Operational Excellence Leader: TPM & Continuous Improvement

Lotus Bakeries, Milan; Mebane (NC); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Lotus Bakeries in North Carolina is seeking an Operational Excellence Manager to lead TPM/CI initiatives on site. You will design and mature the site's CI strategy, champion TPM culture, and upskill associates across all levels while spending significant time on the shop floor.

Expect 3–5 years in manufacturing, strong TPM/CI expertise, and a proven ability to drive transformational change, develop talent, and partner with cross-functional teams to improve cost-to-serve and overall performance.

Qualifications

• 3 to 5 years of progressive experience within a manufacturing environment.
• 3 years of active experience working within a multi-pillar TPM framework.
• Direct experience developing site-wide strategy for the implementation TPM programs, with proven exposure to Autonomous Maintenance (AM) Step progression (specifically through AM Step 3).
• Strong foundational knowledge and practical application of standard continuous improvement methodologies, including TPM, Kaizen, 5S, and SMED.
• Proven track record of successfully managing teams, developing talent, and driving operational excellence across production environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale, transformative change initiatives and successfully rolling out best practices across an organization.
• Analytical mindset with a strong passion for identifying efficiencies and maximizing business value.
• Highly process-oriented approach with a strong attention to detail and a "hands-on" willingness to spend time on the shop floor to drive improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the factory's TPM/CI implementation and overall CI strategy execution on-site.
• Design, develop, and execute change management programs to foster a high-performance culture across all levels.
• Drive cost-to-serve optimization and lean operations to maximize customer and stakeholder value.
• Coach and develop 1–3 direct/indirect reports and build a strong talent pipeline.
• Oversee Education & Training program growth and site-wide capability development.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to align local supply strategies with regional goals.
• Maintain robust Root Cause Analysis practices and translate data into actionable insights.

Skills

TPM

Kaizen

5S

SMED

RCA

Team leadership

Continuous improvement

Data-driven decisions

Shop floor presence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related field

Job description

Lotus Bakeries in North Carolina is seeking an Operational Excellence Manager to lead TPM/CI initiatives on site. You will design and mature the site's CI strategy, champion TPM culture, and upskill associates across all levels while spending significant time on the shop floor.

Expect 3–5 years in manufacturing, strong TPM/CI expertise, and a proven ability to drive transformational change, develop talent, and partner with cross-functional teams to improve cost-to-serve and overall performance.