Process Optimization Manager

High Liner Foods; Garden Lots; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

High Liner Foods seeks a Process Optimization Manager to lead continuous improvement across our frozen food manufacturing network. You will drive cost savings and yield improvements through advanced process engineering and cross-functional collaboration.

Ideal candidates bring Lean/Six Sigma experience, strong analytical skills, and the ability to influence plant leaders and teams across Marketing, Quality, R&D, and Operations.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree with 8–10 years in frozen food manufacturing, or 15+ years in lieu of degree.
• Practical experience implementing and sustaining Lean, Six Sigma, and SPC programs.
• Strong focus on yield optimization, cost reduction, production efficiencies, and quality improvements.
• Proficient in process engineering methods: mass balance, cycle time, capability analysis, design of experiments.
• Strong analytical skills to drive data-based decisions.
• Advanced MS Office skills; especially Excel; production scheduling knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead/support projects delivering cost savings with focus on process optimization, specs, formulas, and operations technology.
• Participate in multi-discipline teams and cross-functional initiatives.
• Develop opportunities by leveraging internal collaborations across Marketing, Procurement, Quality, R&D, and Operations.
• Perform initial assessments to determine value, feasibility, and capital needs.
• Develop relationships with external suppliers and consultants to enable new technologies.
• Facilitate cross-functional groups to implement process improvements for capacity, productivity, and throughput.
• Analyze production data to drive continuous improvement initiatives and tool/process enhancements.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Statistical Process Control

Yield Optimization

Cost Reduction

Process Engineering

Data Analysis

Excel Proficiency

Cross-functional Leadership

Education

Engineering degree (Mechanical / Process / Industrial)

Job description

Description

Serves as a SME by developing andmaintainingup to date knowledge of products, processes,technologiesand manufacturing operations.

The Process Optimization Managermaintainsa strong cooperative working relationship with Marketing, Procurement, Quality and Regulatory Compliance, Legal, R&D, Manufacturing, and Operations Business Units.

• Lead/support projects to deliver cost savings with a focus on process,specificationoptimization, formulas,and operations technology.
• Participate in multi-discipline teams such as special initiative teams or other as assigned.
• Leverage collaborative relationships across multiple internal groups toidentifyand develop opportunities.
• Perform initial assessments todeterminevalue and feasibility and estimate capital requirement whereappropriate.
• Develop relationships with external suppliers, consultants, and professional organizations to enable discovery and application of new or emerging technologies
• Facilitate cross-functional project groups including Quality, Corporate Engineering, Supply Chain, & R&D to develop and implement process improvements resulting in increased capacity, productivity and throughput increases and cost reduction.
• Analyze production and operating data to develop and implement continuous improvement initiatives,toolsand processes.
• Utilize engineering principles toidentify, analyze, and design cost effective food processing technology and improve the current manufacturing systems with operations.
• Implement manufacturing process improvements through creative machine tooling and fixture design using internal and external resources.
• Mentor, influence and coach plant leaders and project teams on best manufacturing methods.
• Organizes, generates relevant data andprepareproject scopes, cost estimates, assistin preparation of capital project requests as needed to obtain management approval.
• Ensures smooth transfer of products across HLF’s internal (owned) and external (co-pack) network of manufacturing sites.

Qualifications

• D egreed engineer (mechanical, process, or industrial) with 8-10 years prior experience in frozen food manufacturing environments or 15+ years of related experience in lieu of degree.
• Practical experience with implementation andsustaining ofcontinuous improvement programs (i.e.LEAN manufacturing, Six Sigma, statistical process control, etc.).
• Skill and experience in yield optimization & cost reduction, productionefficiencies& qualityimprovements.
• Process engineering approaches including mass balance, process cycle time, capability analysis, design ofexperiment, etc.
• Possess strong analytical skills to interpret data to make decisions.
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office,Wordand Excel. Above average skills using Excel.
• Working knowledge of manufacturingcost calculations, gathering production information, and production scheduling.
• Approximate travel requirements are 25%.

Working conditions

Office Environment: The noise level in the office work environment is moderately quiet.

Plant Environment: The plant work environment will expose the employee to loud noise, food grade dust & odors, moving & vibrating machinery, heavy equipment, powered industrial trucks, heights, traffic, anhydrous ammonia,oiland electricity. The employee may be exposed to adverse weather conditions including extreme cold, heat, rain, snow, dust,smokeand odors. Flexibility of work hours. Ability to work on feet for extended periods of time if needed.

Physical requirements/Allergens

While performing the duties of this job, the employee isfrequentlyrequired to walk, sit, talk, listen, and reach with hands and arms. The employeeis required touse hands to handle,operate, and feel objects,toolsor controls. The employeeis occasionally required tooperatea motor vehicle to travel to off-site meetings. The employee must have visual acuity sufficient tooperatea motor vehicle and digital camera, as well as other office and position equipment. Specific vision abilitiesrequired by the job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Employeemust be able to hear and speak clearlyin order tocommunicate with clients, coworkers,employeesand vendors.

Travel

Travel to High Liner Foods offices and plants within North America may be required.

Direct reports

None

Other Duties

Pleasenotethis job description is not designed to cover orcontaina comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that arerequiredofthe employee for this job. Duties,responsibilitiesand activities may change at any time with or without notice.