Continuous Improvement Specialist

Schutz Container Systems is a global packaging/manufacturing company with 15 plants across the Country. About the Role We are currently in need of an experienced Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist with base in any of our locations : Pasadena, TX / Winder, GA / Kenosha, WI/ St Joseph, MO/ Perrysburg, OH/ On-site Role We aren't looking for a corporate strategist who manages from a remote desk. We want a relentless, high-drive Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist who lives for the shop floor, gets dirty alongside operators, and refuses to accept "that's how we've always done it." This position reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer. This direct reporting line underscores the absolute strategic importance of this role to our executive team. We operate 15 manufacturing facilities across North America. We are actively building our standardized Continuous Improvement foundation from the ground up - moving away from single best practices toward single-standard execution, structured root-cause problem solving, and world-class OEE Availability. You will have the executive backing, visibility, and authority to eliminate equipment downtime, recover lost line capacity, and establish daily management routines across our entire plant network. Responsibilities Direct Executive Alignment: Partner directly with the COO to prioritize plant support, establish unified operational metrics, and execute high-impact cost-reduction strategies across 15 facilities. Plant Floor Coaching: Foster collaboration across teams by guiding Plant Managers, Supervisors, and Maintenance staff to move beyond assumptions and embrace proven root-cause problem-solving methods such as 5-Why, A3, and Fishbone. OEE Availability & Downtime Recovery: Drive significant reductions in equipment downtime by proactively executing line balancing, pinpointing key constraint operations, and systematically resolving chronic unplanned outages with a sense of urgency. TPM Deployment: Lead the hands-on rollout of Autonomous Maintenance (AM) and Planned Maintenance (PM) pillars, instilling true operator equipment ownership and setting clear visual centerlines across assets. Rapid Cost Reduction (SMED & Waste): Target, run, and execute fast-paced Kaizen events focused on setup/changeover time reduction, scrap elimination, and direct labor variance to capture immediate, trackable bottom-line savings. Qualifications Management cadences, and unified daily uptime tracking across our multi-site network. Unyielding Passion & Drive: High-energy, self-motivated operational catalyst who gains instant credibility on the floor through presence, technical authority, and a relentless focus on winning. Executive Presence: Ability to report key operational metrics directly to executive leadership while maintaining complete authenticity and respect on the shop floor. Required Skills Education: Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Operations, or related technical field. Experience: 5+ years of hands-on Continuous Improvement execution in continuous manufacturing, packaging, or industrial processing environments #J-18808-Ljbffr