Continuous Improvement Manager - Harvard, IL

ADM; Harvard (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

ADM seeks a Continuous Improvement Manager for its Harvard, IL location to deploy and sustain the Performance Excellence System. This role connects tactical operations with strategic initiatives and involves PE activities across extrusion, blending, bakery and packaging to drive change in a fast-paced environment.

The incumbent will lead site teams, manage PE waves and savings, and mentor leaders to foster a continuous improvement mindset, with strong focus on safety, quality, and production

Qualifications

• Foundational experience in Continuous Improvement; ADM Performance Excellence, Lean, or TPM as a core skill.
• Excellent communication and coaching abilities to lead cross-functional teams.
• Experience in manufacturing environments and ability to drive change.
• Willingness to navigate complex HR environments in a large facility.

Responsibilities

• Lead the site implementation of the Performance Excellence System and coach the site steering and pillar teams.
• Examine losses (safety, quality, production, cost) and apply PE methods to sustain improvements.
• Provide PE tools, resources, and training to department teams.
• Drive PE savings and health score improvements across the complex.
• Maintain PE Wave Initiative and PE Hopper to track priorities and results.
• Mentor Plant Manager and supervisors to adopt a Continuous Improvement mindset.
• Monitor production schedules and coordinate PMs to meet deadlines.
• Available to support and respond to plant emergencies; 24/7 availability.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related discipline

Job description

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 a 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:104075BR