Continuous Improvement Leader

Wells Enterprises; Le Mars (IA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive bonus

Comprehensive benefits

PTO

Job summary

Wells Enterprises, a Ferrero Company, in Le Mars, IA, seeks a seasoned Continuous Improvement Leader to drive CI across a facility. This role focuses on developing CI resources, coaching leaders, and achieving sustained run-rate savings of 3X compensation.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years in manufacturing CI, Lean/Six Sigma/TOC experience, and strong coaching abilities, with ERP process expertise and leadership to manage CI budgets.

Qualifications

• Five+ years of continuous improvement experience in manufacturing or distribution.
• Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, or TOC with significant results across environments.
• Ability to orchestrate change across departments within a plant or DC.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development of Operations and SC CI resources in a single facility, including training plans.
• Coach Operations-SC Leadership and hourly employees on CI fundamentals and problem solving.
• Ensure CI resources deliver sustained savings of 3X total compensation annually.
• Partner with facility Leaders to develop annual CI Objectives, OSPls and quarterly revisions.
• Communicate CI mindset across the facility; track KPIs vs goals and share best practices.
• Lead improvement projects delivering run-rate savings of 3X annual compensation.

Skills

Problem solving

Leadership

Communication

Training & development

Coaching

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

MBA (preferred)

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Job Description

Company: Wells Enterprises (a Ferrero Company)

Functional Area: Engineering

The Role

Responsible for deploying an effective CI strategy within a manufacturing or distribution facility, or key supply chain business area to support the organization's efforts to improve Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost.

What You’ll Do

• Oversee the development of Operations and Supply Chain (SC) CI resources in a single facility including training and development plans around CI tools, strategies, and techniques.
• Coach Operations-SC Leadership and hourly employees on the fundamentals of CI and build problem solving capabilities throughout the Operations organization.
• Ensure Operations-SC CI resources within assigned facility (direct reports) deliver a minimum, run-rate, sustained savings of 3X total compensation (i.e. salary, bonus, benefits) each year.
• Partner with facility Operations leaders to develop annual CI Objectives, Strategies and Plans (OSPs) and then to create revised quarterly plans based on the results and business needs.
• Ensure proper communication methods are utilized to create a shared CI mindset across the facility/department and reinforce basic CI principles, highlight Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) versus goals, share best practices and celebrate individual/team successes.
• Lead improvement projects and/or activities each year that deliver sustained, run-rate savings of 3X annual compensation (i.e. salary, bonus, benefits).

Qualifications

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor of Science (preferably in a technical field, i.e. Engineering) or significant business process improvement experience (5 years +) required, MBA preferred.
• Applying Continuous Improvement Methodologies with significant results in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Theory of Constraints (TOC) in different operating environments (i.e. discrete industries, process industries, warehouses, suppliers, back office).
• Orchestrating change across departments within a manufacturing plant or distribution center.
• Minimum 5 years with continuously increasing responsibility in a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 3 years supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma and/or TOC Jonah, and/or expertise in ERP process and system integration.
• Effective problem solver, strong communicator (oral & written), advanced operations analysis capability (labor, equipment, capacity, etc.).
• Ability to positively influence and motivate others, effective coach/mentor to others, capable of building effective teams.
• Reports to Senior Manager of Continuous Improvement or Director of Continuous Improvement.
• Direct Reports - CI personnel assigned to facility.
• Indirect Reports - N/A.
• Support and manage the Facility CI Budget and associated planning functions.

Wells Enterprises is an EEO/AA employer M/F/Vet/Dis

About Us

Wells Enterprises, a Ferrero company, is one of the largest ice cream manufacturers in the United States and the maker of well-loved brands including Blue Bunny, Halo Top, Bomb Pop, and Blue Ribbon Classics and today Trolli, Butterfinger 100grand, Baby Ruth, Nutella and Kinder Bueno.

Wells Enterprises is a 2 billion company employing 4,000 employees, across 4 production plants and 2 main hub locations, Chicago and Le Mars. Guided by innovation, quality, and a people-first mindset, Wells is committed to delighting consumers and developing exceptional teams.

As part of the Ferrero Group, Wells combines its strong U.S. heritage with Ferrero’s global standards of excellence, offering a unique opportunity to grow within a dynamic, values-driven, and international environment.

At Wells, our people—and their experience—sit at the heart of our ambition. Learn more at www.wellsenterprisesinc.com.

What We Offer

At Wells, we’re proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO). Eligible employees may also receive an annual incentive bonus based on Company performance. Learn more about our benefits here.