Continuous Improvement Leader

Within our 300-person Allendale, Michigan manufacturing facility (20 minutes from Grand Rapids), we are seeking a highly qualified Continuous Improvement Leader on our Plant Production team to continue moving our organization to even larger levels of food quality, safety, and production efficiencies.

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  The Continuous Improvement Leader is responsible for partnering to identify and execute performance improvement opportunities with a high level of impact on financial performance.

  
  

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  This position will partner with leadership in deploying tools, technology, policies, and processes to improve effectiveness, efficiency, and customer satisfaction (both internal stakeholders and external customers).

  
  

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  Utilize multiple tools and methodologies to analyze data and processes as a key driver of performance opportunities.

  
  

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  Assist leadership in project prioritization, project selection, project reviews, and benefits tracking.

  
  

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  This role is responsible for training, mentoring, and counseling the local CI team members in best practices and individual development.

  
  

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  Learn from operators and techs on what they are experiencing, review training documentation for gaps, and provide support in updating training.

  
  

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  Capture business requirements, identify how/where process changes would fit, defining options to meet needs, and support new definition/adoption.

  
  

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  Ability to analyze activities between processes to determining gaps during hand-offs and work to identify the best solutions.

  
  

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  Further develop and implement CI Methodologies in the following areas Kaizen, Standard Work, 5S Program, Process Mapping, Cause Mapping, Project Management, and Problem Solving.

  
  

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  Responsible for the management of employees and project performances, daily monitoring of KPIs and project deliverables, and direct report performance reviews.

  
  

We'd love to hear from you if you have:

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  A Bachelor's in Accounting, Engineering, or Operations Management with at least two years of experience within those fields.

  
  

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  At least one year in a supervisory role managing direct reports.

  
  

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  CI knowledge with a background in Lean, Six Sigma, TQM, Toyota Production Systems, etc.

  
  

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  Experience in any manufacturing environment.

  
  

We hope you also have:

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  Two years in a supervisory role with another two years in Continuous Improvement related work.

  
  

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  Food manufacturing experience.

  
  

Leprino Foods embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

Offering you in return:

A chance to be part of a global team of individuals passionate about producing and delivering high-quality products that help feed and nourish families around the world. Leprino Foods could not be where it is today without our incredible employees. That is why we share in our success together by rewarding you for your hard work. Hiring great people who are in it for the long run is our goal. Through competitive salaries, tuition assistance, vacation, holiday, dedicated sick time, matching 401(k), annual merit increases and bonuses, as well as our annual Profit-Sharing plan. Your impact will be noticed and rewarded, as you seek to further our company, our customers, and one another.

Our Story:

Leprino Foods' history dates back over 65 years, when Jim Leprino first started making small batches of mozzarella for local markets and eateries in the Little Italy neighborhood of Denver. We've grown a bit since then. Today, Leprino is the world's largest manufacturer of mozzarella and lactose, and a leading producer of whey protein. Still owned by Jim and the Leprino family, our sights are set to be the "World's Best Dairy Food and Ingredient Company." To help us achieve that bold vision, we're looking for our secret ingredient: You. A motivated team member who is the best at what you do. Three people in a small corner grocery store in the early 1950s have now grown to over 5,000 employees throughout 16 global locations. Will you join us on our journey?