Operations Continuous Improvement Manager

Costa Limited; St Albans; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Share Investment Plan (SIP)

Pension with employer contributions

Private medical cover

Store discounts across Costa network

Job summary

Costa Limited is seeking an Operations Continuous Improvement Manager to lead cross-site CI initiatives across Costa’s retail operations. This role will simplify ways of working, boost efficiency and embed standardised processes that enhance both partner experience and customer outcomes.

Field-based with an expectation of 3 days out in the business, you will apply lean methodologies, lead a small team of direct reports, and collaborate with central and senior leadership to drive measurable

Qualifications

• Experience driving operational excellence across multi-site retail environments.
• Proven track record delivering measurable efficiency improvements.
• Strong problem solving with data-driven insight and stakeholder influence.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver CI initiatives across Costa’s retail operations.
• Standardise processes and embed lean methodologies to improve efficiency.
• Translate root causes into practical, scalable solutions.
• Apply data insights to diagnose issues and sustain improvements.
• Drive productivity, sales, waste reduction and customer experience.
• Build capability within a small CI team and lead change across fields and central teams.

Skills

Operational excellence

Continuous improvement

Lean thinking

Data-driven decision making

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Continuous Improvement/Lean qualification

Job description

Operations Continuous Improvement Manager

St Albans, UK

Job Description

Posted Sunday 16 August 2026 at 22:00 | Expires Monday 31 August 2026 at 21:59

Operations Continuous Improvement Manager

(Field based with the expectation of 3 days out in the business)

The Operations Continuous Improvement Manager will lead, design and deliver continuous improvement initiatives across Costa’s retail operations, simplifying ways of working, improving efficiency and embedding sustainable, standardised processes that enhance both partner experience and customer outcome.

At Costa Coffee, we are what we craft. We’re reimagining coffee experiences in over 50 countries and counting, as a key part of the Coca-Cola System. Whether you get your coffee in a store, from a machine, at home, or on the go – we’ve got you covered.

Our teams make a difference. Whetherthat’sworking on new tech for the perfect pour, helping our teams grow, creating award-winning campaigns, crunching the numbers, or developing the latest exciting menu item; together, we stir up success.

We may be a global brand, but wehaven’tforgottenour roots.That’swhere the Costa Foundation and our fantastic community agenda come in. Whatever your role, you can help us change lives in coffee growingcommunities andhelp your local community too.

We also want to help you grow in your career through amazing experiences, our apprenticeship scheme, and development programmes. At Costa, you can go beyond the day-to-day.

As our Continuous Improvement Manager , there’snever been a better time to make a difference,

So, why Costa?

Wedidn’tbecome a global coffee brand by sitting back. When you work here, you join a community that values passion,progressionand integrity, with somepretty brilliantperksto sweeten the deal:

• Own a piece of Costa’s success by becoming a share owner in Coca-Cola with our Share Investment Plan (SIP)
• A smart pension that saves you money on tax and national insurance, and matches your contributions up to 10%
• The Costa Financial Support Fund, supporting team members who find themselves in unexpected financial pressure
• 50% discount in all Costa-owned stores, and 25% off in other participating stores
• Private medical cover thanks to our Private Healthcare scheme
• Andthat’snot all. Explore even more of ourperkshere: https://bit.ly/costaperks

We’repassionate about beinga great placeto work, where you can bring your unique self into our mix. Wefirmly supportdiversity,equityand inclusion, and continue to work with our teams to shape the future of our culture and values: Disciplined to Deliver, Passion for Progress, Win with Warmth, Courage to Challenge and Trusted Team Players.

What you'll do

Being aContinuous Improvement Manager is about so much more than bringing our coffee to the world.It’syour chance to stir up real success - which meansyou’llbe:

• Act as a subject matter expert in continuous improvement and lean thinking, to identify root causes of operational challenges and translate back into practical, scalable solutions.
• Apply CI methodology and problem-solving tools to reduce waste, variation and complexity in retail operations.
• Use data and insight to diagnose root causes, track impact and sustain improvements.
• Connect CI outcomes directly to commercial outcomes including productivity, sales, waste, availability and customer experience.
• Seek out and apply best practice from the retail and hospitality industry to allow you to lead change by influencing stakeholders across field, central and senior leadership teams.
• Lead and develop a team of 2 direct reports, building capability, engagement and subject matter expertise across the team

Who you are

It’syour unique ingredientswe’reinterested in:

• Experienced in driving operational excellence and continuous improvement across retail and multi-site environments through process standardisation, transformation and lean methodologies.
• Proven track record leading improvement teams and delivering sustainable change that enhances efficiency, consistency and operational performance.
• Strong problem solver with the ability to turn data into actionable insight, communicate and influence effectively across all levels, and coach teams through change.
• Highly organised and delivery-focused, with proven success leading end-to-end improvement initiatives and collaborating across complex matrix environments.
• Proven track record delivering measurable operational improvement and commercial impact across complex, multi-site environments.
• Experienced leading cross-functional teams, pilots and improvement programmes, while building capability and driving change at pace.
• Ideally a formal Continuous Improvement/Lean qualification, with hospitality or QSR experience and a strong understanding of operational excellence best practice and emerging industry trends
• Retail, hospitality or consumer-facing operational experience coupled with experience embedding CI capability in others

Where you’ll work:

Field based with the expectation of 3 days out in the business.