CI and Reliability Leader

Job Summary:

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Leader is responsible for shaping, deploying, and sustaining a world-class Continuous Improvement capability across SunOpta's food manufacturing network. This role partners closely with Operations, Maintenance and Reliability, and functional leaders to drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, service, cost, equipment performance, and employee engagement across multiple manufacturing facilities.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Help design and execute a multi-year Continuous Improvement roadmap aligned with corporate strategy and business objectives, with a strong emphasis on equipment reliability and asset performance
• Standardize CI tools, methodologies, and expectations across all manufacturing facilities.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance and Reliability, Quality, Finance, and Supply Chain to ensure CI initiatives deliver sustainable results.
• Support and mentor site CI resources, operations leaders, frontline teams, and maintenance technicians on Lean principles, structured problem solving, and continuous improvement best practices.
• Serve as a hands-on coach for problem solving and operator and technician led continuous improvement.
• Apply Lean manufacturing principles including waste elimination, flow, standard work, visual management, and problem solving.
• Drive CI initiatives focused on equipment performance, including OEE improvement, first time right, downtime reduction and loss elimination.
• Facilitate and sponsor Kaizen events, value stream mapping activities, and breakthrough improvement initiatives.
• Ensure improvements are embedded through training, standardization, and management routines.
• Drive continuous improvement within food manufacturing environments, with a strong emphasis on aseptic thermal processing where applicable.
• Partner with Food Safety Quality and Maintenance and Reliability teams to ensure improvements support regulatory compliance, product safety, and customer requirements.
• Support reliability, process capability, and yield improvements in complex processing operations.
• Define and track CI KPIs, including productivity, cost savings, throughput, waste reduction, and engagement metrics.
• Ensure financial benefits are validated in partnership with Finance and sustained over time.
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership on progress, risks, and results.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required (Engineering, Operations, Business, or related field preferred).
• Minimum 10 years of experience in aseptic food manufacturing, with progressive leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience leading Continuous Improvement initiatives in a multi-site manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of Lean manufacturing concepts and CI tools.
• Proven ability to facilitate Kaizen events and lead cross-functional teams.
• Experience leading and developing CI managers and/or specialists.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 50% of the time.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced CI training or certifications (Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent).
• Experience building CI systems within a corporate or network manufacturing model.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic thinking with hands-on execution capability
• Strong leadership, coaching, and influence skills
• Results-driven with strong financial acumen
• Excellent communication and change-management skills
• Ability to work effectively across corporate and plant environments

Additional Considerations:

• Travel Expectation: Up to 50%.
• Location: This position will be based at our Corporate Office in Eden Prairie, MN.
• Relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.

Featured benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid Family leave
• Paid maternity leave
• 401(k) with Match
• Voluntary Life, Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital indemnity
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition assistance
• Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.