Continuous Improvement Manager

Core Power®

responsibilities:

• Lead the implementation of the Operational Excellence framework across Fairlife and its site to deliver measurable performance improvements.
• Partner with leadership teams to execute and train employees on Operational Excellence principles and practices.
• Provide strategic leadership, training, and mentorship to employees at all levels, fostering the effective adoption of Operational Excellence principles.
• Supervise and guide the Op-Ex team (2 direct reports per line), offering coaching and support to ensure successful initiative execution.
• Promote professional development within the team by creating growth plans, facilitating training opportunities, and delivering consistent performance feedback.
• Champion cultural transformation to establish and sustain a continuous improvement environment.
• Develop and deliver targeted training programs that engage employees across all organizational levels, ensuring broad participation and understanding.
• Define, monitor, and analyze performance metrics, identifying gaps and driving actionable solutions for improvement.
• Organize and facilitate Problem Solving workshops and Kaizen events to achieve significant, measurable process enhancements.
• Present performance insights and actionable recommendations to stakeholders to support informed decision-making.
• Establish and manage processes for selecting, scoping, and completing continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee the Op-Ex Scorecard and design strategic Continuous Improvement (CI)/Kaizen roadmaps aligned with company objectives.
• Collaborate with finance teams to monitor and report financial outcomes, ensuring ROI (Return on Investment) for Operational Excellence initiatives.
• Provide ongoing coaching and cross-functional support to strengthen the deployment of Operational Excellence across teams.
• Advocate for the Operational Excellence brand within Fairlife and its site, fostering alignment, enthusiasm, and engagement.

skills/qualifications required:

• Strong expertise daily management, tier’s meetings cascade, problem solving, standard work, single minute exchange of die (SMED)
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with experience overseeing a team to achieve organizational objectives.
• Strong analytical skills and process-driven focus.
• Strong communication, presentation skills both verbal/written, and coaching abilities.
• Excellent organizational, time management, and project management skills
• Demonstrated ability to create strong working relationships and lead the work of others.
• Ability to gather and analyze data and draw logical conclusions.
• Ability to handle ambiguity and work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

additional skills/qualifications required for Team Management:

• Demonstrated ability to build and manage high-performing teams.
• Experience in setting clear goals and expectations for direct reports.
• Strong conflict resolution and decision-making skills.
• Proven ability to foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement within a team setting.

experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree required in engineering, business, or technical discipline from an accredited college or university.
• 5 - 10 years of proven project management and process improvement skills including strong knowledge of root cause analysis, Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, certifications a plus.
• Experience in process improvement implementation
• Proven ability in strategy development, planning, and budgeting.
• Proficient in MS Office products (Project, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio)
• Proficient in basic data analysis with PowerBI, Tableau, or equivalent
• Experience training others in the use of Lean and/or Six Sigma tools, and experience with lean approaches to improvement.

working conditions and physical requirements:

• 8-10 hours sitting/standing/walking.
• Ability to lift to 50 lbs.
• Reaching/bending as needed
• Exposure to hazards is minimal.

food safety requirements:

• Notify supervision of any repairs or adjustments that are required that may affect product quality or food safety.
• Understand, observe, and comply with the handling and usage of the color-coded container policy while in the Production Areas.
• Perform all duties necessary to meet Company, Customer and/or Government requirements/standards as prioritized by the Company.
• Ability to initiate action to prevent the occurrence of nonconformities relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the product, processes, quality system, or safety system.
• Identify and record any problems relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the ingredients, processes, quality system, or safety system.
• Control further processing or delivery of nonconforming products in terms of Food Safety and Quality issues until the deficiency or unsatisfactory condition has been corrected.
• In the event of absence, another employee with the same skill level will assume the duties and responsibilities as required.

position location:

exempt/nonexempt: