Continuous Improvement Manager

About the Company
Our client is a large, fast-growing food and beverage manufacturer with a family of companies that covers every step of the process, from raw ingredients sourced straight from the farm to finished product on the shelf. Their culture is built on accountability, doing what's right, and holding a higher standard for their people, their land and animals, and their customers.

Benefits


They offer competitive compensation and a strong benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 401(k) with company match, and paid holidays and vacation.


Position Summary
The Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager leads and facilitates initiatives that drive operational excellence and efficiency across the facility. This role calls for a sharp problem-solver with a strong grasp of plant operations who can apply practical improvement methods to optimize production, cut waste and shrink, improve quality, and lift overall performance.


A big part of the role is leading and coaching employee-driven improvement teams and PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) projects. These teams tap the people who know the operation best to attack specific, focused opportunities. The CI Specialist will run multiple teams across different focus areas at the same time.


Key Responsibilities

• CI Program Leadership: Own all onsite continuous improvement efforts and keep them aligned with operational and financial goals
• Strategic Execution: Develop, launch, and sustain CI initiatives that drive efficiency, improve financial performance, and support long-term success
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Finance, and other teams to find and execute improvements
• Performance Analytics: Analyze operational data, assess financial impact, and make data-driven decisions
• Training & Development: Coach frontline employees, supervisors, and managers on CI methods to build a culture of improvement
• Improvement Teams & PDCA: Lead, support, and coach multiple improvement teams and PDCA projects across the facility
• Project Management: Take CI projects from concept to completion on time and with results
• Problem-Solving: Use root cause analysis, process mapping, and other CI tools to diagnose issues and put lasting fixes in place
• KPI Management: Set and track KPIs to measure the impact of CI work
• Change Management: Champion continuous improvement and drive buy-in at every level of the plant

Qualifications

• 3+ years in operations, manufacturing, or process improvement, dairy or food industry preferred
• Bachelor's in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered
• CI experience preferred, or a strong drive to learn CI methods and tools
• Understands how operational changes hit the P&L
• Proven ability to drive change, influence stakeholders, and develop people
• Hands-on, comfortable working directly with frontline teams
• Track record leading CI projects with measurable results
• Strong written and verbal communication at all levels