Operational Excellence Lead

About The Job

Job Summary

At Danone, manufacturing excellence and people development are fundamental to our plant’s success. We are currently looking to hire a RTT Coach to join our team in our yogurt manufacturing plant in West Jordan, Utah. This role is responsible for coaching Production Leaders in the daily execution of the RTT (Run to Target) strategy, part of our Manufacturing Excellence Program (IWS--Integrated Work Systems), in alignment with deployed standards to ensure a consistent approach across the organization. The successful execution of our RTT strategy is expected to deliver sustainable improvement in results such as safety & quality incidents, waste, production efficiency, unplanned downtime, and planned downtime.

Key Responsibilities

As a key member of our team, you will play an important role in driving our mission forward. The following responsibilities outline the core expectations and contributions for this position

• Create a positive, inclusive work environment that values individual contributions and encourages empowerment, diversity, and engagement.
• Coach and develop employees to unlock their full potential and deliver sustainable performance improvements.
• Assess performance and adapt coaching approaches to bring out the best in each individual.
• Provides coaching in goal setting, ownership, and personal development planning aligned to business needs
• Provide regular feedback, evaluation, and direction setting to support growth and accountability.
• Foster trust-based relationships while maintaining confidentiality and mutual respect.
• Recognize and reward achievements through formal and informal feedback.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives aligned with RTT and IWS methodologies.
• Execute DMS blocks per the RTT deployment schedule and coordinate with sister sites to prevent duplicate work.
• Conduct assessments using hard point assessment and phase 0 assessment standards, documenting best practices and before/after results to demonstrate IWS impact.
• Build capability within designated client personnel to ensure long term sustainment.
• Provide weekly tracker and deployment reports, plus monthly status updates and travel spend reporting.
• Deliver accurate travel forecasts and ensure alignment with deployment plans.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs and ladders, balance; stoop, kneel or crouch; talk and hear. Occasionally required to lift and / or move 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

• Work is performed in a manufacturing environment with exposure to moderate noise and temperature variations.
• Work schedules could include nights, weekends and/or holidays to provide the ability to support a 24/7 manufacturing environment as business needs dictate.

Engagement in our Integrated Work Systems

Ensure adherence to plant standards and procedures (including but not limited to GMP, AIB, FDA, IWS, Quality, Safety, Finance, ISO, HOPE, Danone Behaviors, Daily Direction Setting, Driving OE). As a fundamental piece of the organization, your responsibility is to participate and own the implementation and deployment of IWS system and its pillars (Leadership foundation, Daily Direction Setting, Driving OE; Autonomous Maintenance; planned Maintenance; Focused Improvement; Education and Training; Environmental, Health and Safety; Quality; Organization; Supply Network; Early Equipment Management) with the objective of owning your space, owning your performance (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Mobilization, Nature) and owning your continuous improvement.

Compensation & Benefits

Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options.

About You

The ideal candidate is a strong coach and change agent who thrives in developing people, building trust, and driving operational excellence. They will bring a combination of education, experience, and skills that enable them to excel in this position. The following qualifications outline what we’re looking for, including both required and preferred criteria.

Education & Experience

• HS Diploma or GED required. Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or business field preferred.
• Experience within a high-speed CPG manufacturing environment required.
• Experience in manufacturing, continuous improvement, or IWS/RTT environments.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong coaching, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Ability to assess performance and tailor development approaches.
• Demonstrated integrity, judgment, and ability to build trust.
• Ability to rapidly learn, apply, coach, and sustain RTT practices

About us

Danone U.S. is part of Danone North America, a purpose-driven company and an industry leader in the food and beverage category. You’ll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world. Our strong portfolio of brands includes Activia®, DanActive®, Danimals®, Dannon®, evian®, Follow Your Heart®, Happy Family® Organics, International Delight®, Light Fit®, Nutricia ®, Oikos®, Silk®, So Delicious® Dairy Free, STōK® Cold Brew Coffee ®, Too Good & Co™, and YoCrunch®.

With approximately 5,000 employees and 13 production locations across the U.S., Danone North America's mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible.

You’ll be part of one of the largest Certified B Corps™ in the world, working to make sure our company creates real value for people and the planet. Come join our movement for a healthier world One Planet. One Health BY YOU.

Danone North America is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. It is our policy to give equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to legally protected characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state/provincial and/or local law. For our EEO policy statement and your EEO rights under law click here.

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