Operational Excellence Manager

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Leek

On-site

GBP 70,000 - 110,000

Full time

13 days ago

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Job summary

Ornua seeks a Senior Continuous Improvement Leader to drive Lean Six Sigma–based transformation across the site, owning the Lean culture and leading the CI team. You will partner with senior leadership to deliver measurable improvements in efficiency and quality through data‑driven problem‑solving.

Reporting to the Operations Controller as part of the Global Operational Excellence team, you will map value streams, build robust business cases, and promote cross‑site collaboration with customers

Qualifications

Experience leading or coaching a team.
Lean Six Sigma/Black Belt accreditation.
Strong understanding of continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

Lead transformational change using best-in-class practices.
Own end-to-end value stream maps and identify opportunities.
Create robust business cases for improvement initiatives.

Skills

Team Leadership

Coaching

Effective Communication

Presentation Skills

Storytelling

Education

Lean Six Sigma/Black Belt

Tools

Excel

Microsoft Project

PowerPoint

Job description

Deliver Ornua’s 3 Year Plan and Transforming for Growth strategy
Lead transformational change by identifying and delivering best‑in‑class practices
Drive accountability through site improvement projects benefiting Ornua and partner customers
Serve as site owner and key stakeholder for the Global Operational Excellence team
Own and drive the site Lean culture and project management framework
Lead and develop the site continuous improvement team
Act as a business partner to senior leadership using data‑driven insights and structured problem‑solving
Own end‑to‑end value stream maps and identify improvement opportunities
Create robust business cases for improvement initiatives
Champion continuous improvement across the Ornua Group and promote cross‑site collaboration
Work with customers to demonstrate Ornua’s continuous improvement ethos and evidence‑based results
Champion cross‑functional working, prioritisation and resource planning aligned with business and customer strategy
Embed process changes through effective change management to achieve sustained results
Inspire a high‑performance, improvement‑focused culture by showcasing results, celebrating milestones and building momentum through visible leadership and storytelling
Report to the Operations Controller and work as part of the global operational excellence team

Requirements

Experience managing, leading or coaching a team
Lean Six Sigma/Black Belt accreditation
Full understanding of continuous improvement initiatives
Background in Operational Excellence
Proven experience delivering cross‑functional improvement projects with quantifiable results (£100k+)
Strong foundation in Lean/Operational Excellence principles, including OEE, SMED, 8 Wastes, 5S, PDCA and Standard Work
Ability to flex communication style and methods for effective delivery
Comfortable presenting externally
Strong IT skills, including Excel, Microsoft Project and PowerPoint
Extensive experience in a CI, Operational Excellence or project delivery role
Preferably experience in a dairy manufacturing or FMCG environment

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in Lean Six Sigma methodologies and Operational Excellence principles, driving continuous improvement initiatives and cross‑functional projects to achieve measurable results. Capable of leading teams, managing change, and fostering a high‑performance culture through effective communication and collaboration.

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