Continuous Improvement Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Overview

Shearer’s Foods, founded in 1974 and headquartered in Massillon, OH, is a leading manufacturer of salty snacks, cookies, and crackers. Specializing in private label and co-manufacturing, Shearer’s is the largest supplier of private brand salty snacks and second-largest supplier of private brand cookies and crackers.

With a strong focus on innovation, service, quality, and sustainability, Shearer’s has been awarded the food industry’s highest award for environmental sustainability, as well as multiple Supplier of the Year awards.

Operating 16 locations across North America and employing more than 5000 team members, Shearer’s is driven by its core values of People, Grow, Impact and Win. The company mission is to deliver exceptional products and services that make snacking a time to celebrate for our customers, colleagues, and community.

At Shearer’s Foods, we believe in a skills-first approach to recruitment and employment. This means focusing on what you can do and how you can grow, rather than traditional metrics alone. We are committed to adhering to anti-exclusion practices, removing barriers to access, and enhancing opportunities for all individuals based on merit and potential. Your skills, experience, and perspective are valuable—and we want to empower you to make your mark here with us. 

Responsibilities

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT MANAGER

Onsite: Brewster, OH

Your seat at the table:

The Continuous Improvement Manager is a key member of the Brewster Plant Leadership Team responsible for driving operational excellence through Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement (CI), and engineering initiatives. This role partners closely with plant leaders and frontline teams to identify opportunities, eliminate waste, enhance productivity, and strengthen Shearer’s high-performance culture. The successful candidate will champion Shearer’s manufacturing system while leveraging industry best practices to deliver measurable improvements in safety, quality, service, and cost. This position offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on plant performance while influencing culture and employee engagement across the facility.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic member of the Plant Leadership Team, helping shape operational and business performance.
• Lead and deploy Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives that support site goals and drive sustainable results.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement by coaching, mentoring, and developing leaders and associates throughout the organization.
• Analyze current manufacturing processes, identify performance gaps, and implement data-driven solutions that improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Establish, maintain, and communicate key performance metrics to measure progress, celebrate successes, and sustain gains.
• Lead capital improvement projects and engineering initiatives that enhance capacity, productivity, quality, and operational reliability.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, 5S programs, focused improvement teams (FIT), safety initiatives, Green Teams, and other employee engagement programs that empower associates to drive change.
• Partner with corporate resources, consultants, and cross-functional teams to implement best practices and accelerate continuous improvement efforts.
• Utilize Lean tools and methodologies including value stream mapping, root cause analysis, standard work, visual management, and problem-solving techniques.
• Deliver measurable business results through improved operational performance, increased efficiency, reduced waste, and enhanced employee engagement.

Qualifications

What you bring to the table:

• Five to ten years of manufacturing leadership experience as a production manager, supervisor, or similar role, in a consumer product manufacturing facility.

• Significant experience with continuous improvement tools such as kaizen, 5S, six sigma, and other such associate engagement and process improvement techniques.

• Four year degree in engineering, operations management, or similar field preferred.

• Applicable academic and / or professional experience in food science, engineering, or general business.

• Great analytical skills and ability to understand complex manufacturing systems.

• Proven leadership experience and ability to lead cross functional teams through influence, not just in direct reporting relationships.

• Excellent organizational and communication skills.

• Ability and willingness to work a varied schedule as needed to support a 24 / 7 operation.

• Knowledge of TPM or IWS preferred.

  We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.