Plant Continuous Improvement Manager

Refresco Careers•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 and Sr. Regional OPEX Manager, the role deploys CI strategies across the facility, leads improvement projects, trains employees to lead similar initiatives, and fosters a Lean mindset. The position requires a strong Lean background and substantial time on the production floor to drive sustainable improvements and build buy-in at all levels. The CI Manager leads efforts to improve safety, first-pass quality, direct labor efficiency, yield, indirect labor optimization, and plant output. The role tracks initiative savings and sustainability, analyzes plant financials and performance data, maintains a rolling pipeline of productivity and capital opportunities, and promotes best practices and accountability through KPIs. The manager also supports food safety, food quality, and workplace safety requirements. The work takes place in a fast-paced production plant with moving equipment, noise requiring hearing protection, and potentially very hot or cold temperatures. The environment is structured and supervised, with production targets and schedules. The role may involve pronounced deadline and accuracy pressure. Weekday, weekend, afternoon, evening, overnight, and holiday work may be required; travel is anticipated rarely.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; Engineering, Business, or Operations preferred.
2–3 years of experience in Continuous Improvement 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 methods, including Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, and Visual Management.
Experience planning, leading, and coaching Kaizen events.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel and Outlook, and Windows; ability to adapt quickly to new software applications.
Comprehensive understanding of SQF standards and strong responsibility for food safety and food quality.
Ability to teach, coach, and apply structured problem-solving methods such as 5-Why and Fishbone Analysis.
Proactive approach to identifying opportunities, making data-driven decisions, and executing improvements with urgency.
Strong leadership, independence, accountability, organization, time management, communication, collaboration, adaptability, and resilience.
Willingness to adjust work hours or shifts based on production and operational demands.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Comply with and ensure compliance with health and safety policies and procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices, and PPE requirements.
Ensure compliance with food quality and food safety standards set by corporate, customers, and governing bodies, including 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 CI 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 planning meetings to validate cost savings, review project status, and develop contingency plans for initiatives that 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 improvement areas.
Lead implementation and sustainment of the Refresco Management System (RMS), aligning it with plant objectives.
Identify, evaluate, and execute process improvements that enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and increase plant output.
Collaborate across functions to align and share information on CI initiatives.
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 reduce accidents, energy consumption, and material waste.
Take immediate action when a food safety or quality issue is identified.
Adjust work hours or shifts as needed to meet production and operational demands.