Continuous Improvement Manager - Meat

I am working with a leading meat manufacturing company dedicated to producing premium-quality products through innovation, efficiency, and a commitment to operational excellence. As part of our ongoing growth, we are seeking an experienced Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager to drive performance improvements across our production operations and support our mission of delivering consistent quality at scale.

Role Overview
The Continuous Improvement Manager will lead efforts to identify, develop, and implement process improvements that enhance productivity, reduce waste, and optimize overall operational performance. Working cross-functionally with production, maintenance, quality, and engineering teams, this role will foster a culture of continuous improvement and problem-solving throughout the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and other process optimization methodologies.

• Analyze production data to identify areas for cost reduction, waste elimination, and efficiency gains.

• Partner with plant and departmental leaders to develop and execute improvement projects.

• Facilitate Kaizen events, root cause analyses, and process mapping workshops.

• Develop standardized work procedures and best practices to ensure consistency across operations.

• Train and mentor team members at all levels on CI tools, techniques, and principles.

• Track and report performance improvements, ensuring alignment with company KPIs and strategic goals.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product flow, reduce downtime, and improve safety performance.

• Support the implementation of automation, digital systems, and other technologies that drive operational excellence.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, or a related field.

• 5+ years of experience in process improvement, manufacturing engineering, or operations-preferably within meat, poultry, or food manufacturing.

• Strong working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies (Green or Black Belt certification preferred).

• Proven track record of delivering measurable improvements in cost, efficiency, and quality.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.

• Strong communication and leadership abilities to influence change across all levels of the organization.

• Experience with data-driven decision-making and manufacturing metrics (OEE, yield, downtime, throughput, etc.).