Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence Specialist

gategroup; West Devon; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in aviation catering is seeking a Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence Specialist to join their team. This mid-senior level position involves implementing business improvement strategies using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to enhance operational performance across various UK sites. Ideal candidates will have a background in engineering or related fields, along with proven experience in Lean tools and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Educational qualifications include GCSE/O-Level in Maths/Science, and a Bachelor's degree is advantageous.
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Blackbelt or Greenbelt) preferred.
• Experience in operational environments and applying Lean tools is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead initiatives for improving business processes and driving operational efficiency.
• Develops and rolls out lean manufacturing standards and best practices.
• Uses problem-solving tools to identify issues affecting operations.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Operational Efficiency

Process Improvement

Data Analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technical related field

GCSE/O-Level in Maths/Science

Lean Six Sigma certification

Job description

Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence Specialist

gategroup West Drayton, England, United Kingdom

Gategroup are currently looking for a Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence Specialist to join our Continuous Improvement team. In this role, the job holder will be responsible for identifying, leading, and executing initiatives that improve business processes, drive operational efficiency, and optimize performance across departments. The role is focussed on our Northern UK aviation catering Sites as well as our UK trains sites currently operating in the East of the UK (London to Scotland). You’ll partner with key stakeholders to deliver measurable improvements using Lean, Six Sigma, and change management methodologies.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Highlights and develops business improvement opportunities to benefit quality, cost and delivery.
• Develops, trains, and rolls out standards and best practices using lean manufacturing and Six-Sigma tools and principles
• Problem solves to identify root causes of selective issues restricting or affecting the business using process improvement and problem-solving tools such as process mapping, kaizen events, value-stream mapping, SMED, Poka-yoke, FMEA, C&E analysis, 5S etc.
• Seeks and analyses data for evidence-based analysis and planning of value-added solutions
• Develops and implements performance management systems that will help to measure and manage operational performance, compliance and quality
• Partners with facilities operations managers, shift team leaders (in the operation) and compliance colleagues to plan and execute operational and tactical improvements
• Drives development and rollout of technology tools into the operation
• Acts as a mentor to coach and develop staff in the mind-set of lean and continuous improvement
• Supports adherence to, and sustainment of, the groups global Operational Excellence program (gateOPEX)

Qualifications

Education:

• Educated to GCSE/ O-Level in Maths / Science
• Lean Six Sigma change related qualified (Blackbelt or Greenbelt certification advantageous)
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technical related field (advantageous).

Work Experience:

• Previous experience in an operational environment within the manufacturing, pharmaceutical, healthcare, electronics/engineering or automotive industry
• Previous management or supervisory experience
• Previous experience in facilitating and applying Continuous Improvement / Lean tools and methodologies over a significant period with proven delivery & results

Skills & Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of manufacturing systems (BOM’s, ERP, production planning, scheduling, purchasing, supply chain management etc.)
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop long term relationships and facilitate sometime diverse groups of people to work together to achieve shared objectives
• Excellent organisational skills, detailed, ability to schedule/manage workload & multiple activities within similar timelines
• Strong characteristics in communications, team building, facilitation/deployment change management
• Ability to: evaluate, consult, coach, influence, implement, present and deliver
• Good negotiating and persuasive skills

Other:

All applicants must have the right to work in the UK, undertake a CRC (Criminal Record Check) and provide 5 years of checkable referencing history. For anytime spent outside the UK exceeding 6 months, you must be able to provide a CRC (Criminal Record Check) for that country.

About the Company:

Gate Gourmet is the world's largest independent provider of catering services for airlines and are the core business behind gategroup, whose eleven associated brands offer customers a comprehensive scope of products and services for virtually any on-board need. We provide more than 200 million meals a year to our 270-plus customers at some 120 airport locations around the globe.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Project Management, Manufacturing, and Quality Assurance

• Industries

  Food and Beverage Services, Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain and Storage, and Airlines and Aviation

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