Operational Excellence Lead (Food)

Scantec Recruitment; Cwmbran; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading FMCG manufacturing business is seeking an Operational Excellence Lead responsible for driving strategic operational excellence initiatives. This role entails leading continuous improvement projects, supporting cross-functional teams, and fostering a culture of efficiency and best practices across the site. Ideal candidates will possess strong CI experience and a track record of successful delivery in a manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Continuous/Process improvement within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in FMCG/Food Manufacturing preferred but not essential.
• Track record of leading cross-functional teams and delivering change initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver group-standardised lean & CI training.
• Drive operational excellence through CI projects for efficiency.
• Facilitate CI workshops and training sessions.

Skills

Continuous Improvement

Lean methodology

Process improvements

Job description

Operational Excellence Lead - Food Manufacturing

Scantec Recruitment are working with a leading FMCG manufacturing business to assist in their search for an Operational Excellence Lead. Your role will be to support and drive their strategic, site-wide operational excellence initiatives.

Reporting to the Site Lead, this role has a genuine opportunity for career development and progression. The plan is that this role will be the succession plan to the Site Lead in the future.

About the Role:

We are looking for a passionate and proactive candidate with a strong track record of CI and process improvements. You'll be leading lean and efficiency projects across manufacturing and support functions, cultivating a culture of continuous improvement, and embedding best practice standards that support sustainable business performance and growth.

Operational Excellence Lead - Summary of key role responsibilities:

• Lead and deliver group-standardised lean & CI training to build in-house continuous improvement capability.
• Drive operational excellence by coordinating cross-functional CI projects that improve efficiency in labour, materials, and overheads.
• Embed a high-performance, decision-making culture at all levels to accelerate problem-solving and increase organisational agility.
• Interface with internal customers and cross-functional teams to identify improvement opportunities based on lean thinking.
• Implement and streamline processes to improve quality, customer satisfaction, and operational KPIs.
• Lead structured problem-solving sessions and ensure the consistent capture, sharing, and application of best practices across sites via group forums.
• Prepare and present CI updates and reports to senior stakeholders and business forums.
• Model and champion the group core values and behaviours in all interactions, actively encouraging others to do the same.
• Facilitate CI workshops and training sessions to upskill teams and embed LEAN principles.
• Drive performance improvements across safety, quality, service, cost, and people metrics.
• Actively lead and track the successful delivery of CI projects on time, within budget, and with full compliance.

Required skills & Experience:

Were seeking an experienced candidate with proven experience in Continuous / Process improvement within a manufacturing environment. FMCG / Food Manufacturing experience is preferred but not essential. A proven track record of leading cross-functional teams and successfully delivering change initiatives.