Continuous Improvement Specialist

Good Culture•Austin, TX

12d•Remote

About The Position

The Continuous Improvement Specialist supports continuous improvement initiatives at a cottage cheese manufacturing site by analyzing production, quality, and supply chain processes to improve efficiency, yield, cost, safety, and compliance. This role partners closely with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams to optimize end-to-end dairy manufacturing processes while maintaining the highest food safety and quality standards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred, Food Science, Operations Management, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
2–5 years of experience in manufacturing operations, process improvement, or operations analytics—preferably in food or dairy manufacturing.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate production data into actionable insights.
Experience applying Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement tools in a manufacturing environment.
Proficiency in Excel and data visualization/reporting tools.
Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively in both office and plant-floor environments.

Nice To Haves

Experience in dairy manufacturing, fermented products, or high‑moisture food production.
Lean Six Sigma certification (Yellow or Green Belt preferred).
Familiarity with cottage cheese processes, pasteurization systems, curd handling, fillers, and packaging equipment.
Knowledge of CIP systems, sanitation optimization, and yield improvement techniques.

Responsibilities

Analyze cottage cheese production processes including milk receiving, pasteurization, culturing, curd formation, washing, dressing, packaging, and cold storage.
Identify inefficiencies, losses, and variation impacting yield, throughput, labor utilization, and cost.
Lead or support Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives focused on waste reduction, cycle time improvement, and defect reduction.
Facilitate value stream mapping, root cause analysis (RCA), and problem-solving events (Kaizen).
Collect, analyze, and interpret manufacturing data including OEE, yield, downtime, scrap, rework, labor efficiency, and line performance.
Develop dashboards, KPIs, and standardized reporting to monitor plant performance and improvement initiatives.
Track benefits realization from improvement projects, including cost savings, yield improvement, and capacity gains.
Work closely with Plant Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to implement sustainable process changes.
Support equipment optimization, changeover reduction, and preventative maintenance effectiveness.
Assist with capital project justification and post‑implementation performance tracking.
Develop and update process maps, SOPs, work instructions, and standard work documentation.
Support training and change management activities to ensure adoption of new or improved processes.
Promote a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement on the plant floor.