Operations Excellence Manager

The Wonderful Company; Del Rey (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

401k with match

Career advancement

Mentorship program

Continuous Improvement training

Job summary

The Wonderful Company is seeking an Advanced Manufacturing Manager in California to lead development and rollout of advanced manufacturing technologies and continuous improvement strategies across our operations. You will partner with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, EHS, IT/OT, and suppliers to identify opportunities, build compelling business cases, and drive measurable benefits.

Responsibilities include steering automation projects, data-driven optimization, and sustaining

Qualifications

• Experience leading manufacturing improvement and automation projects.
• Strong knowledge of Lean, TPM, Six Sigma, A3, DMAIC, root-cause analysis.
• Experience with PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, robotics, machine vision, and safety systems.
• Ability to develop project scopes, business cases, capital requests, budgets, and ROI analyses.
• Bilingual English and Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a prioritized advanced manufacturing and continuous improvement roadmap aligned with plant and business objectives.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to improve manufacturing processes through robotics, machine vision, AI, and automation.
• Lead automation projects from opportunity identification to implementation and handoff.
• Conduct capacity, downtime, reliability, waste, quality, labor, and OEE analyses to identify improvements.
• Lead A3 problem solving, DMAIC, root-cause analysis, Kaizen, value-stream mapping, TPM, standard work, and other structured continuous improvement activities.
• Determine whether manufacturing losses are best addressed through automation, maintenance, training, process redesign, standard work, or other countermeasures.
• Translate operational needs into project charters, functional requirements, scopes of work, acceptance criteria, budgets, schedules, and implementation plans.
• Develop capital requests and ROI analyses that define the problem, investment, risks, expected operational impact, and financial return.
• Coordinate cross-functional technical and design reviews with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, EHS, IT/OT, OEMs, and system integrators.
• Participate in factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, commissioning, performance validation, and project closeout.
• Ensure automation projects address machine safety, food safety, hygienic design, sanitation, maintainability, software backups, spare parts, technical documentation, training, and lifecycle support.
• Evaluate practical AI applications including predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, computer vision, process optimization, automated reporting, knowledge management, and operator decision support.
• Partner with Electrical and Controls leadership to establish requirements for equipment integration, controls architecture, industrial networking, data collection, system backups, and documentation.
• Establish project baselines, performance targets, control plans, and benefits-verification methods; confirm that completed improvements are sustained.
• Coach cross-functional teams in structured problem solving, data-driven decision making, and effective adoption of new processes and technologies.
• Maintain a prioritized project portfolio showing ownership, timing, investment, status, expected value, and realized benefits. Communicate project priorities, risks, status, and results to plant and senior leadership

Skills

Lean manufacturing

DMAIC

A3 problem solving

OEE analysis

Robotics

Machine vision

Data analytics

Communication

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

PLC

HMI

VFD

Robotics

Machine vision

Industrial networks

Sensors

Job description

From tree to table, POM Wonderful delivers a whole lot of healthy. Known for our iconic double-bubble bottle, we grow, harvest, package, and market fresh pomegranates, pomegranate arils, and a selection of delicious pomegranate-blended juices and teas. With over 9,000 acres in California’s Central Valley, POM Wonderful is committed to unleashing the antioxidant power of our handpicked pomegranates.

The Advanced Manufacturing Manager leads the development and implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies and continuous improvement strategies that improve safety, quality, reliability, productivity, cost, and overall equipment effectiveness. This position combines automation, robotics, machine vision, manufacturing data, artificial intelligence, Lean methodologies, and structured problem solving to deliver measurable and sustainable operational results. The manager partners with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, EHS, IT/OT, Finance, equipment manufacturers, and system integrators to identify opportunities, develop business cases, lead implementation, support operational adoption, and verify that expected benefits are achieved and sustained.

Compensation - $110,000.00 - $115,000.00. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience.

Job Description

• Develop and maintain a prioritized advanced manufacturing and continuous improvement roadmap aligned with plant and business objectives.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to improve manufacturing processes through robotics, collaborative robots, machine vision, automated inspection, intelligent sensors, automated material handling, process automation, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence.
• Lead automation and manufacturing improvement projects from opportunity identification and business-case development through design, implementation, commissioning, startup, stabilization, and operational handoff.
• Conduct capacity, constraint, downtime, reliability, waste, quality, labor, and OEE analysis to identify and prioritize improvement initiatives.
• Lead A3 problem solving, DMAIC, root-cause analysis, Kaizen, value-stream mapping, TPM, standard work, and other structured continuous improvement activities.
• Determine whether manufacturing losses are best addressed through automation, maintenance, training, process redesign, standard work, or another countermeasure.
• Translate operational needs into project charters, functional requirements, scopes of work, acceptance criteria, budgets, schedules, and implementation plans.
• Develop capital requests and ROI analyses that define the problem, investment, risks, expected operational impact, and financial return.
• Coordinate cross-functional technical and design reviews with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, EHS, IT/OT, OEMs, and system integrators.
• Participate in factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, commissioning, performance validation, and project closeout.
• Ensure automation projects address machine safety, food safety, hygienic design, sanitation, maintainability, software backups, spare parts, technical documentation, training, and lifecycle support.
• Evaluate practical AI applications including predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, computer vision, process optimization, automated reporting, knowledge management, and operator decision support.
• Partner with Electrical and Controls leadership to establish requirements for equipment integration, controls architecture, industrial networking, data collection, system backups, and documentation.
• Establish project baselines, performance targets, control plans, and benefits-verification methods; confirm that completed improvements are sustained.
• Coach cross-functional teams in structured problem solving, data-driven decision making, and effective adoption of new processes and technologies.
• Maintain a prioritized project portfolio showing ownership, timing, investment, status, expected value, and realized benefits. Communicate project priorities, risks, status, and results to plant and senior leadership

