Operations Excellence, Sr Manager
About The Position
Reporting to the Continuous Improvement Director, the Operations Excellence, Sr Manager serves as a regional CI leader with accountability for driving continuous improvement strategy, governance, and results. The Operations Excellence, Sr Manager is responsible for auditing, coaching, coordinating, and sustaining CI initiatives across multiple manufacturing plants. Partnering with the Corporate CI team, Plant Leadership, and Maintenance teams, this role monitors, audits, coaches, and drives the strategic deployment of CI strategies and best practices to enhance operational efficiency, equipment reliability, and overall plant performance. The CI Manager evaluates the organization’s operational systems at a regional level to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with organizational standards. This role requires a strong Lean background and the ability to influence change across multiple sites while supporting regional operational objectives and standardization initiatives.
Requirements
- Hands-on experience deploying production management systems and lean methodologies, including Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, and Visual Management to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
- Demonstrated success in implementing and sustaining cultural, operational, and maintenance improvements through structured change management.
- Skilled in planning, leading, and coaching Kaizen events to drive continuous improvement, asset reliability, and operational excellence.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Windows) with the ability to quickly adapt to new software applications; SAP Maintenance Module experience preferred.
- Comprehensive understanding of SQF standards, OSHA, and maintenance best practices, with a strong commitment to Food Safety, Food Quality, and regulatory compliance.
- Ability to analyze maintenance and operational KPIs to drive data-driven decisions that enhance equipment reliability, reduce downtime, and optimize costs.
- Experience in teaching, coaching, and applying structured problem-solving methodologies, such as 5-Why, Fishbone Analysis, and Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA), to eliminate recurring issues.
- Strong capability in collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate CI strategies, ensuring alignment across departments.
- Willingness to adjust work hours or shifts as needed based on production, maintenance, and operational demands.
- Proactive in identifying, prioritizing, and executing maintenance and CI opportunities with a sense of urgency to improve safety, quality, and equipment uptime.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s Degree required in engineering field or related field preferred.
- 5+ years in Continuous Improvement / Lean roles
- Experience in Continuous Improvement (CI) methodologies (e.g., Lean), with a proven ability to drive reliability and efficiency improvements.
- Strong leadership capabilities in a fast-paced production environment required.
Responsibilities
- Adhere to and ensure compliance to all health and safety policies/procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and PPE requirements across assigned region.
- Adhere to and ensure compliance to food quality and food safety as per the standard(s) provided by corporate, customer, and/or governing bodies (ex. SQF).
- Audit, evaluate, and coach Continuous Improvement (CI) strategies aligned with company goals, providing regional oversight in collaborating with Plant Leadership, Corporate CI, and Maintenance teams.
- Lead, facilitate, and coach Kaizen events for high‑impact regional initiatives and complex cross‑site opportunities to drive sustainable improvements in safety, quality, labor efficiency, yield, and maintenance effectiveness.
- Train and mentor employees and plant leadership teams in Lean methodologies, including 5S, SMED, Centerlining, PdM, RCA, and Standard Work to foster a culture of continuous improvement and consistent application across sites.
- Identify and implement process improvements that enhance equipment reliability, operational efficiency, and waste reduction while ensuring compliance with OSHA, EPA, and FDA regulations.
- Maintain management system evaluation logs, areas of opportunities, and improvement logs.
- Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) for operational management systems, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement across the region.
- Lead the implementation and sustainment of the Refresco Management System (RMS) across multiple sites.
- Champion best practice sharing and continuous improvement through cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Maintenance, and CI teams.
- Facilitate critical CI Kaizen events, focusing on downtime reduction, equipment reliability, and waste elimination.
- Partner with plant leadership to enhance workplace safety, energy efficiency, and material waste reduction through structured improvement initiatives.
Benefits
- Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
- Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life and AD&D Insurance, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance
- Short-term disability and long-term disability
- Pet Insurance
- Legal Benefits
- 401(k) Savings Plan with Company Match
- 12 Paid Holidays
- Vacation Days and Paid Sick Time Off Days
- Well-being Benefit
- Discount and Total Reward Programs
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
