Senior Manager, Operational Excellence

LEE KUM KEE•Industry, CA

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Operational Excellence (OpEx) is responsible for leading performance improvement initiatives across Lee Kum Kee Foods, Inc. Operations in the US. This role drives the design, implementation, and sustainability of effective operating systems, tools, and a culture of continuous improvement throughout the manufacturing organization. This role is expected to lead the deployment of the Lee Kum Kee Operating System (LOS) to support the achievement of both short- and long-term site business objectives. In this role, the Senior Manager, OpEx partners closely with manufacturing leadership to coach and develop teams in operational excellence methodologies that improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement. This position also represents the manufacturing site within the global, cross-site, and cross-functional Operational Excellence community, sharing best practices and contributing to enterprise-wide performance improvement.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or related field.
5+ years progressive experience working in a production facility (food preferred)
3+ years of experience leading Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, Lean, or similar performance improvement initiatives
Demonstrated success deploying and sustaining operating systems (e.g., Lean, TPM, WCM, or a company-specific operating system)
Training or certification in Lean Manufacturing; 6 Sigma or other relevant training is preferred.
Able to apply various Lean tools to improve efficiency and productivity. Practical experience in generating VSM, TPM, SMED and its related improvement process is required.
Change Management skillset.
Demonstrated skills managing through influence across function, with excellent communication and influencing skills
Leadership attributes: self-motivated, ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and ability to make recommendations and influence targeted customers.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
Ability to effectively present information to groups
Ability to effectively facilitate team meetings and discussions

Nice To Haves

Knowledge or experience in Digital factory implementations is a plus

Responsibilities

Maintain and develop a platform for a result-oriented, customer driven, team work-focused enterprise with modern management systems.
Work with the Plant Manager and leadership team to identify and develop clear improvement objectives in Safety, Quality, Service and Cost
Deploy the LOS to ensure sustainable delivery of these objectives.
Serve as the LOS expert, teaching and developing the team on the lean journey.
Measure and adjust LOS deployment based on KPI’s to assure constant development
Develop a comprehensive understanding of site performance, including losses, cost, OEE etc
Serve as PMO facilitator in COGS management initiatives to assure project identification, process management, project reporting and goal accomplishment.
Develop a deep understanding of OEE, loss and cost drivers.
Serve as process expert for cost optimization model.
Coach the loss elimination teams and introduce lean tools as appropriate.
Develop a comprehensive plan to drive a performance improvement culture.
Fully engage leadership team in embracing a performance culture.
Build the LOS capabilities throughout the organization, including daily problem solving, team activities and routine ways of working
Help to develop and support a network between LKK operations to assure best practice sharing and implementation. Help create an LOS playbook for shared use among plants.
Lead continuous improvement activities projects and masterplan for the US operations.
Lead or co-lead the implementation of the factory digital transformation strategy.
Work with the CAPEX team in design for efficiency and master planning initiatives.
Drive the implementation of key improvement projects related to Safety, Quality, Service and Cost.
Proactively search new market trends, new technologies, and innovations to increase manufacturing capacity and perfomance.
Partner with HR function to develop an integrated talent management system to build, and develop a team with over several hundred members in multi-locations while complying with regulations and policies.
Other duties, responsibilities, and projects may be assigned.