Plant Continuous Improvement Leader - Hodges, SC

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

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive in Hodges, South Carolina, is seeking a Factory Performance & Reliability Leader to drive site-wide manufacturing excellence. You will lead continuous improvement initiatives, align plant capabilities with long-term strategy, and partner across levels to foster lean execution and reliability.

The role reports to the Director of Manufacturing and requires a strong track record in CI, maintenance, and cross-functional collaboration to sustain performance improvements and safety

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• Minimum of 5 years 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.

Responsibilities

• Drive Site Strategy & Operational Alignment: Partner with plant leadership to align CI, capacity growth, and workforce development with site goals.
• Lead Continuous Improvement & Governance: Oversee data-driven optimization systems with ROI analyses and risk assessments to boost productivity and quality.
• Implement Visual Workplace & 5S Standards: Direct site-wide 5S and visual management in line with safety and quality expectations.
• Advance Autonomous & Planned Maintenance: Establish step-wise plans for autonomous maintenance and preventive/predictive maintenance.
• Optimize Production & Supply Chain Integration: Collaborate with supply chain and planning to streamline scheduling and inventory.
• Build Capability & Knowledge Sharing: Develop competency frameworks and cross-functional training.

Skills

Leadership

Continuous improvement

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Quality mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree

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

Tools

SAP

Manufacturing planning tools

Job description

Minimum Education Required

Bachelors

Job Description

ATTENTION MILITARY AFFILIATED JOB SEEKERS - Our organization works with partner companies to source qualified talent for their open roles. The following position is available to Veterans, Transitioning Military, National Guard and Reserve Members, Military Spouses, Wounded Warriors, and their Caregivers. Unless specifically stated otherwise, this role is "On-Site" at the location detailed in the job post.

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.

Auto req ID

485236BR

Minimum Education Required

Bachelors

Additional Qualifications/Responsibilities

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 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.

City

Hodges

State

South Carolina

Job_Category

Manufacturing

Job Code

Operations_ Specialist

Affiliate Sponsor

Colgate-Palmolive

Salary Range

$75,000-$100,000