Continuous Improvement Manager

McLane Global; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 86,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

McLane Global in Houston, TX seeks a seasoned Continuous Improvement Leader to drive operational excellence across the food distribution network. You will identify opportunities, lead cross-functional projects, and coach teams in standard work and daily accountability.

Responsibilities include developing standardized processes, KPIs, and governance to sustain gains, while balancing safety, quality, and cost. Travel up to 25% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or related field.
• Five+ years of progressive experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, or distribution operations.
• Experience independently identifying opportunities and leading cross-functional improvements from concept through sustained implementation.
• Experience developing standard work, SOPs, process controls, KPIs, and governance routines.
• Strong analytical, facilitation, project management, communication, and change leadership skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and data visualization or BI tools.

Responsibilities

• Identify improvement opportunities and lead cross-functional improvements from concept to sustained implementation.
• Lead initiatives focused on safety, quality, service, cost, productivity, and customer experience.
• Coach leaders and frontline teams on continuous improvement principles, standard work, and daily accountability.
• Design standardized processes that are practical, documented, trainable, measurable, and sustainable.
• Build process controls, KPIs, audit routines, and training materials to prevent regression after implementation.
• Validate adoption of improvement solutions and conduct post-implementation reviews to confirm effectiveness.
• Develop SOPs, workflows, visual controls, and governance to support consistent execution across locations.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Data visualization

Continuous improvement

Lean Six Sigma

Project management

Change leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Power BI

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Power BI

WMS

EDI

Job description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Continuous Improvement Leadership

• Proactively identify improvement opportunities and independently move from observation to analysis, recommendation, and execution.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, service, cost, productivity, and customer experience.
• Facilitate Lean, Kaizen, A3, value stream mapping, and structured problem-solving activities.
• Coach leaders and frontline teams on continuous improvement principles, standard work, and daily accountability.

Sustainable Process Development and Implementation

• Design and implement standardized processes that are practical, documented, trainable, measurable, and sustainable over time.
• Build process controls, ownership, KPIs, audit routines, training materials, and escalation paths to prevent regression after implementation.
• Validate that improvement solutions are adopted by the business and conduct post-implementation reviews to confirm effectiveness and sustainment.
• Develop SOPs, workflows, visual controls, checklists, and governance mechanisms that support consistent execution across locations and functions.

Operational Excellence

• Analyze warehouse, transportation, inventory, customer service, procurement, and food distribution processes to identify waste, constraints, and risk.
• Lead workflow redesign, labor productivity, network optimization, facility readiness, automation, and process standardization initiatives.
• Conduct observations and time studies, translate findings into actionable improvements, and support implementation with operational teams.
• Balance service, compliance, food safety, cost, and efficiency when evaluating process changes.

Data Analytics and Performance Management

• Develop and monitor KPIs, scorecards, dashboards, and management routines that create visibility and accountability.
• Use data to identify trends, quantify root causes, prioritize opportunities, and measure realized benefits.
• Prepare business cases and operational or financial analyses that define expected impact, required resources, and return on investment.
• Present concise findings, risks, recommendations, and results to operational and executive leadership.

Project and Change Management

• Execute against a Continuous Improvement Roadmap (CIR)
• Lead cross-functional projects from charter and current-state assessment through implementation, stabilization, and closeout.
• Develop project plans, milestones, risk registers, stakeholder maps, communication plans, and benefit-tracking methods.
• Manage multiple initiatives simultaneously while maintaining clear ownership, timely follow-through, and high-quality deliverables.
• Engage affected employees early, address resistance, and ensure changes are understood, adopted, and incorporated into standard work.

Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action

• Lead investigations into service failures, inventory variances, customer complaints, audit findings, compliance issues, and operational disruptions.
• Apply methods such as 5 Whys, fishbone analysis, Pareto analysis, process mapping, FMEA, CAPA, and A3 problem solving.
• Differentiate containment, corrective action, and preventive action; assign ownership and verify effectiveness before closure.
• Ensure root causes and corrective actions are supported by evidence and translated into sustainable process controls.

Technology and Systems Improvement

• Partner with IT and business stakeholders to improve workflows involving Microsoft Dynamics 365, WMS, Power BI, EDI, and related business systems.
• Translate operational requirements into clear process and system requirements, test cases, controls, and implementation plans.
• Identify appropriate opportunities for automation, digital workflows, reporting improvements, and error-proofing.

Compliance, Quality, and Food Supply Chain

• Support processes that meet company, customer, regulatory, food safety, inventory control, traceability, and quality requirements.
• Incorporate food supply chain risks, including product integrity, lot and batch control, temperature requirements, sanitation, and service continuity, into improvement work as applicable.
• Support audits, corrective action programs, process governance, and documentation readiness.
• Partner with warehouse, transportation, quality, inventory, customer service, and commercial teams to improve end-to-end execution.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, Logistics, or a related field.
• Five or more years of progressive experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, or distribution operations.
• Demonstrated experience independently identifying opportunities and leading cross-functional improvements from concept through sustained implementation.
• Experience developing standard work, SOPs, process controls, KPIs, and governance routines.
• Strong analytical, facilitation, project management, communication, and change leadership skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and experience with data visualization or business intelligence tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the food supply chain, food distribution, food-grade warehousing, temperature-controlled logistics, or consumer packaged goods.
• Experience in third-party logistics, multi-site distribution, warehouse operations, or transportation management.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent project management training.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365, warehouse management systems, transportation management systems, Power BI, EDI, or process automation.
• Master's degree or an ASCM/APICS certification.

Physical and Travel Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 25%, based on business needs.
• Ability to walk operational areas, observe work processes, and work in office, warehouse, refrigerated, and industrial environments as required.
• Ability to use a computer and standard office equipment for extended periods.

salary of $86,000–$106,000