Essential Duties and Responsibilities Continuous Improvement Leadership · Proactively identify improvement opportunities and independently move from observation to analysis, recommendation, and execution. · Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, service, cost, productivity, and customer experience. · Facilitate Lean, Kaizen, A3, value stream mapping, and structured problem-solving activities. · Coach leaders and frontline teams on continuous improvement principles, standard work, and daily accountability. Sustainable Process Development and Implementation · Design and implement standardized processes that are practical, documented, trainable, measurable, and sustainable over time. · Build process controls, ownership, KPIs, audit routines, training materials, and escalation paths to prevent regression after implementation. · Validate that improvement solutions are adopted by the business and conduct post-implementation reviews to confirm effectiveness and sustainment. · Develop SOPs, workflows, visual controls, checklists, and governance mechanisms that support consistent execution across locations and functions. Operational Excellence · Analyze warehouse, transportation, inventory, customer service, procurement, and food distribution processes to identify waste, constraints, and risk. · Lead workflow redesign, labor productivity, network optimization, facility readiness, automation, and process standardization initiatives. · Conduct observations and time studies, translate findings into actionable improvements, and support implementation with operational teams. · Balance service, compliance, food safety, cost, and efficiency when evaluating process changes. Data Analytics and Performance Management · Develop and monitor KPIs, scorecards, dashboards, and management routines that create visibility and accountability. · Use data to identify trends, quantify root causes, prioritize opportunities, and measure realized benefits. · Prepare business cases and operational or financial analyses that define expected impact, required resources, and return on investment. · Present concise findings, risks, recommendations, and results to operational and executive leadership. Project and Change Management · Execute against a Continuous Improvement Roadmap (CIR) · Lead cross-functional projects from charter and current-state assessment through implementation, stabilization, and closeout. · Develop project plans, milestones, risk registers, stakeholder maps, communication plans, and benefit-tracking methods. · Manage multiple initiatives simultaneously while maintaining clear ownership, timely follow-through, and high-quality deliverables. · Engage affected employees early, address resistance, and ensure changes are understood, adopted, and incorporated into standard work. Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action · Lead investigations into service failures, inventory variances, customer complaints, audit findings, compliance issues, and operational disruptions. · Apply methods such as 5 Whys, fishbone analysis, Pareto analysis, process mapping, FMEA, CAPA, and A3 problem solving. · Differentiate containment, corrective action, and preventive action; assign ownership and verify effectiveness before closure. · Ensure root causes and corrective actions are supported by evidence and translated into sustainable process controls. Technology and Systems Improvement · Partner with IT and business stakeholders to improve workflows involving Microsoft Dynamics 365, WMS, Power BI, EDI, and related business systems. · Translate operational requirements into clear process and system requirements, test cases, controls, and implementation plans. · Identify appropriate opportunities for automation, digital workflows, reporting improvements, and error-proofing. Compliance, Quality, and Food Supply Chain · Support processes that meet company, customer, regulatory, food safety, inventory control, traceability, and quality requirements. · Incorporate food supply chain risks, including product integrity, lot and batch control, temperature requirements, sanitation, and service continuity, into improvement work as applicable. · Support audits, corrective action programs, process governance, and documentation readiness. · Partner with warehouse, transportation, quality, inventory, customer service, and commercial teams to improve end-to-end execution.
Required Qualifications · Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, Logistics, or a related field. · Five or more years of progressive experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, or distribution operations. · Demonstrated experience independently identifying opportunities and leading cross-functional improvements from concept through sustained implementation. · Experience developing standard work, SOPs, process controls, KPIs, and governance routines. · Strong analytical, facilitation, project management, communication, and change leadership skills. · Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and experience with data visualization or business intelligence tools. Preferred Qualifications · Experience in the food supply chain, food distribution, food-grade warehousing, temperature-controlled logistics, or consumer packaged goods. · Experience in third-party logistics, multi-site distribution, warehouse operations, or transportation management. · Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification. · Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent project management training. · Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365, warehouse management systems, transportation management systems, Power BI, EDI, or process automation. · Master's degree or an ASCM/APICS certification. Physical and Travel Requirements · Ability to travel up to 25%, based on business needs. · Ability to walk operational areas, observe work processes, and work in office, warehouse, refrigerated, and industrial environments as required. · Ability to use a computer and standard office equipment for extended periods.
salary of $86,000–$106,000