Continuous Improvement Manager

Griffith Foods is the caring, creative product development partner helping food companies meet the evolving needs of consumers while sustaining the planet. As a family business founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois USA, Griffith Foods is known for true, collaborative innovation guided by their Purpose of "We Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World". The company's product capabilities range from seasonings and marinades to coating systems and sauces that are better for people and better for the planet. For more information, visit www.griffithfoods.com.

TITLE: Continuous Improvement Manager

LOCATION: Onsite in Lithonia, GA

COMP RANGE: $120,000 - $150,000/year plus bonus

Griffith Foods is hiring a Continuous Improvement Manager to own the deployment, maturity, and sustainment of the Griffith Production System (GPS) at a Factory. Lead cross-functional teams to deliver safety, environmental, quality, delivery, cost, and morale (SEQDCM) improvements through Lean, Six Sigma, and TPM methodologies, aligned with the Global GPS Playbook & Standards. Build capability, drive cultural change, and ensure GPS becomes The Way We Work.

This is your opportunity to apply Lean Six Sigma and TPM tools to move from symptoms to root causes; balances qualitative Gemba observation with quantitative analysis.

As a Continuous Improvement Manager, your responsibilities will include:

• Define the site GPS roadmap, maturity targets of the factory per year, and implementation plans aligned to business objectives.
• Facilitate, and create the capability in others to facilitate, daily/weekly tier meetings and visual management: Tier 1-3 boards, KPIs/KAIs, and problem escalation.
• Lead, and teach others in the organization how to lead, Kaizen events and other capability-building and improvement-generating workshops, such as: SMED (quick changeover), Value-Stream Mapping (VSM), A3 problem solving, and DMAIC projects, etc. as needed.
• Drive OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), uptime, yield, and scrap reduction through structured loss analysis, loss eradication and loss prevention activities.
• In alignment with the Site Manager and leveraging other colleagues with the capability, build the site Griffith Performance Excellence (GPE) projects (Productivity / Hard Savings Projects) portfolio with clear charters, benefit cases, milestones, and owners; run project reviews and remove roadblocks.
• Track and report SEQDCM metrics; translate gaps into actions using the Daily Management System
• Deliver year-over-year productivity, conversion cost, and inventory turns improvement; validate benefits with Finance.
• Design and deliver Lean/TPM/Six Sigma training; certify White/Yellow/Orange/Green Belts and AM/PM teams.
• Create and sustain the system to enable, promote and recognize the implementation of small Kaizen/OKAM (One-Kaizen-A-Month) in the Factory teams.
• Use root cause tools (5-Why, Fishbone, FMEA) to eliminate repeat deviations & safety incidents, and create the capability in others to use these tools.
• Partner with all other departments for the improvement effort (Manufacturing, Planning, Maintenance, Quality, HR, Engineering, etc.) to synchronize event windows, training, new product introductions utilizing the EM framework, etc.
• Leverage technology and support digital/Industry 4.0 initiatives (e.g., RedZone/PowerBI utilization, Fiix CMMS, Real Time Transactions, BY, e-SOPs) where applicable.

The Continuous Improvement Manager position is well suited for you if you:

• Connect process, equipment, methods, materials, and people to prevent local optimization and recurrence.
• Lead cross-functional teams and line crews through coaching and facilitation at the Gemba.
• Build trusted partnerships across Production, Maintenance, Quality, Planning, and HR; co-creates solutions with operators and leaders.
• Standardizes best methods, eliminates waste, and codifies learnings into SOPs/standards.
• Set clear targets; follows through to completion with bias for action and measurable outcomes.

Qualified candidates will have:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain or related field.
• 7+ years in manufacturing/operations with 3+ years leading 5S/Lean/TPM programs.
• Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
• Demonstrated delivery of OEE/Cost/Quality improvements with validated financial impact.
• Proficiency with CI toolsets (A3, VSM, SMED, 5S, SPC), CMMS familiarity, and data visualization (Power BI/Tableau/Excel).
• Strong facilitator/coach with experience training front-line and leadership audiences.
• Managerial and people skills to effectively communicate from peer to peer, subordinates, senior management, suppliers and customers is critical.
• Willingness to be onsite five days a week at our Lithonia, Georgia facility.

What will set you apart:

• Master's degree in engineering, Operations, Supply Chain or related field
• Food/CPG manufacturing and BRC/HACCP exposure
• 10+ years in manufacturing/operations with 5+ years leading 5S/Lean/TPM programs

This role is affiliated to the Lithonia, GA location, and candidates for this role need to reside within a commutable distance of that location and will be required to come into that location. You may be asked to travel to other locations periodically for meetings.

The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: Medical, Rx, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts, EAP, Health Advocacy, Financial Planning, Parental Leave, Care.com, Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance, Education Assistance/Tuition Reimbursement, Safety Reimbursement, Lifestyle Spending Account, Group Life & AD&D, Voluntary Life Insurance, Short Term & Long Term Disability, 401(k) Plan with Company Match, PTO, Holiday's & Leaves, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Home & Auto Insurance, Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, Long Term Care + Life Insurance & Legal Assistance. There is also potential for a discretionary bonus, with a target of 12%. This bonus is based on personal & company performance and is not a guaranteed bonus plan.

At Griffith Foods, you can be a member of a globally connected team that is known for true, collaborative innovation, guided by our purpose to Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish The World. We are a family-owned business, founded in 1919 and headquarters in Alsip, Illinois USA. Our product capabilities range from seasonings and marinades to coating systems and sauces that are better for people and better for the planet.

At Griffith Foods, we aim to create a regenerative future and build food systems that are sustainable and resilient for both people and the planet. A sustainable supply chain enables us to deliver high-quality products in a way that supports the growers and farming communities. Learn more about us at https://griffithfoods.com/careers/

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EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Griffith Foods believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity. Griffith Foods does not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of the following actual or perceived characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, genetic characteristic or information, AIDS or HIV status, order of protection status, marital status, military or veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to all persons in all aspect of the employer-employee relationship, including recruitment, hiring, participation in benefit programs, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination.

Benefits:

Benefits for this role include Medical, Rx, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts, EAP, Health Advocacy, Financial Planning, Parental Leave, Care.com, Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance, Education Assistance/Tuition Reimbursement, Safety Reimbursement, Lifestyle Spending Account, Group Life & AD&D, Voluntary Life Insurance, Short Term & Long Term Disability, 401(k) Plan with Company Match, ESOP, PTO, Holiday's & Leaves, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Home & Auto Insurance, Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, Long Term Care + Life Insurance & Legal Assistance. There is also potential for a discretionary bonus, this bonus is based on personal & company performance and is not a guaranteed bonus plan.