Continuous Improvement Manager

Simmons Animal Nutrition, Inc; Southwest City (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Simmons Animal Nutrition, Inc. is seeking a strong Operations leader to direct manufacturing and continuous improvement efforts at our Southwest City facility. You will drive cost reduction, develop benchmarks, and lead the leadership team to sustain performance gains across the site.

The role requires 5+ years in manufacturing/engineering, 1+ year in food processing management, and Lean Six Sigma expertise. Proficiency in MS Office and a bachelor’s degree are required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience in manufacturing, operations, continuous improvement or an engineering discipline.
• 1+ years’ experience in food processing or manufacturing management.
• Strong organizational and problem solving skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Lean Six Sigma training and certifications; understanding of Lean principles, systems and tools.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or 4 years of prior management level experience.

Responsibilities

• Direct, manage and guide the organization toward positive change and cost reduction.
• Develop benchmarks and targets; ensure plans achieve or exceed goals.
• Collaborate with leadership to set strategies, masterplan activities and engagement.
• Lead adoption of CI tools and methodologies to sustain site results.
• Oversee Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) processes and reporting.
• Participate in team development, policy implementation and cross-team cohesion.
• Ensure alignment with Simmons operating systems and company policies.

Skills

Leadership

Problem Solving

Microsoft Office

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Lean Six Sigma

Lean Principles

Job description

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following our Accessibility Accomodation for Applicants page.

• Posted on October 27, 2026

Locations

Showing 1 location

Southwest City, MO 64863, USA

• On-site
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: CONTI049699

Description

Purpose of the Position

Directs, manages and provides guidance in driving positive change in the organization, including development and upskilling managers and team members. Ensures appropriate measurements are developed and implemented to create benchmarks and targets. Develops plans and actions to ensure goals are being achieved or exceeded toward lowering overall production costs.

Essential Position Responsibilities - This is a Salary Exempt position.

Works with leadershipto collaboratively set strategies, masterplan activities, employee engage ment activities, loss elimination ideas, and results delivery.

Leads in the integrationof the appropriate actions to support the cultural vision and to support the delivery of the compelling business need. Be the change agent within the pla nt leadership team that brings a focus to ‘how’ results are delivered and sustained.

Builds capability of the org anization leadersto implement tools, methodologies, capabilities, and standards. Ensuring CI tools and methodologies are used to drive all site result opportunities and to ensure all results are being sustained or improved.

Leads the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) processincluding maintaining measurement standards, coaching on improvement plans and strategies, training, coaching, and monthly reporting.

Participates as a member of the Team. Participates in the ongoing development, communication andimplementation of team concepts, programs and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with all teammembers. Attends appropriate team meetings. As a member of the Team, fosters strong cohesiveness regarding all major issues ; e.g., direction, annual plan, budget, policy changes, etc. Accepts responsibility to quickly identify anyareas that lack cohesiveness, bringing them to the attention of the team leader and working with the team in asupportive manner to resolve issues and actively look for ways, and reinforce actions needed, to achieve synergy possible within the larger organization.

Simmons Operating systems principles and objectives :Is familiar with Simmons’ established operating systems(e.g. quality, security, office environment, company policies, LEAN); understands the responsibility to maintainfamiliarity with the systems and this position’s role in support of these systems - including a consideration of the impactof individual actions on the systems and the responsibility to communicate concerns and improvement ideas.

Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives :This position description is intended toguide the activities of the person in this position and is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person as to the work of this function nor is it intended that this describe all the work that may be required of the person in thisposition.

Physical Activities :Enters and locates information on a computer. Visually verifies information, often in smallprint. Communicates with Customers, Vendors, or Employees via telephone, in person, and/or electronic mail. Maypresent information to small or large groups. Must be able to work in various temperatures. Move about in a amanufacturing environment and surrounding property. May travel via car or plane to various work locations ..

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) :As required by visiting facility

Travel :10%-30% between facilities depending on assigned location.

Technical Experience :5+ years’ experience in manufacturing, operations, continuous improvement or engineeringdiscipline. 1+ years’ experience in food processing or manufacturing management. Strong Organizational and Problem Solving skills. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office.

Industry Experience :Lean Six Sigma training and certifications. Understanding of Lean Principles, Systems andTools.

Minimum Education : Bachelor’s Degree in related field or 4 years of prior management level experience.

Preferred Education : N/ A.

We value military experience and welcome veterans to join our team.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.