JKF-Regional Director Continuous Improvement

About us

LSG Sky Chefs is one of the world’s largest airline catering and hospitality providers, known for its outstanding reputation and dynamic approach in the industry. Voted “Airline Caterer of the Year in North America” for 2023 and 2024, we are committed to excellence and innovation, driven by the dedication and expertise of our talented employees. Our team members are the heart and soul of our success, consistently delivering exceptional culinary experiences and outstanding service to our clients and their passengers across North and Latin America.

Position Overview

Lead operational excellence across our kitchens! As Regional Head, you'll drive innovation, efficiency, and quality through lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and change management strategies. Collaborating with local teams and leadership, you'll define and implement multi-year transformational roadmaps, prioritize initiatives, and lead cross-functional workshops to deliver measurable improvements in productivity, performance, and cost savings. Join us in shaping a culture of continuous improvement and making an impact that counts!

• Sponsorship is not available for this position at this time
• This position is primarily based in a manufacturing environment, requiring regular presence on the floor within our kitchen site locations.
• Work location is remote with approximately 50% travel required to Customer Service Centers (Kitchen facilities) in the region
• Prefer candidates living in the NYC area or can easily commute to JFK

Main Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership & Pipeline Management:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive continuous improvement strategy in alignment with the CSC’s objectives for EBITA improvement, WC optimization, QA improvement and throughput time reduction.
• Act as a key advisor / liaison to the GM / VP and leadership team on strategy execution and process improvement execution but also to the HQ and functional leaders
• Develop, implement and execute strategic roadmaps in the Region and in the CSC using Policy Deployment or similar techniques to successfully deliver a multi-million dollar operational efficiency project pipeline.

Lean Manufacturing and Process Optimization:

• Executes Lean projects and Six Sigma projects to improve manufacturing processes, cost efficiencies, reduce waste, and enhance efficiency.
• Identify and eliminate non-value-added activities within the production processes.
• High level of proficiency in flow development, material flow execution, line balancing in both high volume / low mix and low volume / high mix environments, 5S, Kanban, Shopfloor Management, Heijunka, .

Performance Metrics and Analysis:

• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the effectiveness of improvement initiatives.
• Analyze operational data to identify trends, issues, and opportunities for improvement.
• Report regularly on progress and outcomes of continuous improvement efforts to the Plant Management and to the HQ OpEx Leadership.

Team Development and Engagement:

• Train and mentor employees at all levels on continuous improvement methodologies and tools.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging employee involvement and ownership.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and execute improvement plans.

Change Management:

• Facilitate change initiatives by effectively communicating the purpose, benefits, and impact of improvements.
• Address resistance to change and ensure successful adoption of new processes and systems.

Best Practices Sharing and Development:

• Lead Best practice projects to modernize operations and leverage technology for process improvement.
• Oversee standardization efforts to ensure consistent processes across the organization.
• Promote best practice sharing across departments and facilities to enhance overall efficiency.
  

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in manufacturing process or logistics processs optimization, with a focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification is strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of leading successful improvement initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and inspire others.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and software, such as Excel, Minitab, or similar.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and digital transformation initiatives is a plus.