Sr. Regional Ops. Excellence Manager - North

Refresco • Paw Paw Township, MI

2d

About The Position

Reporting to the Senior Director of Operations, the Senior Regional Operations
Excellence Manager leads the development and implementation of Operational
Excellence across multiple plants. This role provides coaching on the Refresco
Management System (RMS), Kaizen methodologies, and the broader Operational
Excellence strategy, driving improvements in safety, first-pass quality, line
productivity, yield, indirect labor, and maintenance. The manager is responsible
for deploying change management initiatives, operational playbooks, and
standardized software tools while enhancing talent capabilities and fostering a
culture of continuous improvement. With a strong background in strategy
deployment, this individual will actively teach and coach employees in Lean and
Kaizen principles, including 8 Wastes, Standard Work, SMED, 5S, and
Centerlining. Partnering closely with Plant Leadership, the Senior Regional
Operations Excellence Manager will coordinate and execute key initiatives while
collaborating with the Senior Director of Operations, Plant Managers, and North
American and Global Leadership teams to drive sustainable operational
improvements.

Requirements

• Multi-site experience, with a proven track record of overseeing operations across multiple locations.
• Demonstrated success in driving change, implementing sustainable improvements, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Must have at least a basic understanding of how manufacturing equipment operates and functions.
• Expertise in Lean deployment, including hands-on experience with Lean methodologies and tools.
• Project management experience, with the ability to lead and execute initiatives effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; experience with SAP is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a results-driven mindset.
• Budget planning and management experience, ensuring cost-effective operations and resource allocation.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Management or Operations or related field required.
• 5 (five) – 7 (seven) years’ experience in the Continuous Improvement (Lean manufacturing) and Training Field required; beverage or food strongly preferred.
• Ideal candidate will have a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (or higher), Kaizen expertise, and proven leadership in strategy deployment.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leadership to develop, standardize, and implement company strategies and KPIs across your region.
• Support the development of tools and processes to implement and sustain continuous improvement initiatives and cost savings.
• Champion a Lean culture throughout your region and across the company.
• Teach and mentor employees—both CI and non-CI—in Kaizen methodology.
• Drive cultural change by developing standardized training and mentoring others in Lean tools, approaches, and techniques to foster a culture of continuous improvement while enhancing safety, quality, delivery, and cost efficiency in production and office areas.
• Serve as a liaison to share and implement best practices across the organization.
• Coach and lead cost-saving initiatives in collaboration with CI and Operations teams to improve safety, first-pass quality, direct labor, yield, and indirect labor year over year.
• Identify and lead large-scale projects to ensure successful implementation across the organization.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Identify high-potential employees, coaching and mentoring them to lead and execute improvement initiatives while supporting their career growth.
• Assist in identifying and driving cost optimization projects to enhance operational efficiency.
• Operates cross functionally to assure information flow and understanding of overall process improvement direction and expected results.
• Works closely with cross-functional team members to improve standardized dashboarding capabilities.

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
• Well-being Benefit
• Discount and Total Reward Programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level