Manufacturing Excellence Director

Del Monte Foods; United States; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

401(k) with company match

Life & Disability Insurance

Job summary

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is seeking a Manufacturing Excellence Director to lead enterprise-wide Lean, Six Sigma, and CI initiatives across its Foods division.

You will champion DMoe pillars, deploy standardized CI practices, and mentor site leaders to deliver measurable gains in safety, quality, efficiency, and cost. The role reports to the VP Operations Food Division and requires strategic communication with executives, cross-functional collaboration, and a track record of driving value

Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Operational Excellence across multi-site operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead Lean/Six Sigma deployment across Del Monte facilities.
• Own methodology for productivity savings and cost avoidance.
• Oversee fill weight control compliance and optimization.
• Coach teams in A3 thinking and root cause analysis.
• Drive cross-functional CI events like Kaizen and TPM.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Operational Excellence

Problem Solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Master's degree

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification

MBA preferred

Tools

TrakSYS

Excel

PowerPoint

Visio

Project

Job description

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is a global leader in the production, distribution, and marketing of fresh, value-added, and shelf-stable fruits and vegetables under our Fresh and Foods divisions. Our diverse product portfolio proudly bears the Del Monte brand and also includes prepared fruits and vegetables, juices, beverages, snacks, and desserts - available in over 80 countries worldwide. With operations spanning more than 35 countries, we've proudly been nourishing families for over 135 years.

Benefits We Offer Include:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Employer-paid life & disability insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 7 Company Paid Holidays
• 24/7 Telemedicine & Employee Assistance Program
• Optional voluntary benefits (legal, accident, identity protection)
• Eligibility on the first of the month following your hire date

Purpose of Position:

Del Monte Foods is the Foods Division of Fresh Del Monte, a global grower, producer and marketer of fresh, value-added, and shelf-stable produce.

Del Monte Foods has a powerful portfolio of brands, including the iconic Del Monte, Contadina and S&W. We are currently seeking a Manufacturing Excellence Director.

The Manufacturing Excellence Director is responsible for leading, developing, and deploying operational excellence strategies and tools across Del Monte Foods. Also, this role leads the enterprise in Lean Manufacturing, DMOE Implementation, Six Sigma, Manufacturing Execution Systems (TrakSYS), Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), Fill Weight Control, and Cost/Productivity Savings. The position is instrumental in building a culture of continuous improvement, enabling data-driven decision-making, and delivering measurable improvements in safety, quality, efficiency, and cost. This leader will drive enterprise standardization of CI methodologies, mentor site leaders, and collaborate cross-functionally to ensure sustainable impact and alignment to business objectives.

The position will report to VP Operations Food Division for overall implementation and lean vision and will be responsible for communication of their daily activities and responsibilities of the lean culture..

Accountabilities:

• Manufacturing Excellence Leadership: Provide vision, coaching, and hands-on support to deploy Del Monte Operational Excellence (DMOE) pillars, Lean/Six Sigma methodologies, and continuous improvement culture across facilities.
• Cost & Productivity Savings: Own the methodology, standardization, and financial validation of productivity savings and cost avoidance across the enterprise in collaboration with Finance and Operations.
• Fill Weight Control SME: Lead system-wide optimization and compliance of fill weight controls to reduce overfill losses, meet regulatory requirements, and enhance yield.
• Root Cause Analysis & A3 Methodology SME: Lead and coach structured problem-solving tools including 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams, Logic Trees, and A3 Thinking. Train and coach teams on effective problem resolution and strategic project execution.
• Waste Elimination Leader: Implement Waste Walks and Value Stream Mapping events. Facilitate cross-functional efforts to identify, map, and eliminate operational waste, improving throughput and reducing cost.
• V-Curve Analysis & Line Constraints: Implement and teach V-curve and line balancing analyses to identify throughput bottlenecks. Partner with plant teams to prioritize high-impact improvements.
• Continuous Improvement Events: Plan, facilitate, and report on Kaizen, TPM, and Six Sigma events that yield measurable improvements in cost, quality, and delivery.
• Standard Work, Visual Controls, 5S, and TPM: Drive deployment of core Lean tools across functions. Lead plant teams in embedding practices that sustain daily improvement and operator ownership.
• Leadership Development: Mentor and coach plant leaders to strengthen CI capabilities. Create and lead training programs to build organizational knowledge.
• Strategic Communication: Translate improvement outcomes, performance trends, and best practices across leadership levels. Report progress to executive leadership.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner Executive Leadership Team Engineering, EHS, Quality, Maintenance, and other functions to integrate CI tools and thinking into core processes and capital projects.
• Change Agent: Foster a sense of urgency, ownership, and pride across teams. Lead cultural transformation that sustains high-performance behaviors.
• Daily Direction Setting (DDS): Lead and coach effective Daily Direction Setting processes across all sites and to drive accountability, elevate issues, track performance, and align daily actions to site priorities.

Minimum Skills Required:

• Demonstrated expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Operational Excellence across multi-site operations
• Proven leadership in CI deployment, event facilitation, and enterprise cost-savings tracking
• Expert-level experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems (TrakSYS preferred) and OEE system design
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities using structured tools (RCA, A3, etc.)
• Effective communicator and change leader with the ability to influence across functions and levels
• Strong presentation, facilitation, and coaching skills
• Skilled in Value Stream Mapping, Waste Elimination, and Performance Metrics Development
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Project Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Equivalent combination of education and progressive operational excellence leadership experience may be considered.
• Master's degree (MBA, MS in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related discipline) preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification strongly preferred; Master Black Belt certification is a plus.

***Please note: This position does not qualify for relocation expenses.***

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is a global leader in the production, distribution, and marketing of fresh and fresh cut fruits and vegetables. Our diverse product portfolio also includes prepared fruits and vegetables, juices, beverages, snacks, and desserts-available in over 80 countries worldwide. With operations spanning more than 35 countries, we've proudly been nourishing families for over 135 years.

We are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Fresh Del Monte and its affiliates do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We also participate in E-Verify* where applicable, to ensure employment authorization eligibility. Driven by our core values - Excellence, Care, Passion, Trust, and Creativity - we invite you to explore our career opportunities and join our FRESH team.