Manager of Continuous Improvement

JBT Marel • Lakeland, FL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Manager of Continuous Improvement at JBT Marel. This role is responsible for leading and driving a culture of Lean and continuous improvement across the Lakeland and FPT business. The position involves developing and executing site-level RCI strategies aligned with operational goals for Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People. The Manager will lead CI planning, training, and value stream initiatives to improve productivity, eliminate waste, and deliver measurable business results. They will partner with site leadership to identify improvement opportunities and quantify cost savings and performance gains, facilitate Kaizen events, and coach teams on Lean principles, structured problem-solving, and standardized work. The role also includes establishing, tracking, and reporting key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor continuous improvement progress and ensure sustainability, promoting the sharing and replication of best practices, and driving organizational change by building capability at all levels and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous learning. JBT Marel is transforming the future of food through technology, innovation, and collaboration, aiming to make the global food system more sustainable.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• 6+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment
• Strong Lean manufacturing expertise, including coaching, training, and deployment of CI strategies
• Proven success leading continuous improvement initiatives and Lean transformations
• Formal Lean certification (Lean Engineer, Black Belt, or equivalent)
• Demonstrated ability to drive organizational change and sustain improvements
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on business results
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing or manufacturing engineering
• Broad knowledge of manufacturing processes and continuous improvement disciplines

Responsibilities

• Lead and drive a culture of Lean and continuous improvement across the Lakeland and FPT business.
• Develop and execute site-level RCI strategies aligned with operational goals for Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People.
• Lead CI planning, training, and value stream initiatives to improve productivity, eliminate waste, and deliver measurable business results.
• Partner with site leadership to identify improvement opportunities and quantify cost savings and performance gains.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and coach teams on Lean principles, structured problem-solving, and standardized work.
• Establish, track, and report key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor continuous improvement progress and ensure sustainability.
• Promote the sharing and replication of best practices across both Lakeland and FPT locations.
• Drive organizational change by building capability at all levels and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous learning.

What This Job Offers

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