Business Unit Productivity Manager

Graham Packaging Company; East Hempfield Township (PA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K plan

Wellness program

Paid time off

Job summary

Graham Packaging Company is seeking a Business Unit Productivity Manager to drive efficiency across manufacturing, distribution, and admin functions. You will lead CI initiatives, optimize processes, and develop ROI analyses while collaborating with engineering, IT, and operations.

The role requires 5-10+ years in manufacturing or industrial engineering, significant travel, and expertise in Lean/Six Sigma, data analysis, and MES/ERP tools.

Qualifications

• 5-10+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations, process improvement, or industrial engineering.
• Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives preferred.
• Travel 60-75%.

Responsibilities

• Analyze workflows, labor utilization, equipment performance, and production processes.
• Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies and opportunities for cost reduction.
• Lead Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen and CI initiatives.
• Develop and implement standardized work procedures.
• Measure KPIs like labor productivity, OEE, throughput, cycle time, and downtime.
• Develop dashboards to track performance trends.
• Conduct time studies and value stream mapping.
• Optimize staffing models and resource allocation.
• Improve plant layouts and material flow; support 5S and visual management.
• Collaborate on MES, AI, ERP/Streamline, data analytics and workflow tools.
• Lead cross-functional productivity improvement projects and develop ROI analyses.

Skills

Leadership

Continuous improvement

Data analysis

Project management

Tools

Power BI

Excel

SAP

MRP systems

Job description

Company Statement

Graham Packaging is a people, planet and values-based company and a leader in sustainable packaging manufacturing. From the kitchen to the laundry room, Graham Packaging is part of your everyday life. For employees at Graham, our Blue Culture is part of their everyday lives, too. In other words, Blue is how we do things here. At Graham, we are united by a clear vision. We know our part and help those around us know theirs, encouraging one another to continuously improve. We create a safe, challenging environment to innovate by supporting creative ideas and new ways of thinking. We take the initiative to cultivate our individual growth and help others do the same, while keeping ourselves and one another accountable. And we actively promote cooperation, collaboration, integrity and respect across regions and teams to foster an engaged, diverse and connected workforce. We value our employees, and a Blue Culture allows for the most rewarding employee experience as part of the Graham family. Blue is how we feel about what we do-together to create a better tomorrow. Working at Graham means you lead constructively with clear goals, use diverse thinking to drive excellence, accountability, innovation, as well as demonstrating collaboration, embracing learning, and taking action for continuous improvement and growth.

Overview

The Business Unit Productivity Manager is responsible for improving operational efficiency, reducing waste, increasing throughput, and optimizing processes across manufacturing, distribution, service, or administrative functions. This role uses data analysis, Lean principles, process engineering, automation, and continuous improvement methodologies to drive measurable productivity gains while maintaining safety, quality, and customer service standards. Report to Director of Operations to deliver budgeted Productivity for their assigned plants. Also, will collaborate with peers to ensure optimal problem solving and solution sharing across the business.

Responsibilities

Process Improvement

• Analyze current workflows, labor utilization, equipment performance, and production processes.
• Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for cost reduction.
• Lead Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and implement standardized work procedures.

Productivity Analysis

• Measure and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including:
• Labor productivity
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
• Throughput
• Capacity utilization
• Cycle time
• Downtime
• Develop reporting tools and dashboards to track performance trends.

Operational Excellence

• Conduct time studies, work measurements, and value stream mapping exercises.
• Optimize staffing models and resource allocation.
• Improve plant layouts, material flow, and workplace organization.
• Support 5S and visual management programs.

Technology & Automation

• Evaluate opportunities to automate manual processes.
• Collaborate with engineering, IT, and operations teams on technology implementations.
• Support digital transformation initiatives including manufacturing execution systems (MES), AI, IFP, Streamline, Infinity ERP systems, data analytics, and workflow automation tools.

Productivity Improvement Project Management

• Lead cross-functional productivity improvement projects.
• Develop business cases and ROI analyses for improvement investments.
• Manage timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
• Present recommendations and results to leadership on a monthly cadence.

Training & Change Management

• Train employees on Lean tools and process improvement methodologies.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Support change management efforts associated with new processes and technologies.

Qualifications

Experience

• 5-10+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations, process improvement, or industrial engineering.
• Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives preferred.
• Travel 60-75%
• Direct experience in extrusion blow molding is preferred but not required

Technical Skills

• Lean Manufacturing
• Six Sigma methodologies
• Statistical analysis
• Data visualization and reporting tools (Power BI, Excel)
• ERP"SAP"/MRP systems
• Process mapping and workflow optimization
• Project management
• SMED (Quick Changeovers)

Preferred Certifications

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
• Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE)

Compensation Statement

The expected salary range for the position described in this posting is made in accordance with the legal mandates of certain jurisdictions within the United States. The final agreed-upon compensation is based on individual qualifications and experience. The standard compensation for this role is $109,700 - $164,600. Salary offers will be determined based on final candidate qualifications, experience, skillset, and other relevant factors.

Benefits Statement

Benefits include medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance. Employees are able to enroll in the company’s 401K Employee Saving Plan and may participate in its Employee Wellness Program. Employees will also receive paid time off in accordance with company policy and state law requirements.

EEO Disclaimer

Graham Packaging is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, religion, creed, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.