Continuous Improvement Manager 2- Live Operations

Summary

 We are actively recruiting for a Continuous Improvement Manager to support our Live Operations division. This individual drives measurable results through facilitation and leadership of the Continuous Improvement Model. This role leads the process of engaging and empowering team members to identify, understand, and implement sustainable process improvements.

The salary range for this position is $84,000.00 - $126,000.00 per year, based on experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance).  

In addition to the base salary, Perdue offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/Rx, 401(k) with employer match after one year, critical illness, accident insurance, dental, vison, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts and paid time off.  

Principal and Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Become a business partner with Live Operations & functional management, to identify opportunities, utilizing systematic problem solving (including Root Cause Analysis, Kaizens, Loss Analysis and DMAIC methodology) to eradicate losses while focusing on People-Process-Data to obtain measurable and sustainable results.
• Utilizes Lean, Six Sigma techniques and CI tools to lead the organization in data-based decision making and driving actions to generate measurable improvement driving behavioral change across site through CI tools, methodology and coaching. Includes conducting process-mapping exercises to outline scope of Live Operations business and to serve as a tool for opportunity identification.
• Manage Live Operations Improvement Projects through project plan development, results tracking and leading and coaching site leaders through project execution process.  
• Delivers effective Continuous Improvement training courses (LEAN Training, Belt training, etc.) and programs to help increase team capability and awareness of the Continuous Improvement tools. The training should be tailored to meet organizational needs and priorities.
• Develop, implement, support and coach Live Operations Manufacturing Operating System (MOS), including Tier meetings, KPI development and tracking and standard work.
• Co-facilitates Kaizen and 90-Day Improvement events in which we effectively build and lead focused and empowered teams to address systemic problems.
• Achieves breakthrough financial results on a continuous basis.
• Develops and implements a Live Operations communication plan for process improvement efforts.
• Serve as subject matter expert for CI Methodology, CI Tools and the implementation of Daily Process controls to drive operational improvements.
• Actively participate in benchmarking and CI Network connections to identify, translate and promote best practices that can be applied in Live Operations.
• Support achievement of Live Operations cost targets and identify cost reduction opportunities.
• Execution of Company CI Strategy.
• Timely communication, tracking and reporting on project progress, results, and deviations from the project plan with key stakeholders.
• Organize regular meetings with key stakeholders to share project status updates, define next steps to raise the performance bar, review pans to deliver sustainable SQDCSM improvements.
• Promotes the transformation from a reactive organizational culture to one that is more preventative and predictable, utilizing data driven decision-making, sustainable actions, and the Continuous Improvement tools.
• Develops and participates in Rewards and Recognition programs to promote the use of Continuous improvement and recognizing team successes.
• Ensures deliverables support the 4-P’s. People (Safety, Retention, Increased Engagement and Empowerment), Products (consistency in products, quality of products, reliability of service), Profitability (support the attainment of key initiatives and improved competitive results), Planet (support the green initiatives).
• Effective coaching and mentoring of CI Ambassadors and Specialists.
• Gains a solid understanding of the Company’s key initiatives, competitive priorities, accountabilities and ensures linkage of continuous improvement efforts with these goals.

Minimum Education

BS degree or equivalent related work experience. Degrees in Engineering, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Mathematics, Operations, Logistics, Food Science, Animal Science and Supply Chain are preferred but all majors will be considered.

Experience Requirements

• CI Manager 2 – 5-7 yrs. of Experience (Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, Operations)
• CI Manager 2 must have advanced project management skills
• Travel 50% to support other CI Initiatives including significant amount of time in field operations.
• Must possess knowledge of LEAN principles, Problem Solving Tools (RCA, DMAIC), Six Sigma, TQM, TPM and SPC.
• Combination of business, interpersonal, technical, and analytical skills
• Strong Leadership skills in leading teams of people
• Self-starter and motivated by challenge.
• Strong sense of teamwork with high level of individual contribution
• Ability to learn new concepts, combine with common sense, and effectively apply to problem solving
• Strong communication, organization, and presentation skills
• Able to communicate and work with teams at all organizational levels from Senior management to site-specific personnel
• Willingness to promote and drive change
• Proficiency in O365 Tools (Microsoft Word, Power Point and Excel)

Experience Preferred

• Power Apps/BI Experience
• Minitab
• Bilingual
• Prior exposure to Continuous Improvement or Operational Excellence tools.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment

Environmental Factors and Physical Requirements

1. Position is mostly sedentary but may require occasional moving to other offices or buildings.  A significant amount of field work will be needed within this role.

2. May need to move light equipment or supplies from one place to another.

3. May need to access files, supplies and equipment.

5. When in a Live Operations facility or environment:

• Must be physically able to work in all locations including hatcheries, feed mills, chicken houses and processing plants.
• Exposed to seasonal weather conditions to include extreme cold, heat and humidity.
• Exposure to a significant amount of airborne dust, feathers, and odors associated with feed mill manufacturing, hatchery and farm operations.
• May be exposed to temperatures of 28 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit with both ambient and 100% humidity.
• Exposure to chicken manure and associated odors, including ammonia, especially in live production houses.
• Must be able to navigate uneven terrain and be able to climb steps and ladders

6.  Must wear and use protective and safety equipment required for the job as directed by the Company.

Additional Considerations for Position

This position will support the introduction of Continuous Improvement (CI) into the Live Operations portion of our organization.  Candidates for this position should understand that given this is a brand-new avenue for CI at Perdue, the foundational structures and frameworks for our CI Strategy within Live Operations are still being developed and will evolve over time based off of business needs and opportunities.  As a result, individuals will need to be flexible and adaptable to a vision that is still being molded and enough of a self-starter to take an active role in the development of that vision.  Travel requirements for this position will require both local and non-local time commitments.  The ideal candidate for this position is one that is excited by the challenge of standing up a CI program in a new environment, can think both critically and strategically throughout that process, and has strong communication and interpersonal skills to support relationship building with key stakeholders within Live Operations.