JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Continuous Improvement and Process Manager serves as a cross functional partner between R&D, Operations and Quality departments to ensure new and existing products are meeting specifications while optimizing processes and equipment capabilities. This person will be responsible for commercialization of new products at the Dallas facility. The manager works with their cross functional peers to bring improvements in products, systems, and processes for the organization. The position reports to the Director of Commercialization.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

• Supports R&D developers during development stage and responsible for successful transfer of new products from R&D to Manufacturing during the commercialization stage including line trials and specification creation
• Perform assessments, measure performance and analysis of data on current process systems to develop engineering solutions for optimization, performance improvements and cost reduction.
• Serve as the lead in Dallas for approval and documentation of batch formula adjustments as needed to meet customer product specifications
• Validate and create specifications as needed
• Investigate and implement ingredient consolidation opportunities
• Ensure all products are meeting gold standard targets
• Exhibit innovation in evaluation of new processing and equipment technologies. Includes technologies that may advance capabilities, efficiencies, reliability, and cost
• Identify and define process packaging and packaging related changes
• Assists with sample collection, daily evaluations, and sample shipments.
• Create a strategic plan and road map to implement a continuous improvement culture, which will define goals that drive improvement in quality, productivity and scrap/defects based on Lean and Six Sigma transformation philosophies, concepts, principles, tools, and techniques.
• Evaluate PLC data on daily basis to validate cooking process are performing to standards.
• Serve as the organizational leader in diagnosing and evaluating performance (safety, quality, service delivery, cost) challenges through root cause problem solving initiatives. Facilitate successful Kaizen and rapid improvement process events.
• Maintain CI implementation schedules for assigned projects, progress updates as required, and most importantly, provide documentation that demonstrates the direct link between CI implementation and Plant Operations improvements.
• Assist in the design of work standards, quality control charts and systems and other elements of operational excellence to aid plant improvement.
• Provide CI training and coaching to all levels of the organization
• Interface with plant leadership on projects addressing staffing, manpower, time, and capacity analysis
• Calculate cost reductions and/or various analyses to determine optimal problem-solving methods
• Partner with the Plant Controller to document savings and profit results of continuous improvement activities; Accountable for tracking all CI Projects and reporting progress to plant staff.
• Lead commercialization and CI teams at Dallas facility
• Travel 5%, mainly CI for Phoenix and Atlanta but will include any future manufacturing facilities.

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or Food Science with 5-10 years prior experience in food manufacturing environments
• Kettle cooking and raw protein processing experience highly desired
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office, Word, and Excel; experience with Salesforce and Deacom preferred
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication
• Clear understanding of food process design, equipment, and systems
• Experience leading and managing projects and project teams. Must be able to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Fluency in Spanish desired