Continuous Improvement Leader – Performance Excellence

ADM; Decatur (IL); On-site; USD 66,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Physical wellness

Financial wellness

Mental and social wellness

Paid time off

Adoption assistance

Tuition assistance

Training & development

LinkedIn Learning

Job summary

ADM Harvard Pet Nutrition in Harvard, IL is seeking a Continuous Improvement Manager to deploy and sustain our Performance Excellence System. You will align tactical ops with strategic initiatives, lead PE methods across extrusion, blending, bakery, and packaging, and drive rapid change in a dynamic environment.

The role requires strong leadership to build buy-in, coach plant leaders, and monitor safety, quality, and cost improvements, ensuring on-time product delivery and sustained PE savings.

Qualifications

• Consistently demonstrates the ADM Core Values.
• Committed safety first approach in all that must be accomplished.
• Solid track record of implementing change when needed to improve the organization.
• Experienced or developing leader within the company. Bachelor’s degree in engineering preferred or related discipline / equivalent experience.
• Foundational experience in Continuous Improvement. ADM Performance Excellence, Lean, or TPM subject matter expert or willing and able to learn that skillset.
• Highly motivated leader who is able to lead by example with Continuous Improvement and PE, Lean, or TPM methods.
• Excellent communication skills to provide guidance and feedback with the ability to coach and mentor colleagues on what it means to engage with PE.
• Experience in relevant industry or manufacturing environment.
• Willing and able to navigate complex HR environments at a large non-union facility.
• Able to utilize independent judgement to solve problems and have excellent organizational skills to effectively handle multiple ongoing tasks, meet deadlines, and strive for continuous improvement and high expectations of direct reports.
• Desire experience in Continuous Improvement systems such as ADM Performance Excellence, Lean, or TPM as an opportunity to develop as a company leader.]

Responsibilities

• Lead, participate in, and support ongoing safety engagement.
• Act as site implementation leader and SME for PE across the complex; coach steering and pillar teams.
• Examine losses (safety, quality, production, cost) and apply PE methods to correct and sustain improvement.
• Provide tools, resources, and training to department teams to adopt PE methods.
• Serve as a trusted resource for plant leaders using PE methods for continuous improvement and sustained results.
• Drive health score improvements and PE impacts (revenue generation and savings).
• Maintain the PE Wave Initiative to capture and record PE savings; escalate as needed.
• Maintain the PE Hopper as the single source of truth for plant priorities; coordinate with COEs.
• Pursue continuing education on PE methods and share opportunities with others.
• Mentor Plant Manager and supervisees to adopt a CI mindset.
• Support plant operations by monitoring schedules and PMs to ensure on-time shipments and asset readiness.
• Provide coverage for Department Superintendents as needed.
• Maintain availability for a 24/7 operation.

Skills

Change leadership

Continuous Improvement

PE / Lean / TPM

Cross-functional leadership

Safety ownership

Communication

Problem solving

Engineering background

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related discipline / equivalent experience

Job description

ADM Harvard Pet Nutrition in Harvard, IL is seeking a Continuous Improvement Manager to deploy and sustain our Performance Excellence System. You will align tactical ops with strategic initiatives, lead PE methods across extrusion, blending, bakery, and packaging, and drive rapid change in a dynamic environment.

The role requires strong leadership to build buy-in, coach plant leaders, and monitor safety, quality, and cost improvements, ensuring on-time product delivery and sustained PE savings.