Continuous Improvement Manager - R-31306

DESCRIPTION/RESPONSIBILITIES: Continuous Improvement Manager

The Continuous Improvement Manager role will provide industry leading technical services that support the business objectives within the scope of milk receiving and processing for the Carlisle, PA Dairy Facility. The primary purpose of this role is to reduce processing variation, drive operational effectiveness and innovation, support research and development projects and increase cost competitiveness in addition to complying with the highest quality, safety, and environmental regulations and goals. The position requires an expert level of responsibility.

This role will address causes of variation: * Develop and continually improve the strategy for addressing specific key process improvements across the Carlilse, PA facility. * Assess specific causes of variation to drive consistency, reliability, capacity expansion, cost reduction, and risk mitigation opportunities.

This role will utilize industry leading outside resources: * Identify world-class technologies and drive best practices. * Solidify relationships / partnerships with key vendors.

This role will review and forecast strategic needs: * Maintain long term capabilities and volume forecast. * Review capital process and identify strategic opportunities.

This role will lead/coordinate TMM activities at the plant: * Mange all WAVE (or next technology) project tracking * Lead efforts to drive TMM project creation and completion.

This role will align operations capabilities to business objectives: * Identify and prioritize operational problems. * Drive innovation and support research and development projects. * Coordinate plant technical solutions. * Assist coordination project start-ups. * Assist Engineering in plant/project design updates.

This role will drive asset effectiveness through common standards and training: * Develop clear common standards for specific equipment operation and performance measurement: Operations, Maintenance, Control Systems, Quality, Energy, and EH&S * Partner with Asset Reliability to create specific key asset evaluation checklists. * Assist in developing specific maintenance strategies and PM programs.

Physical demands and work environment: The physical demands and work environmental characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; climb up and down stairs and ladders; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or moves up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The temperature of the work environment can fluctuate to occasional temperatures from cold/cool to warm/hot. The noise level in the work environment is occasionally loud and will require hearing protection (ear plugs). While working in the manufacturing areas, the incumbent is required to follow GMP's and wears personal protective equipment.

Experience-Education (Required): * Four year degree in Engineering or a related field or in lieu of degree 10+ dairy manufacturing experience with continuous career advancement * Five years of experience in continuous improvement for a manufacturing facility.

Competencies-Skills (Required): * Strong problem solving; collaboration and team building, variation and project management kills; and verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.

Experience-Education (Preferred): * A Master's degree in Engineering or related field * Six Sigma or Black Belt designation

Competencies-Skills (Preferred): * Dairy and/or food manufacturing experience highly preferred.

Hours/Shift: * Primarily 1st shift (7:00 AM - 4:30 PM) with occasional rotating weekend support required * This role may require off shift hours, weekends or holidays as needed. This is a 24/7/365 facility.

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Equal Opportunity Employer-minorities/females/veterans/individuals with disabilities/sexual orientation/gender identity