Continuous Improvement Manager II

Refresco; City of Dunkirk (NY); Vor Ort; USD 125.000 - 145.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays

Zusammenfassung

Refresco Beverages US Inc. in the United States seeks a Continuous Improvement Manager II to lead lean initiatives at the manufacturing plant, partnering with corporate CI, plant leadership, and maintenance to deploy strategies that improve efficiency, reliability, and overall performance.

You will drive Kaizen events, train teams in CI tools, maintain a 12‑month pipeline of productivity initiatives, and track savings with KPI-focused governance.

Qualifikationen

• Experience implementing Lean and continuous improvement in manufacturing.
• Proven ability to lead Kaizen events and coach teams.
• Strong change-management skills with data-driven decision-making.
• Proficiency in SAP and MS Office; familiarity with SQF standards.
• Ability to work on the plant floor and adjust hours as needed.

Aufgaben

• Adhere to health and safety policies, GMPs and PPE.
• Ensure compliance with SQF and food quality standards.
• Lead Kaizen events to drive safety, quality, labor efficiency.
• Mentor employees in CI tools (8 Wastes, Standard Work, SMED, 5S, Centerlining).
• Maintain a rolling 12-month pipeline of productivity initiatives.
• Facilitate planning meetings to validate cost savings and contingency plans.
• Track and report cost savings and engagement related to CI initiatives.
• Analyze plant financials to identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Lead implementation of Refresco Management System (RMS).
• Identify and execute process improvements to enhance efficiency.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure alignment.
• Implement Best Practice Sharing process.
• Define and monitor KPIs to measure plant performance.
• Partner with plant leadership to reduce accidents, energy use and waste.

Kenntnisse

Lean methodologies

Kaizen events

Change management

MS Office

SAP familiarity

SQF knowledge

Food safety culture

Ausbildung

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations/Business

Tools

SAP

Jobbeschreibung

Make a Difference in YOUR Career!

Our vision is both simple and ambitious: to put our drinks on every table.

We are the leading global independent beverage solutions provider. We serve a broad range of national and international retailers as well as Global, National and Emerging (GNE) brands. Our products are distributed worldwide from our production sites in Europe, North America, and Australia. Although our own branding may not appear on the labels of the beverages we produce, there is a good chance you are reading this while sipping one of our drinks.

Our ambition is to continually improve and it’s what keeps us at the top of our game.We are solutions-based.We are innovative. We seek out new challenges and conquer them. This is our company ethos, but it’s our people’s too:Refresco is at the cutting edge of a fast-moving industry because we have passionate people pushing the boundaries of what’s best.

Stop and think: how wouldYOUput our drinks on every table?

Position Description

Reporting to the Plant Director, the Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager II is responsible for developing, coordinating, and sustaining CI initiatives within the manufacturing plant. Partnering with the Corporate CI team, Plant Leadership, and Maintenance teams, this role drives the deployment of CI strategies and best practices to enhance operational efficiency, equipment reliability, and overall plant performance. This role involves leading improvement projects, training and developing employees to lead similar initiatives, and fostering a Lean mindset throughout the plant. A strong Lean background is essential, as the CI Manager will spend significant time on the production floor, driving sustainable improvements and securing buy-in at all levels.

Essential Job Functions:

