Continuous Improvement Manager

Description

Vobev is the first independent can maker and filler in North America to streamline the beverage supply chain under one 1.3 million sq ft roof, shrinking lead times, reducing costs, and lowering the carbon footprint. Our culture, built on Safety, Quality, and People, fosters innovation and collaboration in an inclusive environment. We’re passionate about building world-class drinkable brands and need a pioneering team to deliver on this vision. Join us to disrupt the industry and make a difference every day.

SUMMARY

Responsible for driving operational excellence through safety-focused, data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement initiatives. This role collaborates with leadership to identify and implement efficiency-enhancing strategies, fosters innovation, and empowers teams through talent development and process standardization. The Continuous Improvement Manager leads efforts to optimize production, reduce variability, and ensure long-term success, all while maintaining a focus on customer satisfaction and the company's strategic goals.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collaborative Leadership: Build strong working relationships with executive leadership, Department Directors, Operations Management, and Continuous Improvement teams to ensure alignment of objectives.
• Best Practices Sharing: Serve as the key facilitator in disseminating best practices across the manufacturing network to maintain operational consistency and excellence.
• Prioritizing Critical Initiatives: Work closely with site leadership to identify key improvement opportunities and set priorities that align with business goals.
• Project Oversight: Guide Process Improvement Coordinators in executing projects that enhance operational processes and deliver measurable financial results, scaling successful initiatives across the organization.
• Continuous Improvement Methodologies: Lead the development of Continuous Improvement competencies, including Six Sigma, 5S, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Kaizen, and data-driven decision-making tools like statistical process control (SPC).
• Process Leadership: Act as the primary process leader, utilizing continuous improvement tools to build expertise and promote a culture of learning and innovation within the plant.
• Support for Plant Operations: Collaborate with department managers, including Operations, Maintenance, and Quality, to integrate Continuous Improvement principles into everyday operations.
• Team Development: Provide coaching, mentorship, and training to enhance the knowledge and skills of the team, ensuring professional growth and readiness for future challenges.
• Change Leadership: Champion process improvements by challenging the status quo, seeking innovative solutions, and driving organizational change to meet Vobev’s business objectives.
• Structured Problem-Solving: Utilize structured problem-solving methodologies, such as Six Sigma, to enhance process capability, reduce variability, and optimize operational performance.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Base decisions on comprehensive data analysis to ensure improvements are sustainable and in line with the company’s strategic goals.

Why Join Us: Vobev offers a comprehensive benefits package to include medical, dental, disability, 401(k), paid holidays and PTO with opportunities for professional growth and development in a collaborative and supportive work environment. We are committed to safety and quality in all aspects of what we do. Vobev is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, operations management, or a related discipline. 
• 3 years experience working with the implementation and oversight of improvement initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in manufacturing, including roles leading others and in Production, Technical, or Warehouse operations.
• Experience in filling, food packaging, beverage filling, high-speed consumer products manufacturing, or high-speed dosing preferred.  
• Proficient in implementing improvement initiatives using continuous improvement methodologies. 
• Knowledge of Continuous Improvement, TPM / TQM, Lean, Six Sigma, or Toyota Production System methodologies & tools.
• Skilled in managing cross-functional projects, delivering measurable results, and utilizing strong data analysis for creative problem-solving. 
• Demonstrated success in leading change programs and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Ability to use data for creative problem-solving. 

CERTIFICATIONS:

Professional certifications in process improvement methodologies such as Six Sigma or Lean is a plus.

COMPUTER SKILLS:

Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and experience with spreadsheets and databases for tracking and analyzing performance metrics. 

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee must frequently stand, walk, bend, twist, reach with hands and arms, climb, stoop, and kneel. Regular fingering, grasping, and feeling: requires repetitive movement with frequent use of hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls and hand-eye coordination.
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus regularly.

Vobev is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

#LI-BT1