Director, Continuous Improvement

Riverside Natural Foods Ltd. (Home of MadeGood); Golden Horseshoe; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in the food sector seeks a Director of Continuous Improvement to lead transformative initiatives across the supply chain. This role emphasizes the application of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to enhance productivity and efficiency, driving significant cost savings and improving customer satisfaction. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in engineering and proven leadership skills, fostering a culture of continuous improvement while collaborating cross-functionally. Join a dynamic team dedicated to making a positive impact and shaping the future of nutritious snack production.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits

RRSP/IRA matching

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Resource Groups

Riverside University

Open work environment

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience as a Continuous Improvement Director or similar role.

Responsibilities

• Drive a continuous improvement culture within the organization.
• Manage and facilitate all Continuous Improvement initiatives and strategy.
• Collaborate with the finance department to evaluate project savings.

Skills

Lean Methodologies

Six Sigma

Continuous Improvement

Problem-Solving

Leadership

Analytical Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Black Belt certification in Lean or Six Sigma

Job description

Join Riverside Natural Foods Ltd., a $300 million+ Canadian-based, family-owned, and globally operating business, committed to leaving the world better than we found it. As a B-Corp certified, Triple-Bottom Line company, we proudly manufacture nutritious, 'better-for-you' snacks such as MadeGood and GOOD TO GO. We value teamwork, humility, respect, ownership, adaptability, grit, and fun.

We’re on an ambitious mission to double our business by 2027, and we need talented individuals like you to help us reach new heights. At Riverside, you’ll have the opportunity to chart your own path to success while contributing to ours. We believe anything worth doing is worth doing right, and our values will guide us through the rugged terrain – and yes, it will get rough. But that’s what makes the journey worthwhile.

So, lace up your boots and let’s tackle the climb together.

You can learn more about us at www.riversidenaturalfoods.com.

Position Summary/Objective

1. A Director of Continuous Improvement drives teams across the supply chain to use quality, lean, six sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies. This includes overseeing the development, planning, and execution of strategies and metrics to track improvements. The role involves leading initiatives to save costs, eliminate waste, improve customer satisfaction, reduce product defects, and increase market share using various continuous improvement technologies. The Director manages and facilitates all Continuous Improvement initiatives and strategy for the manufacturing organization, working cross-functionally to align processes, systems, and resources for maximum efficiency and productivity.

Key Responsibilities

1. Managing and facilitating all Continuous Improvement initiatives and strategy.
2. Driving a continuous improvement culture within the organization by prioritizing opportunities and executing a Lean transformation strategy with relevant metrics.
3. Using metrics to support process owners in linking projects to strategic operational objectives.
4. Driving plant cost savings initiatives.
5. Assisting teams in developing Lean roadmaps for strategic objectives deployment.
6. Ensuring successful definition and execution of large, cross-functional improvement initiatives tied to annual strategic priorities.
7. Identifying and sharing best practices within and outside the company across business units.
8. Providing guidance for projects and kaizen events.
9. Managing and facilitating continuous improvement projects and kaizen events to enhance productivity and growth.
10. Challenging organizational leaders to foster a culture of continuous improvement and Lean thinking.
11. Collaborating with the finance department to evaluate project savings, validate CI benefits, and ensure accurate reporting.
12. Training, mentoring, and guiding team members in new processes.

Education & Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, or related field.
2. Black Belt certification in Lean or Six Sigma, or demonstrated mastery in another CI methodology like TPM.
3. Proven experience as a Continuous Improvement Director or similar role.
4. 10+ years of experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, preferably in food and CPG industries.
5. Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate and develop teams.
6. Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
7. Demonstrates humility in daily work.

Key Performance Indicators

1. Kg/DLH
2. OEE
3. # of Trained Black Belt Team members
4. # Green Belt Team members

Reporting Relationships

1. Reports to the VP Manufacturing.
2. Process Engineers report to this role.

What We Expect

1. Values-led: Respect, teamwork, resourcefulness, and fun are core to our culture. We embrace the journey, even when it’s tough.
2. Unparalleled experiences and opportunities: Help us shape the future of Riverside. Be proactive, build processes, and learn from imperfect progress.
3. Access to everyone: Our flat organization encourages open communication. Share your ideas and take initiative.
4. Personal development: We support your growth with training and career opportunities tailored by you.
5. Gratitude: We appreciate everyone’s contributions and foster a supportive environment.

What We Offer

1. Aligned with our values: Integrity and respect guide all we do.
2. Courageous determination: Embrace challenges with grit and resourcefulness.
3. Humility: We celebrate collective success and respect all contributions.
4. Continuous improvement: We own our mistakes, learn, and improve together.
5. Benefits: Comprehensive benefits, RRSP/IRA matching, Employee Resource Groups, Riverside University, Tuition Reimbursement, and an open work environment.

How To Apply

If you’re committed to excellence and meet the qualifications, please submit your resume to [e-mail] with the job title in the subject line or click the apply button. Riverside is committed to inclusivity and accessibility. Please inform us if you require accommodations during the interview process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.