CI Manager

Maker's Pride; Front Royal (VA); On-site; USD 86,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

Maker's Pride in Virginia is seeking a CI Manager to drive sustainable process improvements across safety, quality, delivery and cost. You will lead Kaizen events, coach teams, and partner with plant leadership to deliver breakthrough results.

The role requires strong Lean manufacturing skills, hands-on leadership, SAP familiarity, Six Sigma background, and the ability to manage multiple projects while building a culture of continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business or Operations.
• 2+ years’ experience in Continuous Improvement leadership.
• 2+ years’ of leadership in manufacturing, food/beverage a plus.
• Six Sigma training or certification preferred.
• Experience with center lining and SMED required.
• Problem-solving using 5 Why, Fishbone, Kaizen or A3’s.
• Knowledge of P&L or financial acumen is a plus.
• Experience leading projects is required.

Responsibilities

• Leads, facilitates, and coaches full week Kaizen events to drive sustainable improvements.
• Coach Point Kaizen facilitators through prework, the event, and sustainment.
• Collaborate with Plant CI team to develop and execute improvement action plans.
• Execute center lining, SMED, and heatmaps to drive plant improvements.
• Build an engaged, high-performance work environment.
• Teach CI tools to CI and Non-CI employees.
• Perform theory of constraints analysis to improve throughput.
• Track CI initiatives and cost savings against targets.
• Leverage SAP to understand plant needs.
• Coach and implement HPS tools across the plant.
• Foster Lean culture across the facility.
• Share best practices across plants when possible.
• Facilitate RCA tooling to eliminate waste.
• Work with customers, suppliers, and all management levels.
• Manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Ensure continuous improvement initiatives are implemented.

Skills

SAP

Lean manufacturing

Leadership

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Six Sigma Green Belt or higher

Tools

MS Office Suite

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Job Summary

The CI Manager is responsible for driving sustainable Process Improvements in the facility by delivering breakthrough results in Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale. The CI Manager reports into the Plant Manager and works closely with plant leadership, Regional CI, and department employees to achieve results. This position requires strong technical, Lean Manufacturing, and hands-on leadership skills to drive cultural change in the plant.

The CI Manager is responsible for driving sustainable Process Improvements in the facility by delivering breakthrough results in Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale. The CI Manager reports into the Plant Manager and works closely with plant leadership, Regional CI, and department employees to achieve results. This position requires strong technical, Lean Manufacturing, and hands-on leadership skills to drive cultural change in the plant.

Job Duties

• Leads, facilitates, and coaches full week Kaizen events to drive sustainable improvements
• Coach Point Kaizen facilitators through prework, the event, and sustainment
• Works closely with Plant CI team and CI Champions to:
  • Develop and execute improvement action plans
  • Executes and improves Center lining, SMED, and other various heatmaps to drive improvement within the facility
  • Build an employee engaged work environment
  • Provide and teach CI tools to CI and Non-CI employees
• Ability to perform theory of constraints analysis, identify the constraint, and implement practical and effective solutions to improving throughput
• Establishes and drives productivity pipeline roadmaps across departments and facility
• Tracks and analyzes the CI initiatives including driving the cost savings program for the site to meet annual cost savings target.
• Working knowledge of P&L/financial acumen to course correct CI plans based on weekly financial and P&L results as needed, identify cost savings, and to track effectiveness of lean activities
• Understands and drives the use of SAP tools to understand the needs of the plant
• Responsible for implementing and coaching HPS tools to improve all areas of plants
• Build cultural Lean change throughout the plant
• Leverage resources and share best practices across multiple plants when possible
• Facilitate and coach RCA tools and methodology to drive waste out of the process
• Work with customers, suppliers and all levels of management staff
• Responsible for managing multiple projects concurrently
• Ensure the facility implements and maintains Continuous Improvement initiatives

Required Competencies & Knowledge

• Knowledge and experience with SAP
• The CI Manager should possess extensive technical skills and hands-on experience in continuous improvement manufacturing activities
• Bias for action, change agent, challenging the status quo to drive to operations excellence
• Strong will to drive change and influence without authority
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work with autonomy.
• Must be accurate, detail-oriented and maintain the utmost confidentiality.

Ability To

• Effectively present information to employees, top management, public groups and/or board of directors.
• Ability to define problems, collect and calculate data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Write routine reports and correspondence.
• Interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram and/or schedule form.
• Ability to work well with others in stressful situations and meet deadlines as necessary.
• Work in a fast-paced environment, while at the same time making sound decisions.
• Must have a strong will to drive change and sustain.
• Proficiency In: MS Office Suite, Excel, and PP Work Environment:
• Maintain harmonious working relations with employees from all departments and with management from all levels.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in Engineering, Business or Operations.
• 2 or more years’ experience in the Continuous Improvement leadership.
• 2 or more years’ of leadership experience working in a manufacturing environment, with food or beverage manufacturing a plus.
• Training background or experience.
• Six Sigma background, either a Green Belt or higher is preferred.
• Experience with center lining and SMED is required.
• Problem-solving using 5 Why, Fishbone, Kaizen or A3’s is needed.
• Ideal to have knowledge of P&L or financial acumen.
• Experience leading projects is a requirement.

No relocation is available for the opportunity.

The pay range for this full-time, salaried position is $85,788 - $137,025/year. Individual base pay depends on work location and additional factors such as experience, job-related skills, and relevant education or training. The position is eligible for a discretionary annual incentive based on company and individual performance.

Maker's Pride is an Equal Opportunity Employer.