• Adhere to and ensure compliance to all health and safety policies/procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and PPE requirements.
• Adhere to and ensure compliance to food quality and food safety as per the standard(s) provided by corporate, customer, and/or governing bodies (ex. SQF).
• Lead, facilitate, and coach Kaizen events to drive sustainable improvements in safety, first-pass quality, direct labor efficiency, yield, and indirect labor optimization.
• Mentor and train employees in CI tools, including the 8 Wastes, Standard Work, SMED, 5S, and Centerlining, to build a culture of continuous improvement.
• Maintain a rolling 12-month pipeline of productivity initiatives and capital improvement opportunities.
• Facilitate regular planning meetings to validate cost savings, review project status, and develop contingency plans if initiatives are off track.
• Track and report cost savings, project sustainability, and employee engagement related to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Analyze plant financials, including P&L and other internal data tools, to identify cost-saving opportunities and prioritize high-impact areas for improvement.
• Lead the implementation and sustainment of the Refresco Management System (RMS), ensuring alignment with plant objectives.
• Identify, evaluate, and execute process improvement opportunities that enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and increase plant output.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure alignment, information sharing, and a unified approach to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Implement and promote best practices through the Best Practice Sharing process, fostering innovation and operational excellence.
• Define, monitor, and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure plant performance and drive accountability.
• Partner with plant leadership to enhance workplace safety by developing and executing strategies to reduce accidents, energy consumption, and material waste.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated success in implementing and driving cultural and operational improvements through structured change management.
• Hands-on experience deploying Lean methodologies, including Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, and Visual Management, to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
• Skilled in planning, leading, and coaching Kaizen events to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, and Windows) with the ability to quickly adapt to new software applications. Experience with SAP is highly preferred.
• Comprehensive understanding of SQF standards with a strong sense of responsibility for Food Safety and Food Quality. Must take immediate action when any Food Safety or Quality issue is identified.
• Willingness to adjust work hours or shifts as needed based on production and operational demands.
• Ability to teach, coach, and apply structured problem-solving methodologies such as 5-Why and Fishbone Analysis to identify and eliminate the root causes of issues.
• Proactive in identifying opportunities, making data-driven decisions, and executing improvements with a sense of urgency.

Competencies:

• Leadership - Foster a culture of empowerment by building relationships based on trust, lead courageously on a day-to-day basis, and inspire growth with a clear and ambitious vision that guides the collective effort toward success.
• Independence & Accountability – Take ownership of responsibilities, effectively prioritize multiple assignments, and work independently to drive results with minimal supervision.
• Organization & Time Management – Maintain strong organizational skills to manage competing deadlines, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness under pressure.
• Communication & Collaboration – Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Adaptability & Resilience – Thrive in dynamic environments by embracing change, demonstrating flexibility, and maintaining focus in fast-paced, evolving work settings.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in Engineering, Business or Operations.
• 2 – 3 years’ experience in Continuous Improvement required.
• Strong leadership capabilities in a fast-paced production environment required.
• Previous experience in the food/beverage manufacturing industry preferred.

Working Conditions:

• Work Schedule: Weekdays, weekends, afternoon, evenings, overnight and holidays may be required.
• Work Environment: Operating in a fast-paced production plant with numerous moving parts. Noise levels require hearing protection and temperatures can get very hot and/or relatively cold. The environment is structured and supervised, with clear production targets and schedules to meet.
• Visual/Sensory – This position requires attention to detail, requiring attention with one or two senses at a time.
• Mental Stress – There is pronounced pressure from deadlines, project management, accuracy or similar demands.

Travel Requirements:

• Travel anticipated: Rarely

Other Duties:

• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

A Career with Refresco

Refresco is passionate about empowering leaders who reflect our core values and live by our leadership behaviors. These behaviors encourage effective leadership within the business, and focus on leading courageously, empowering individuals, and driving company growth as one team. Joining our team as a people manager means you’ll be encouraged to evolve as a leader who prioritizes the success of both you and your team, to deliver results, whilst bringing your authentic self to work.

Refresco Beverages US Inc. offers the following competitive pay and comprehensive benefits:

Pay Range: $125k - $145k, plus eligibility for performance-based bonuses based on company objectives.

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life and AD&D Insurance, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance
• Short-term disability and long-term disability
• Pet Insurance
• Legal Benefits
• 401(k) Savings Plan with Company Match
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Vacation Days and Paid Sick Time OffDays
• Well-being Benefit
• Discount and Total Reward Programs

The applicant who is hired will receive wages within the range that will be based on several factors, including, as applicable, criteria such as years and type of experience, relevant education, training, qualifications, certifications/licensing, skills, geographic location, performance, market considerations, seniority system, merit system, systems that measure earnings by quantity or quality of production, and business or organizational needs.

Refresco Beverages US Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity, gender expression, Veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law.