CI Specialist (Dutch and English)

Kerry; Zwijndrecht; On-site; EUR 55,000 - 75,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Company-funded pension

Travel allowance

Cycle-to-work scheme

25 days annual leave

Job summary

Kerry is seeking a Continuous Improvement Specialist to identify and implement process improvements across operations. You will partner with cross-functional teams to drive efficiency, quality, and safety using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen and related methods.

Join Kerry to map value streams, lead Kaizen events, and coach staff to embed a culture of sustainable improvement while ensuring standards compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, or process improvement.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and 5S methodologies.
• Experience in project management and change management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and process mapping tools.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Very good Dutch and fluent English

Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement projects across operations, manufacturing, logistics, or business processes.
• Analyze current processes to identify waste, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, workshops, and problem-solving sessions.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, and root cause analysis tools to improve performance.
• Develop and monitor KPIs to measure process effectiveness and improvement results.
• Support standardization of processes, procedures, and best practices.
• Train and coach employees on continuous improvement methodologies.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to implement sustainable process changes.
• Conduct process mapping, value stream mapping, and workflow analysis.
• Track project benefits, cost savings, productivity improvements, and ROI.
• Ensure compliance with quality, safety, and operational standards.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement.

Skills

Continuous improvement

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Kaizen

5S

Project management

Change management

Data analysis

Excel

Power BI

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Process mapping tools

ERP systems

Job description

About Kerry

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

Requisition ID 66917

Position Type PT Permanent

About Kerry

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

Our Safety purpose

At Kerry, we work together in a caring culture where everybody goes home safe every day. We are committed to providing a safe working environment and ensuring that all safety protocols are strictly followed. Join us in creating a workplace where safety is everyone's responsibility

About The Role

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Specialist is responsible for identifying, developing, and implementing process improvement initiatives that enhance operational efficiency, quality, safety, and customer satisfaction. The role partners with cross-functional teams to drive a culture of continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other improvement methodologies.

Key responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement projects across operations, manufacturing, logistics, or business processes.
• Analyze current processes to identify waste, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, workshops, and problem-solving sessions.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, and root cause analysis tools to improve performance.
• Develop and monitor KPIs to measure process effectiveness and improvement results.
• Support standardization of processes, procedures, and best practices.
• Train and coach employees on continuous improvement methodologies.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to implement sustainable process changes.
• Conduct process mapping, value stream mapping, and workflow analysis.
• Track project benefits, cost savings, productivity improvements, and ROI.
• Ensure compliance with quality, safety, and operational standards.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement.

Qualifications And Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, or process improvement.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and 5S methodologies.
• Experience in project management and change management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and process mapping tools.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Very good Dutch and fluent English

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Experience in manufacturing, logistics, automotive, pharmaceutical, or industrial environments.
• Knowledge of ERP systems and data analysis tools.

Key Competencies

• Continuous Improvement Mindset
• Data Analysis and Decision Making
• Project Management
• Process Optimization
• Change Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leadership and Coaching
• Team Collaboration

What we offer

• Competitive salary with excellent benefits, including a company-funded pension, travel allowance, and cycle-to-work scheme.
• 25 days of annual leave.
• Bonus scheme.
• Group discount on individual insurance policies.
• A professional yet informal working environment with short communication lines and a strong collaborative culture.
• Opportunities for personal and professional development, as well as career progression within Kerry.
• The opportunity to contribute to sustainable, safe, and future-focused manufacturing processes.