Continuous Improvement Manager - Harvard, IL

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

Job Description

114372BR

Continuous Improvement Manager – Harvard, IL Pet Nutrition

This is an exempt level position.

Position Summary

This position is responsible for the deployment and ongoing sustainment of the Performance Excellence System at the Harvard Pet Nutrition location. This role will serve as the direct conduit between the tactical/operational and strategic initiatives within the organization. In addition, this individual will have involvement in certain operational activities in hot extrusion, cold extrusion, dry blending, bakery and packaging with a focus on driving change as the organization transitions to a Continuous Improvement mindset. Key to success in this position will be the leader’s ability to facilitate and drive change in a fast paced and ever changing environment, while leveraging his/her leadership capabilities to develop working relationships and create buy-in as the primary change facilitator for the PE System.

Job Responsibilities

• Display a commitment to lead, participate in, and support ongoing safety engagement.


• Serve as the site implementation leader and subject matter expert for PE across the complex. Actively lead and coach the site steering team and pillar teams.


• Examine a variety of losses (safety, quality, production, cost) and apply PE methods to correct and sustain their improvement.


• Provide tools, resources, and training to department teams as they incorporate PE methods into their standard work.


• Serve as a trusted resource for plant and department leaders using PE methods for continuous improvement and sustained results.


• Responsible for driving health score improvements and increased PE impacts (revenue generation and savings) at the complex.


• Maintain the PE Wave Initiative to capture and record PE savings for the complex. Follow key Wave Initiatives and escalates/intervenes to offer support and resources if efforts fall behind schedule.


• Maintain the PE Hopper as the single source of truth for plant priorities and work closely with various COEs to ensure that company priorities are being taken into account.


• Pursues continuing education on PE methods and makes the same opportunities available to other leaders, colleagues, and pillar teams.


• Assist the Plant Manager with mentoring and developing Department Superintendents, and Production Managers to adopt a Continuous Improvement mindset.


• Support with plant operations by monitoring production schedules to ensure that finished products are shipped on time and in accordance with customer expectations, coordinating PM schedules to ensure that equipment is maintained in accordance with production and commercial needs, and responding to a variety of plant emergencies.


• Provide coverage for the Department Superintendents as needed.


• Maintain a high degree of availability to a 24/7 operation.

Job 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.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.

REF:114372BR

If hired, employees will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

The pay range for this position is expected to be between:

$66,000 - $110,000

Benefits and Perks

Enriching the quality of life for the world begins by taking care of our colleagues. In addition to competitive pay, we support your diverse needs with a comprehensive total rewards package to enhance your well-being, including:

• Physical wellness – medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable).


• Financial wellness – flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers’ compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection.


• Mental and social wellness – Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares).

Additional benefits include:

• Paid time off including paid holidays.


• Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave.


• Tuition assistance.


• Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs.

*Benefits may vary for bargained locations, confirm benefit eligibility with your recruiter.

#IncludingYou

Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM’s efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments — environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career. We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together.

We welcome everyone to apply. We are committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, language, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law

About ADM

At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.

Req/Job ID

114372BR

Ref ID

#LI-AM1

#LI-Onsite