Senior Director, Manufacturing Excellence
About The Position
At CJ Schwan’s, we don’t just make food — we help create moments that matter. From kids devouring pizza after soccer practice, to students laughing over dumplings in a cafeteria, to families enjoying pie during the holidays, our team members play an important role in bringing those everyday moments to life. Our portfolio includes iconic pizzas, global flavors and timeless desserts from brands like Red Baron®, bibigo®, Tony’s®, Big Daddy’s®, Freschetta®, Pagoda®, Edwards® and Mrs. Smith’s®. Enjoyed in homes, schools, restaurants and just about everywhere people shop and eat, our products reflect a commitment to quality, innovation and the power of food to bring people together. We are seeking a Senior Director, Manufacturing Excellence, to lead enterprise-wide Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) efforts and elevate operational performance across our manufacturing network. This role can be based in Hopkins, MN or can be remote based in a Midwest city. This leader has 50-75% travel to plant locations. This is a highly visible leadership role responsible for driving TPM pillar implementation, strengthening cross-functional alignment, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and results. The ideal candidate brings deep TPM expertise, strong business acumen, and a proven ability to influence and lead change at scale.
Requirements
- 12+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing, operations, or continuous improvement leadership roles
- Deep expertise in TPM implementation, including Autonomous Maintenance (AM), Preventative Maintenance (PM), and Focused Improvement (FI) pillars
- Strong background in Lean Six Sigma and process improvement methodologies
- Proven ability to lead large-scale change initiatives and influence across all levels of the organization without direct authority
- Strong business acumen, strategic agility, and hands-on experience in production and maintenance environments
- Exceptional leadership, coaching, communication, and interpersonal skills with a track record of building high-performing teams and partnerships
Responsibilities
- Lead the development, deployment, and sustainability of TPM strategy across all manufacturing sites, with a focus on AM, PM, and FI pillars
- Partner cross-functionally with Safety, Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and HR to drive alignment and embed continuous improvement practices
- Establish performance standards, metrics, and governance to ensure TPM initiatives deliver measurable operational and financial results
- Drive cultural transformation by in person, hands on coaching with leaders and teams to adopt TPM principles and build ownership, accountability, and problem-solving capability
- Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities, translating strategy into actionable plans that enhance reliability, efficiency, and product quality
- Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, influencing decision-making and aligning stakeholders around enterprise manufacturing excellence goals
- Lead & develop a team of engineers acting as business interface and technical subject matter experts in CI and Reliability
Benefits
- Comprehensive health benefits
- Time off programs
- Retirement and financial offerings
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
