, Microsoft Forms, Planner buckets, and automated reporting systems that support plant performance.
Monitor labor performance and Overtime trends, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely communication to leadership.
Deliver Lean, Visual Management, and problem-solving training to Supervisors, General Forepersons, and employees.
Coach cross-functional teams on waste identification, accountability, and sustainability of improvements.
Promote a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement across all levels of the organization.
Facilitate team-based events focused on identifying inefficiencies, reducing waste, and aligning improvement activities with annual financial targets.