Manager, Continuous Improvement

High Liner Foods; Portsmouth (NH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health, dental, and vision coverage

Pay-for-performance incentives

Learning and mentorship opportunities

Retirement planning

Job summary

High Liner Foods is seeking a Continuous Improvement Manager to lead cross‑functional projects across Operations and Supply Chain. This role targets productivity gains, waste reduction, and streamlined processes within a multi‑plant network.

You will drive the development and execution of a continuous improvement strategy, mentor teams, and influence stakeholders to achieve sustainable future state changes. Strong PM and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Degree in Business, Engineering, or related field is required.
• Minimum 5+ years leading continuous improvement projects.
• 5+ years in supply chain and/or quality disciplines.
• Experience in multi-plant operations environments.
• Demonstrated change leadership and stakeholder influence.
• Proficiency with Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, DMAIC, etc.
• Strategic thinking with strong business acumen and planning.
• Exceptional project management and collaboration across levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional projects to improve productivity and reduce waste.
• Develop and implement continuous improvement strategy across operations and supply chain.
• Plan and execute transformation programs to drive performance.
• Deliver measurable process improvements and financial benefits.
• Act as change agent and mentor, coaching teams across locations.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement throughout the network.

Skills

Lean

Six Sigma

Kaizen

Value Stream Mapping

DMAIC

Project management

Change leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Overview

The Continuous Improvement Manager will manage and execute projects that improve productivity, reduce waste, and streamline processes within and across the manufacturing network. In addition to leading a variety of high‑value cross‑functional projects within our operations and supply chain area, he/she will be a key contributor to the development and implementation of a continuous improvement strategy at High Liner. This role requires deep cross‑functional experience and strong project management capabilities to deliver exceptional results. It also requires a change leader who can influence, guide, and engage a variety of stakeholders towards an improved future state.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Partner with functional supply chain leaders to assess current processes and identify improvement opportunities; manage the process of selecting, scoping, and prioritizing projects, including resource utilization review.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of a Continuous Improvement strategy within Operations and Supply Chain functional areas.
• Lead the strategic development, planning, and execution of transformation programs and projects that improve business performance.
• Deliver significant and quantifiable process improvement and financial benefit across the supply chain.
• Act as an active change agent, leveraging influencing skills derived from deep subject matter expertise in Continuous Improvement and project management.
• Create and sustain a culture of continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the development and execution of Manufacturing and Supply Chain strategies.
• Oversee the plant continuous improvement program to deliver against supply chain goals.
• Drive behavioral change across the area of responsibility, including support functions, through coaching and influencing employees.
• Develop and indirectly lead a network of continuous improvement employees through mentoring, coaching, and project oversight.
• Use an analytic, data‑driven, problem‑solving mindset to solve challenging business issues.
• Promote and demonstrate commitment to the company's vision and values.

Qualifications

• Degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of project management experience or managing continuous improvement projects.
• 5+ years of direct work experience in supply chain management and/or quality disciplines.
• Experience working in a multi‑plant operations environment.
• Demonstrated change leadership skill set.
• Proficiency with Continuous Improvement tools and processes (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, DMAIC, etc.).
• Strategic agility and strong business acumen.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with teams across multiple levels and locations.
• Strong communication skills; ability to listen and effectively communicate with peers, managers, and customers.
• Ability to educate/train others on continuous improvement concepts through project work or educational sessions.
• Experience in the food processing industry.
• Strong presentation skills and comfort communicating and presenting to multiple organizational levels.

What's in it for you?

• Competitive salary
• Health, dental, and vision coverage
• Pay‑for‑performance incentives
• Employee and family assistance programs
• Wellness programs
• Retirement planning
• Supplemental parental leave
• Disability support
• Family‑friendly flex policies and summer hours
• Volunteer hours
• Learning and mentorship opportunities
• Safety‑focused work environment

Current employees: this position is referral bonus eligible.