Continuous Improvement Specialist

British Sugar Plc; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sugar manufacturer is seeking an Experienced Continuous Improvement (CI) Specialist to manage annual cost-saving programs and support multiple sites across the UK. This hands-on role involves direct collaboration with teams to drive improvement initiatives and influence outcomes. The ideal candidate should be a Black Belt practitioner with a strong background in Science, Engineering or Manufacturing, alongside excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. A commitment to fostering a collaborative and positive CI culture is essential.

Qualifications

• Autonomous working with ability to manage workload effectively.
• Driven personality with tenacity and determination.
• Confident and adaptable facilitation skills.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate and manage cost saving programmes.
• Drive maturity journeys on performance boards.
• Support site teams in Lean tools through training.

Skills

Communication ability

Stakeholder management

Change management

Education

Black Belt level practitioner

Science, Engineering or Manufacturing background

Tools

Power BI

Power Apps

Job description

Responsibilities

• Facilitate and manage the annual cost saving programme across all functions to the value of £500k - £1M a year, typically 20-30 projects a year, by leading effective structured sessions on Ideas generation, prioritisation, resource mapping, project chartering and 30‑day reviews. Identify and facilitate appropriate CI tool usage on a project‑by‑project case to enable the project leads to be successful. Keep financial recording and programme health data up to date in tracking systems and chair monthly performance reviews to the sites sponsors, including facilitating gap closure action creation as required. Ensure all projects are closed with robust control plans.
• Drive forward maturity journeys on the use of Performance Boards and Structured Problem Solving.
• Support site teams in Lean tools through theoretical and practical training such as standard work, workplace organisation and Lean wastes.
• Build rapport with leadership teams and ensure collaborative working towards common goals while developing and embedding a positive CI culture across the sites.
• Inspire and influence the wider teams in all aspects of the CI process to enhance local capability, acting as the site's champion of Lean and 6 Sigma and proactively deploy this expertise to support site performance.
• Act as a conduit for information between other sites to ensure that best practice is captured and replicated to support CI across the business. Work collaboratively with other CI Specialists in the CI Function across the other sites.
• As part of this role there may be occasions where your skills and attributes, as a Lean 6 Sigma professional, are needed to lead high priority business projects through DMAIC methodology.
• Support the centre within the programme management office and execution of Must Win Battle initiatives.
• Support development of Yellow Belt Learners.
• Design and facilitate workshops in response to support requests.

While the role may have a primary base, the CI Specialist will support multiple sites and central functions across the business and deploy to where the need is greatest. Meaningful time will be spent on site working directly with leadership teams and front‑line colleagues. Mobility, flexibility and ability to manage a diverse workload are core requirements of the role.

Qualifications & Attributes

• Black Belt level practitioner preferably with Science, Engineering or Manufacturing background.
• Autonomous working with the ability to manage your own workload to meet annual objectives.
• Tenacity/Passion/Determination - driven to chase the end goal and to drive the site performance forwards.
• Outstanding communication ability and stakeholder management across all levels of the business, with the ability to grow cross‑functional relationships and to influence outside of immediate sphere of control.
• Literate in MS suite of applications with Power BI and Power Apps development desirable.
• Practiced in the Management of Change.
• Exposure to Program Management Office (PMO) practices.
• Confident and adaptable facilitation skills.

British Sugar has expanded the scope of its Continuous Improvement (CI) specialist team in recent years to support all functions and business areas, providing CI expertise to over 1,200 colleagues. To keep up with demand we are seeking an Experienced CI Professional to join the team. This is a hands‑on, delivery‑focused role. CI Specialists work directly with sites and senior leadership teams, influencing outcomes without formal authority and driving tangible, measurable results. The role could be mobile in nature, supporting multiple sites and central functions, deploying to where the business need is greatest. We are committed to creating an environment where all our people are treated with respect and given the opportunities to succeed. We want British Sugar to be a great, inclusive place to work for everyone.