Plant Continuous Improvement Leader

Colgate; Hodges (SC); On-site; USD 97,000 - 137,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Bonus opportunities

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive in Hodges, SC seeks a Factory Performance & Reliability Leader to drive site-wide continuous improvement, align capabilities with long-term strategy, and boost productivity and safety across operations.

Reporting to the Director of Manufacturing, you will lead 5S and visual workplace initiatives, advance maintenance programs, and collaborate with supply chain and HR to build capability and sustain reliable performance.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a manufacturing production environment.
• Proven track record leading cross-functional continuous improvement programs.
• Experience establishing and tracking manufacturing metrics, SOPs and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Drive site strategy and align continuous improvement with goals.
• Oversee data-driven optimization systems and ROI analysis.
• Implement 5S, visual management, and workplace organization.
• Advance autonomous and planned maintenance for equipment reliability.
• Collaborate with supply chain and production planning to optimize scheduling and inventory.
• Partner with HR and line management to build competency and cross-functional training.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Lean Six Sigma

Root Cause Analysis

FMEA

SPC

Data-driven decision making

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial), Food Science, or related technical field

Tools

SAP

Job description

Established in 1806 as a small soap and candle business in New York City, Colgate-Palmolive is now a truly global company with products sold in over 200 countries and territories under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom's of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, Haci Sakir, Suavitel, PCA SKIN, EltaMD, Filorga and Hello as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet.

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading consumer products company that serves hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide with brands and products across four core businesses - Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. We are committed to offering products that make lives healthier and more enjoyable, and programs that enrich communities around the world.

Every day millions of people trust our products to care for themselves and the ones they love. Our goal is to use our technology to create products that will continue to improve the quality of life for our consumers wherever they live.

A career at Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.

Job Title: Plant Continuous Improvement Leader

Travel Required?: Travel - up to 10% of time

Posting Start Date: 10/6/26

On-site

Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country

Job Number#176108 - Hodges, South Carolina, United States

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values - Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.

Factory Performance & Reliability Leader

Are you ready to drive manufacturing excellence and shape the future of site operations at our Hodges, SC facility? As the Factory Performance & Reliability (FP&R) Leader, you will lead site-wide continuous improvement initiatives, aligning plant capabilities with long-term strategy, capacity growth, and operational reliability. Reporting to our Director of Manufacturing, you will partner across all levels of the organization to cultivate a culture of innovation, lean execution, and sustainable performance.

Responsibilities

• Drive Site Strategy & Operational Alignment: Partner with plant leadership to align continuous improvement, capacity growth, operational equipment master plans, and workforce development with overall site strategic goals.
• Lead Continuous Improvement & Governance: Oversee data-driven optimization systems, evaluating project value through return-on-investment (ROI) analysis and risk assessments to achieve target plant productivity and quality metrics.
• Implement Visual Workplace & 5S Standards: Direct site-wide 5S, visual management, and workplace organization initiatives in alignment with environmental, occupational health, safety, and quality expectations.
• Advance Autonomous & Planned Maintenance: Establish step-wise progression plans for autonomous maintenance and preventive/predictive maintenance systems to maximize equipment reliability and operational safety.
• Optimize Production & Supply Chain Integration: Collaborate with supply chain and production planning teams to streamline scheduling, and optimize inventory levels.
• Build Capability & Knowledge Sharing: Partner with Human Resources and line management to implement competency frameworks, conduct skill-gap analyses, and foster cross-functional training across operational teams.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a manufacturing production environment.
• Proven track record leading cross-functional continuous improvement or operational reliability programs.
• Experience establishing and tracking manufacturing metrics, standard operating procedures and compliance standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial), Food Science, or a related technical field.
• 2+ years of direct supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Practical expertise in Lean Six Sigma methodologies, Root Cause Analysis, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), or Statistical Process Control (SPC).
• Experience with enterprise resource planning systems (such as SAP) and manufacturing planning tools.
• Strong collaborative leadership, conflict resolution, and data-driven decision-making abilities.
• Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) or regulatory environment (FDA/USDA) experience.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range $96,800.00 - $137,000.00 USD

Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing, and long-term incentives for Executive-level roles.

• Benefits: Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements. Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays (vacation days are prorated based on the employee's hire date within the calendar year).
• Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws. Detailed information regarding paid sick leave entitlements will be provided to employees upon hiring and may be subject to adjustments based on changes in legislation or company policies.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Our journey begins with our people - developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.