Continuous Improvement Manager

Chairmans Foods; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Chairmans Foods in the Atlanta, GA area seeks an experienced Continuous Improvement Manager to lead plant‑wide CI initiatives, develop and implement MOS, reduce costs, and optimize capacity while maintaining product quality and safety standards.

You will mentor teams, establish departmental metrics, ensure SOPs, and drive lean projects across production, packaging and procurement, reporting to the Plant Manager. Relocation is required; nonstandard shifts may apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Food Science.
• Lean/Six Sigma certification preferred.
• 5+ years minimum in a process‑manufacturing environment with CI/Lean.
• Understanding of GMP regulatory requirements.
• Willing to relocate.
• Willing to work nonstandard shifts, weekends or holidays.
• Experience with budgeting and cost control.
• OSHA 30 Hour or equivalent training.

Responsibilities

• Lead the facility's Continuous Improvement efforts and MOS implementation.
• Monitor and improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Develop and maintain SOPs; ensure regulatory compliance.
• Establish metrics for each department and track performance with Plant Manager.
• Coach and develop a Continuous Improvement mindset across teams.
• Drive cost reduction, capacity increase, and waste reduction initiatives.
• Collaborate across functions as a change agent and leader.

Skills

Lean principles

CI / continuous improvement

Leadership

Budgeting & cost control

Regulatory compliance

MS Office

Relocation willingness

Education

Bachelors in Eng/Food Sci

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Chairmans Foods specializes in producing a wide range of high quality, consistent customer solutions - main courses, side dishes, queso, ready‑to‑eat protein salads custom solutions for foodservice operators and retail stores. Chairmans has succeeded over the years with open communication, integrity, and with a deep commitment to southern hospitality.

Driven by our mission, vision and values, employee and food safety are always our top priority. www.chairmansfoods.com

Job Description

Reporting to the Plant Manager, this position will lead the facility in the development and implementation of a Continuous Improvement, Management Operating Structure, which involves all team members in the pursuit of improving our processes, increasing our capacity, and lowering our operating costs. There will be a focus on material, ingredient, and packaging losses as well as labor savings. These processes must be executed safely and in a fashion that optimizes manufacturing costs while meeting company product quality standards.

General Responsibilities

• Achieve breakthrough financial results on a continuous basis.
• Monitor, Review and act on the results of the company’s Overall Equipment Effectiveness System (OEE).
• Implement the company’s standard Continuous Improvement Strategy to increase capacity, while lowering operating costs.
• Monitor, Review, and Ensure our company’s Management Operating Structure is executed (MOS).
• Teach, train, mentor, and develop a Continuous Improvement mindset in each facility.
• Establish and manage Metrics for each department within the facility, and monitor/manage performance with the Plant Manager against these metrics.
• Analyze plant operations and key metrics to maintain operational efficiencies within each department.
• Collect and report reliable information to measure the performance of the plant and of the various plant departments as required.
• Ensure that appropriate SOPs are developed, executed and maintained for all aspects of our business.
• Responsible for meeting all regulatory requirement and rules.
• Cooperates in a cross‑functional manner as a change agent with all departments within the Company.
• Leads by example. This includes ensuring compliance with all company policies, standards, specifications, and national suppliers.
• Engages in the typical responsibilities of a manager requiring planning, evaluating, organizing, integrating, and delegating.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Food Science is preferred. Lean/Six Sigma certification is also preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years hands‑on experience in a process‑manufacturing environment with CI, Lean Principles.
• Thorough understanding of regulatory laws and responsibilities as they pertain to Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Must be willing to relocate.
• Must be willing to work nonstandard shifts, and/or weekend or holidays.
• Experience using Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Proficient understanding of budgeting and cost control.
• Proven track record of improved results in the areas of quality, safety, service and cost.
• OSHA 30 Hour Training or similar applicable training.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and computer‑based applications.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Skill in organization and prioritization, and attention to detail.
• Ability to adapt to changing organizational and operational needs; ability to lead others through change.
• Strong team player and leader with the ability to work across multiple functions and disciplines.
• Ability to select, coach, develop, and engage all levels of the operation.