Operational Excellence Manager

Make a Difference in YOUR Career!

Our vision is both simple and ambitious: to put our drinks on every table.

We are the leading global independent beverage solutions provider. We serve a broad range of national and international retailers as well as Global, National and Emerging (GNE) brands. Our products are distributed worldwide from our production sites in Europe, North America, and Australia. Although our own branding may not appear on the labels of the beverages we produce, there is a good chance you are reading this while sipping one of our drinks.

Our ambition is to continually improve and it’s what keeps us at the top of our game. We are solutions-based. We are innovative. We seek out new challenges and conquer them. This is our company ethos, but it’s our people’s too: Refresco is at the cutting edge of a fast-moving industry because we have passionate people pushing the boundaries of what’s best.

Stop and think: how would YOU put our drinks on every table?

Position Description

Reporting to the Continuous Improvement Director, the Operations Excellence, Sr Manager serves as a regional CI leader with accountability for driving continuous improvement strategy, governance, and results . The Operations Excellence, Sr Manager is responsible for auditing, coaching, coordinating, and sustaining CI initiatives across multiple manufacturing plants. Partnering with the Corporate CI team, Plant Leadership, and Maintenance teams, this role monitors, audits, coaches, and drives the strategic deployment of CI strategies and best practices to enhance operational efficiency, equipment reliability, and overall plant performance. The CI Manager evaluates the organization’s operational systems at a regional level to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with organizational standards. This role requires a strong Lean background and the ability to influence change across multiple sites while supporting regional operational objectives and standardization initiatives.

Essential Job Functions:

• Adhere to and ensure compliance to all health and safety policies/procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and PPE requirements across assigned region.
• Adhere to and ensure compliance to food quality and food safety as per the standard(s) provided by corporate, customer, and/or governing bodies (ex. SQF).
• Audit, evaluate, and coach Continuous Improvement (CI) strategies aligned with company goals, providing regional oversight in collaborating with Plant Leadership, Corporate CI, and Maintenance teams.
• Lead, facilitate, and coach Kaizen events for high‑impact regional initiatives and complex cross‑site opportunities to drive sustainable improvements in safety, quality, labor efficiency, yield, and maintenance effectiveness.
• Train and mentor employees and plant leadership teams in Lean methodologies, including 5S, SMED, Centerlining, PdM, RCA, and Standard Work to foster a culture of continuous improvement and consistent application across sites.
• Identify and implement process improvements that enhance equipment reliability, operational efficiency, and waste reduction while ensuring compliance with OSHA, EPA, and FDA regulations.
• Maintain management system evaluation logs, areas of opportunities, and improvement logs
• Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) for operational management systems, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement across the region.
• Lead the implementation and sustainment of the Refresco Management System (RMS) across multiple sites.
• Champion best practice sharing and continuous improvement through cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Maintenance, and CI teams.
• Facilitate critical CI Kaizen events, focusing on downtime reduction, equipment reliability, and waste elimination.
• Partner with plant leadership to enhance workplace safety, energy efficiency, and material waste reduction through structured improvement initiatives.

Required Skills:

• Hands-on experience deploying production management systems and lean methodologies, including Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, and Visual Management to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
• Demonstrated success in implementing and sustaining cultural, operational, and maintenance improvements through structured change management.
• Skilled in planning, leading, and coaching Kaizen events to drive continuous improvement, asset reliability, and operational excellence.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Windows) with the ability to quickly adapt to new software applications; SAP Maintenance Module experience preferred.
• Comprehensive understanding of SQF standards, OSHA, and maintenance best practices, with a strong commitment to Food Safety, Food Quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to analyze maintenance and operational KPIs to drive data-driven decisions that enhance equipment reliability, reduce downtime, and optimize costs.
• Experience in teaching, coaching, and applying structured problem-solving methodologies, such as 5-Why, Fishbone Analysis, and Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA), to eliminate recurring issues.
• Strong capability in collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate CI strategies, ensuring alignment across departments.
• Willingness to adjust work hours or shifts as needed based on production, maintenance, and operational demands.
• Proactive in identifying, prioritizing, and executing maintenance and CI opportunities with a sense of urgency to improve safety, quality, and equipment uptime.

Competencies:

• Leadership - Foster a culture of empowerment by building relationships based on trust, lead courageously on a day-to-day basis, and inspire growth with a clear and ambitious vision that guides the collective effort toward success.
• Independence & Accountability – Take ownership of responsibilities, effectively prioritize multiple assignments, and work independently to drive results with minimal supervision.
• Organization & Time Management – Maintain strong organizational skills to manage competing deadlines, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness under pressure.
• Communication & Collaboration – Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Adaptability & Resilience – Thrive in dynamic environments by embracing change, demonstrating flexibility, and maintaining focus in fast-paced, evolving work settings.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree required in engineering field or related field preferred.
• 5+ years in Continuous Improvement / Lean roles
• Experience in Continuous Improvement (CI) methodologies (e.g., Lean), with a proven ability to drive reliability and efficiency improvements.
• Strong leadership capabilities in a fast-paced production environment required.

Working Conditions:

• Work Schedule - Weekdays, weekends, afternoon, evenings, overnight and holidays may be required.
• Work Environment - Operating in a fast-paced production plant with numerous moving parts. Noise levels require hearing protection and temperatures can get very hot and/or relatively cold. The environment is structured and supervised, with clear production targets and schedules to meet.
• Visual/Sensory – This position requires attention to detail, requiring attention with one or two senses at a time.
• Mental Stress – There is pronounced pressure from deadlines, project management, accuracy or similar demands.

Travel Requirements:

• Travel anticipated: Up to 80%

Other Duties:

• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

A Career with Refresco 

Refresco is passionate about empowering leaders who reflect our core values and live by our leadership behaviors. These behaviors encourage effective leadership within the business, and focus on leading courageously, empowering individuals, and driving company growth as one team. Joining our team as a people manager means you’ll be encouraged to evolve as a leader who prioritizes the success of both you and your team, to deliver results, whilst bringing your authentic self to work.

Refresco Beverages US Inc. offers the following competitive pay and comprehensive 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 Days
• Well-being Benefit 
• Discount and Total Reward Programs 

Join Refresco TODAY and enjoy a rewarding CAREER!   

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Employment agencies that have agreements with Refresco Beverages US, Inc., and have been engaged in a search shall submit a résumé to the designated Refresco recruiter or, upon authorization, submit a résumé to this career site to be eligible for placement fees.  

Refresco Beverages US Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity, gender expression, Veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law.

Equal Opportunity Employer
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