Plant Continuous Improvement Manager

Refresco•Greer, SC

About The Position

Reporting to the Plant Manager, the Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager develops, coordinates, and sustains continuous improvement initiatives within the manufacturing plant. In partnership with the Plant Leadership Team, the role deploys CI strategies across the facility, leads improvement projects, trains and develops employees to lead similar initiatives, and fosters a Lean mindset throughout the plant. The position requires a strong Lean background and significant time on the production floor to drive sustainable improvements and secure buy-in at all levels. The CI Manager supports the Refresco Management System and plant objectives, identifies opportunities to improve efficiency and output while reducing waste, and tracks project savings, sustainability, employee engagement, and plant performance. The role also supports food safety, food quality, health, and safety requirements, and collaborates across functions and with the Sr. Regional OPEX Manager. Work takes place in a fast-paced, supervised production plant with production targets and schedules. The role may require weekday, weekend, afternoon, evening, overnight, and holiday work. Travel is anticipated rarely.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; Engineering, Business, or Operations preferred.
Two to three years of Continuous Improvement experience required.
Strong leadership capabilities in a fast-paced production environment required.
Demonstrated success implementing and driving cultural and operational improvements through structured change management.
Hands-on experience deploying Lean methodologies, including Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, and Visual Management.
Skill in planning, leading, and coaching Kaizen events.
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Outlook, and Windows, and ability to adapt quickly to new software applications.
Comprehensive understanding of SQF standards and strong responsibility for food safety and food quality; must take immediate action when an issue is identified.
Willingness to adjust work hours or shifts as needed based on production and operational demands.
Ability to make data-driven decisions, proactively identify opportunities, and execute improvements with urgency.
Excellent interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
Ability to manage multiple assignments and competing deadlines independently, with accountability and organization.
Ability to adapt and maintain focus in a dynamic, fast-paced work setting.

Nice To Haves

Experience with SAP is highly preferred.
Previous experience in the food or beverage manufacturing industry is preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or Operations is preferred.

Responsibilities

Comply with and ensure compliance with health and safety policies, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and PPE requirements.
Comply with and ensure compliance with food quality and food safety standards set by corporate, customers, and governing bodies such as SQF.
Develop and support improvement plans aligned with company strategy in collaboration with the Plant Leadership Team and Sr. Regional OPEX Manager.
Lead, facilitate, and coach Kaizen events to improve safety, first-pass quality, direct labor efficiency, yield, and indirect labor optimization.
Mentor and train employees in continuous improvement tools, including the 8 Wastes, Standard Work, SMED, 5S, and Centerlining.
Maintain a rolling 12-month pipeline of productivity initiatives and capital improvement opportunities.
Facilitate regular planning meetings to validate cost savings, review project status, and create contingency plans when initiatives are off track.
Track and report cost savings, project sustainability, and employee engagement related to CI initiatives.
Analyze plant financials, including P&L and internal data tools, to identify cost-saving opportunities and prioritize high-impact improvements.
Lead implementation and sustainment of the Refresco Management System (RMS), aligned with plant objectives.
Identify, evaluate, and execute process improvements that increase efficiency and plant output and reduce waste.
Collaborate cross-functionally to align continuous improvement initiatives and share information.
Implement and promote best practices through the Best Practice Sharing process.
Define, monitor, and maintain KPIs to measure plant performance and drive accountability.
Partner with plant leadership to develop and execute strategies to improve workplace safety and reduce accidents, energy consumption, and material waste.
Teach, coach, and apply structured problem-solving methods, including 5-Why and Fishbone Analysis, to identify and eliminate root causes.