Senior Lean CI Leader - Agriculture & Processing

AgReserves, Inc.; Wasco, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

AgReserves, Inc. is seeking a seasoned Continuous Improvement Manager to advance operational excellence across our Tree Crops Division.

This senior individual-contributor role drives strategic CI initiatives, coaches teams, and partners with site leadership on safety, costs, quality, and yield improvements. The role requires expertise in Lean and Six Sigma, strong analytical skills, and the ability to influence across functions without direct authority.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or related field; master’s degree preferred.
• 7+ years in Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, or Process Optimization; 4+ years in manufacturing/food processing/agriculture.
• Proven ability to deliver measurable improvements and cost savings in complex operations.
• Expert proficiency in Lean, Six Sigma, and advanced problem-solving methodologies.
• Strong statistics: SPC, DOE, regression; root cause methods (5 Why, Fishbone, FMEA); process mapping.
• Ability to analyze large data sets, build KPIs, and translate findings into actions.
• Experience in matrixed, multi-site environments; travel up to 25%; bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Implement and sustain the continuous improvement strategy across farming and processing operations.
• Lead large-scale improvement projects focused on cost reduction, waste elimination, efficiency gains, and quality.
• Manage industrial engineering and process optimization projects including new equipment.
• Identify savings opportunities and track measurable results.
• Coach CI Champions and project leaders to build internal CI capability.
• Facilitate Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and CI training sessions for teams at multiple sites.
• Analyze workflows and performance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities; monitor KPIs and report outcomes.

Skills

Lean

Six Sigma

Data analysis

Root cause analysis

Process mapping

KPIs

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

ERP systems

Job description

AgReserves, Inc. is seeking a seasoned Continuous Improvement Manager to advance operational excellence across our Tree Crops Division.

This senior individual-contributor role drives strategic CI initiatives, coaches teams, and partners with site leadership on safety, costs, quality, and yield improvements. The role requires expertise in Lean and Six Sigma, strong analytical skills, and the ability to influence across functions without direct authority.