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading manufacturing improvement and automation projects in an industrial environment.
• Strong working knowledge of Lean manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, A3, DMAIC, root-cause analysis, or comparable continuous improvement methods.
• Working knowledge of industrial automation technologies including PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, servo systems, industrial networks, sensors, instrumentation, robotics, machine vision, and machine-safety systems.
• Experience leading or supporting robotics, machine-vision, equipment-integration, process-automation, or automated material-handling projects.
• Experience developing project scopes, business cases, capital requests, budgets, schedules, operational targets, and ROI analyses.
• Ability to analyze OEE, downtime, throughput, capacity, quality, waste, labor, reliability, energy, and cost data.
• Experience coordinating OEMs, contractors, technology vendors, and system integrators.
• Experience participating in design reviews, FAT, SAT, commissioning, production startup, and operational handoff.
• Ability to communicate complex technical and analytical topics to technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Proficiency with manufacturing analytics, visualization, project-management, process-mapping, and collaboration tools.
• Bilingual English and Spanish preferred but not required.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical discipline is preferred. Minimum five years of progressive experience in manufacturing, engineering, automation, continuous improvement, or advanced manufacturing, including demonstrated leadership of cross-functional projects from concept through implementation and benefits verification. Equivalent combinations of relevant technical education, industry certifications, and demonstrated manufacturing experience may be considered. Food, beverage, consumer packaged goods, or other high-speed manufacturing experience is preferred.

Additional Information

POM's Dedication to You:

• Thriving Wellness Community: Access to top-notch medical coverage comprehensive vision and dental plans, and a 401k with match eligibility to secure your financial future and including:
  • 24/7 online physician consultations
  • virtual mental health resources
  • life coaching
  • engaging employee community groups
  • cash rewards for healthy habits and fitness reimbursements
  • library of on-demand fitness videos
• Career Advancement Opportunities: Unlock your potential with clear paths for career progression and internal mobility across our diverse family of brands and business units.
• Focused Learning and Development: Grow as a leader with our dedicated Learning and Organizational Development department, offering extensive resources like People Manager and leadership training, webinars, and eLearning courses.
• Empowering Mentorship Program: Connect with colleagues through our company-wide mentorship program to share goals, overcome challenges, and drive your career forward.
• Continuous Improvement Training: Participate in training that empowers all employees to learn and implement concepts that drive significant, positive change in the workplace.
• Building a Healthy Society: To date, our co-Founders Lynda and Stewart Resnick, through their foundations and The Wonderful Company, have invested more than $2.5 billion in education, health and wellness, community development, and sustainability initiatives across California’s Central Valley, Fiji, and the world. In 2025, Wonderful ranked as #1in PEOPLE’s "100 Companies That Care" list and was named one of Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. To learn more about our corporate social responsibility efforts, visit csr.wonderful.com .
• Giving Back to the Community: Make a difference with Wonderful Giving , allowing you to allocate company-provided funds to up to three charities of your choice, and join Wonderful Neighbor to contribute to group service projects within our local communities.

POM Wonderful is the largest grower and producer of fresh pomegranates and pomegranate juice in the United States as well as the worldwide leader in fresh California pomegranates and pomegranate-based products, including our 100% pomegranate juices, healthy juice blends and teas, fresh fruit when in season, and fresh arils.

POM Wonderful is part of The Wonderful Company, a successful, fast-growing privately held $6 billion company with 10,000 employees worldwide. The Wonderful Company’s connection to consumers has health at its heart and giving back in its DNA. The company has a long-standing commitment to corporate social responsibility, including more than $1 billion invested in environmental sustainability; $65 million in charitable giving, education initiatives, and innovative health and wellness programs each year; and $143 million toward the construction of two charter school campuses in California’s Central Valley. To view the current Corporate Social Responsibility report, visit csr.wonderful.com.

We’ve made Wonderful Pistachios America’s fastest-growing snack brand. We’ve turned pomegranates and POM Wonderful into a worldwide phenomenon. Wonderful Halos is the No. 1 mandarin orange in America. FIJI Water is the No. 1 premium imported bottled water in America. Justin Wine produces California’s top-selling, high-end Cabernet Sauvignon. And Teleflora is the world’s leading floral delivery service. To learn more about The Wonderful Company, its products and its core values, visit www.wonderful.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Wonderful Company is an Equality Opportunity Employer that provides opportunities for advancement. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce that embodies a deep culture of acceptance, equity, and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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