Process / Continuous Improvement Engineer

Talent Wave Associates; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Wave Associates seeks a seasoned Continuous Improvement leader to drive Lean Six Sigma programs across our food manufacturing operations in Kentucky. You will lead CI initiatives, mentor teams, and partner with operations, maintenance, and quality to raise safety, quality, throughput and cost efficiency.

The role focuses on ramping up new equipment, building a sustainable CI culture, and delivering measurable improvements via DMAIC, TPM, value stream mapping and standard work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Food Science, Industrial Engineering, or related field (or equivalent).
• 5 years of experience in manufacturing CI or operations leadership, preferably in food industry.

Responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate plant-wide Continuous Improvement initiatives aligned with Safety, Quality, Reliability, Delivery, and Cost.
• Utilize Lean, Six Sigma (DMAIC), TPM, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S/Visual Management, Standard Work, SMED, and root-cause analysis to identify and eliminate waste.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, quality, and leadership to develop CI roadmaps, project charters, and improvement plans.
• Analyze production data and KPIs to prioritize opportunities and track results.
• Coach, train, and mentor operators, supervisors, and cross-functional teams to build CI capability and ownership.
• Lead structured problem-solving events and sustain gains through control plans and standard work.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and change management in a high-growth, PE-backed environment.
• Participate in daily/weekly performance reviews to ensure actions deliver productivity, efficiency, and cost improvements.

Skills

Lean methodology

Six Sigma

Continuous improvement

Data analysis

Coaching & training

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations/Food Science

Tools

DMAIC

Value Stream Mapping

Kaizen

5S / Visual Management

SMED

Job description

Are you ready to drive operational excellence in a high-growth environment?

Our client is seeking a dedicated professional to join their rapidly expanding food manufacturing organization. This role focuses on implementing Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies to enhance safety, quality, throughput, yield, OEE, and cost efficiency. Your expertise will support the successful ramp-up of new equipment and capacity, building a sustainable culture of continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate plant-wide Continuous Improvement initiatives aligned with business goals for Safety, Quality, Reliability, Delivery, and Cost.
• Utilize Lean, Six Sigma (DMAIC), TPM, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S/Visual Management, Standard Work, SMED, and root-cause analysis tools to identify and eliminate waste.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, quality, and leadership to develop and execute CI roadmaps, project charters, and improvement plans.
• Analyze production data and KPIs to prioritize opportunities and track results.
• Coach, train, and mentor operators, supervisors, and cross-functional teams to build CI capability and ownership at all levels.
• Lead structured problem-solving events and sustain gains through control plans and standard work.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and change management in a high-growth, PE-backed environment.
• Participate in daily/weekly performance reviews to ensure actions deliver productivity, efficiency, and cost improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Food Science, Industrial Engineering, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 5 years of experience in manufacturing continuous improvement or operations leadership, preferably in the food industry.
• Proven track record in applying Lean and Six Sigma tools to achieve measurable results (Green Belt or Black Belt certification preferred).
• Hands-on experience in high-growth or scaling manufacturing operations, ideally with new equipment commissioning or capacity expansion.
• Strong data analysis skills and ability to translate insights into actionable plans.
• Excellent coaching, facilitation, communication, and change-management skills.
• Experience in USDA-regulated or food safety-focused environments is a plus.
• Bias for action, results orientation, and comfort operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial PE-backed setting.

At Talent Wave Associates, we connect outstanding talent with exceptional opportunities. We're proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to fostering an inclusive, people-first recruiting experience.