MFG CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT LEADER

Kroger; Tolleson (AZ); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Flexible scheduling

Counseling and financial tools

Associate discounts

Tuition reimbursement

Training programs

Job summary

Kroger Co. seeks a leader to drive plant Continuous Improvement (CI) across Safety, Quality and Reliability, aligning with our Customer 1st strategy. You will lead CI initiatives, apply Lean Six Sigma, mentor teams, and support capital projects to achieve sustainable gains.

You'll foster a high-performance culture, work with cross-functional teams, and travel occasionally for CI training and leader conferences. Strong leadership and analytical skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field; equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of proven, successful leadership of teams.
• Manufacturing experience.
• Ability to guide teams to actionable solutions.
• Flexibility and adaptability during change.
• Leverage diverse talents to achieve results.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Achieve Black Belt certification.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills.
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist plant teams with goal-setting and tracking CI measures.
• Apply CI tools to improve line capacity and efficiency.
• Use Lean Six Sigma and DMAIC for projects with annual savings.
• Create control plans for sustainable gains.
• Lead teams to solve problems and reduce waste.
• Support project management and capital projects activities.
• Mentor teams on CI and Lean/Six Sigma methods.
• Use downtime system to identify improvement opportunities.
• Develop collaborative relationships to achieve goals.
• Understand issues and data to guide actions.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Lean Six Sigma

DMAIC

Microsoft Office

Job description

Lead and facilitate plant Continuous Improvement (CI) efforts. Apply appropriate tools to drive improvements in Safety, Quality and Reliability (SQR). Perform all jobs safely, efficiently and accurately to maintain and improve the performance of the entire plant in the areas of Safety, Quality, Reliability (SQR) and our Customer 1st strategy. Provide leadership that embodies our 7 Kroger Manufacturing High Performance Work System principles. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

Responsibilities

• Assist plant teams with goal-setting and tracking CI measures
• Select/apply appropriate CI tools to improve line capacity, line efficiency, process reliability, mean time between failure and other key measures
• Apply Lean Six Sigma tools and the DMAIC process to complete projects with annual savings and provide technical expertise to support root cause analysis process
• Create control plans to produce sustainable gains
• Lead teams to solve problems, eliminate waste and reduce variation
• Participate in all relevant aspects of project management initiatives and support commissioning, qualification and verification for capital projects
• Mentor/coach teams on CI and Lean/Six Sigma methodology
• Utilize Kroger downtime system to identify/prioritize improvement opportunities
• Develop/ leverage collaborative relationships to achieve work goals
• Identify and understand issues and opportunities; compare data from different sources to draw conclusions, use effective approaches for choosing a course of action, & take action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, & probable consequences
• Travel occasionally to attend CI training and CI leader conferences
• Follow established programs, policies and practices to produce safe quality foods that meet regulatory and company requirements
• Accountable to the Kroger Manufacturing Food Safety and Quality Principles
• Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation
• Must be able to work around ingredients and/or finished products known to contain food allergens

Qualifications

Minimum

• Bachelor's Degree engineering or a related field, or equivilant experience
• 2+ years of proven, successful leadership of teams
• Manufacturing experience
• Ability to guide a teams to collectively create actionable solutions
• Ability to remain flexible and adjust promptly and effectively during times of change
• Proven ability to leverage the capabilities and insights of individuals with diverse styles, abilities and motivations to achieve strong results
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Achieve Black Belt certification
• Strong negotiation, oral and written communication skills
• Strong mathematical, analytical and conceptual skills, balanced by ability to apply common sense

Desired

• Experience developing/reengineering business processes from current to future state
• Black Belt certified and level 8 requirements complete as outlined in the CI training manual (pay level - 8)
• Green Belt certified and level 7 requirements completed as outlined in the CI training manual (pay level - 7)
• Experience with Lean or Six Sigma implementation and project management
• Training or exposure to statistical analysis

Job Info

• Job Identification 251554
• Job Category Manufacturing
• Posting Date 11/11/2026, 05:59 PM
• Locations 500 S 99th Ave, Tolleson, AZ, 85353, US (On-site)

The Kroger Family of Companies offers comprehensive benefits to support your Associate Well-Being, including Physical, Emotional, Financial and more. We'll help you thrive, with access to:

• A wide range of healthcare coverage, including affordable, comprehensive medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage, through company plans or collective bargaining agreement plans.
• Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles with paid time off, including holiday and sick pay based on eligibility and length of service.
• Emotional and financial support with free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program and free, confidential financial tools and coaching.
• Valuable associate discounts on purchases, including food, travel, technology and so much more.
• Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over your career, through our industry-leading Continuing Education program.
• Vast potential for growth, through an abundance of industry-leading training programs and diverse career pathways.

From one tiny Cincinnati grocery store more than a century ago, we’ve grown into what today is the nation’s largest grocer with nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states operating under 28 different names. As America’s grocer, we take pride in bringing diverse teams with a passion for food and people together with one common purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. With a history of innovation, we work tirelessly to create amazing experiences for our customers, communities AND each other, with food at the heart of it all.

Here, people matter. That’s why we strive to provide the ingredients you need to create your own recipe for success at work and in life. We help feed your future by providing the value and care you need to grow. If you’re caring, purpose-driven and hungry to learn, your potential is unlimited.

Whether you’re seeking a part-time position or a new career path, we’ve got a fresh opportunity for you.