Senior Manager, Operations & Continuous Improvement

Lil' Drug Store Products; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Lil' Drug Store Products in the United States is seeking an Operations leader to drive manufacturing efficiency and quality. You will lead teams, champion Lean and automation, and build scalable processes to support growth and reliable product delivery.

The role emphasizes safety, continuous improvement, and cross-functional leadership to develop people and deliver measurable cost savings.

Qualifications

• Two-year degree required in operations, supply chain, engineering, or related field.
• Bachelor's degree strongly preferred in industrial engineering, operations management, or related field.
• Six years of relevant experience; eight years if no bachelor's degree.
• Three+ years of supervisory or cross-functional project leadership experience preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma or industrial engineering, automation technologies, Kaizen events, and cross-functional projects.
• Knowledge of WMS, warehouse robotics, and order fulfillment automation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead production operations to achieve safe, efficient, high-quality, and on-time output with good lot traceability and material handling.
• Lead, coach, and develop employees by setting expectations, assigning work, giving feedback, and supporting growth and accountability.
• Manage employees in compliance with laws and policies while fostering a positive culture for growth.
• Apply Lean methodologies (VSM, 5S, Six Sigma, Kanban, SMED) to reduce waste and improve safety, quality, productivity, and scalability.
• Lead automation and process-improvement initiatives; develop business cases and implementation plans for capital projects and related solutions.
• Drive cost savings through operational excellence and track savings for leadership reporting.
• Maintain inventory accuracy and availability through cross-functional collaboration and alignment with customer needs.
• Use productivity metrics and data to guide decisions and identify improvement opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, safety protocols, and applicable regulations.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

Skills

Lean

Six Sigma

Automation

Leadership

Kaizen

Data-driven decisions

Education

Two-year degree

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

WMS

Warehouse robotics

Job description

Join Lil' Drug Store Products and play a key role in shaping the future of our manufacturing operations. As a leader within our Operations team, you'll help drive a culture of safety, quality, continuous improvement, and innovation while ensuring products are delivered reliably and efficiently to our customers. This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by leading high-performing teams, championing Lean and automation initiatives, and building scalable processes that support our continued growth. If you're passionate about developing people, improving operations, and creating lasting results, we'd love to have you on our team.

Job Responsibilities and Duties

• Lead production operations to achieve safe, efficient, high-quality, and on-time output while ensuring effective lot traceability and material handling.
• Lead, coach, and develop employees by setting clear expectations, assigning work, providing feedback, evaluating performance, resolving problems, and supporting career growth, engagement, and accountability.
• Manage employees in compliance with applicable laws and company policies while fostering a positive culture aligned with strategic growth initiatives.
• Apply Lean methodologies - including VSM, 5S, Six Sigma, Kanban, and SMED to reduce waste/ downtime and improve safety, quality, productivity, and scalability.
• Lead automation and process-improvement initiatives; develop business cases, cost-benefit analyses, and implementation plans for capital projects, scanning technology, and related solutions.
• Drive cost savings through operational excellence, process improvement, and automation; track results and report savings to leadership.
• Maintain inventory accuracy, integrity, and availability through cross-functional collaboration and alignment with customer needs.
• Use productivity metrics and operational data to guide decisions, monitor performance, and identify improvement opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, safety protocols, and applicable industry regulations.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Two-year degree in operations, supply chain, engineering, or a related field required.
• Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, operations management, supply chain, or a related field strongly preferred.
• Six years of relevant experience required; eight years in the absence of a bachelor's degree.
• Three or more years of supervisory, people leadership, or cross-functional project leadership experience preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma or industrial engineering, automation technologies and experience leading Kaizen events and cross-functional projects.
• Knowledge of WMS, warehouse robotics, and order fulfillment automation preferred.