Senior Director of Continuous Improvement

EmergencyMD; Montreal; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the frozen fruits industry seeks a Senior Director of Continuous Improvement to optimize processes and drive organizational transformation. The role involves developing strategies and fostering collaboration across departments, with a strong emphasis on Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. Ideal candidates will possess extensive experience in operational excellence and a strong engineering background, guiding teams towards enhanced efficiency and performance.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in continuous improvement or process reengineering.
• Strong supervisory experience with dotted-line reporting.
• PMP or similar certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead reengineering processes and improve organizational efficiency.
• Develop and implement continuous improvement strategies across teams.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to enhance performance.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Agile Project Management

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree in Engineering (preferred)

Tools

Smartsheet

Job description

Nature's Touch is a global leader in the frozen fruits industry, supplying the retail and industrial sectors in North America, Australia, Taiwan, and Japan. We provide a full range of products and support multiple private-label programs in addition to our own brands. We are also one of the largest buyers of fruit globally each year and continue to enjoy strong growth in this emerging category in retail. As we expand, we are seeking a Senior Director of Continuous Improvement to drive transformational changes across our organization.

The Role :

The Director of Continuous Improvement will lead the reengineering of processes and tools to create a highly collaborative, cross-functional organization focused on internal and external customer centricity. This role requires a strong engineering background, supervisory experience, and a dotted-line reporting structure to departmental project managers.

The primary focus will be on optimizing business processes, reducing inefficiencies, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement that aligns with the company's strategic goals. This leader will be pivotal in driving operational excellence through structured project management methodologies, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional teamwork.

Key Responsibilities :

Strategic Leadership & Process Reengineering :

• Develop and implement a company-wide reengineering strategy focused on people, processes, and tools.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance cross-functional collaboration and optimize business operations.
• Establish and enforce best-in-class process improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, and Agile frameworks.
• Ensure process standardization and scalability across all departments to improve efficiency and performance.

Supervisory & Cross-Functional Collaboration :

• Provide supervisory leadership with a dotted-line reporting structure to departmental project managers.
• Act as a change agent, fostering a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Facilitate cross-functional team collaboration to break down silos and drive customer-focused solutions.
• Mentor and develop project managers and department leads to ensure alignment with organizational priorities.

Customer-Centric Operations & Project Execution :

• Ensure all initiatives align with both external and internal customer needs.
• Develop KPIs and performance metrics to measure the success of continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead root cause analysis efforts to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for operational enhancement.
• Oversee the implementation of new technologies and automation tools to streamline processes and improve data transparency.

Change Management & Communication :

• Develop and implement change management strategies to drive the adoption of improved processes and tools.
• Regularly communicate project progress, challenges, and successes to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Conduct training sessions and workshops to build internal capabilities in continuous improvement methodologies.

What You Will Bring :

Supervisory Responsibilities :

• Functional supervision of 4 reports

Minimum Qualifications :

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Industrial, Mechanical, or Process Engineering preferred). Master's degree is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications :

• 10+ years of experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, or process reengineering.
• Strong supervisory experience with a proven ability to lead through dotted-line reporting structures.
• PMP or similar project management certification is highly preferred.

Knowledge and Skills :

• Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma (Green / Black Belt preferred), and Agile project management.
• Experience in reengineering business processes, digital transformation, and cross-functional team leadership.
• Proven ability to drive efficiency, reduce costs, and improve business performance through structured methodologies.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Expertise in Smartsheet for project management is an asset.

Additional Considerations :

• Traveling will be required; 5-10% of the time.

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