California Dairies, Inc. is the leading dairy processing cooperative in California. As a farmer-owned cooperative, we operate several processing facilities located throughout California. CDI employees are highly valued and are provided with competitive benefits packages and career growth plans.

We offer a generous total rewards package that includes:

• Salary Range - $84,154 - $123,426
• Family medical/dental/vision
• Generous company contributions to 401k
• Relocation Assistance
• 10 Paid holidays
• Paid vacation
• Tuition reimbursement

Job Summary

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager is responsible for driving the improvement of processes and systems in California Dairies, Inc. (CDI) manufacturing facilities by implementing programs with continuing long-term benefits. This includes but is not limited to working with other CI Team Members, leading multi-disciplinary team projects to implement standardized systems and processes which assist teams in achieving enterprise goals.

Position is approximately 75% during normal business hours, while reachable by cell phone 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. Approximately 25% of time spent on site will be after hours and on weekends. This is flexible depending on the needs of the organization and active project(s). Travel to other sites and / or offsite training may be required.

Purpose of the Role

This role is a key position within the organization, responsible for delivering process innovation and continuous improvement initiatives across multiple departments. It will play an essential role in helping to foster a culture of sustainable change through the creation and embedding of LEAN-Six Sigma-Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) methodology and the supporting framework to deliver lasting results.

Key Responsibilities List of significant/essential duties, tasks, and/or responsibilities required of this position.

• Implement sustainable improvements across the value chain by applying Lean-Six Sigma-TPM methodologies.
• Partner with plant leadership to develop execution plans for corporate initiatives and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to deliver improvements and achieve business objectives.
• Lead and manage the plant productivity agenda across five productivity streams: Design, Source, Plan, Make, and Deliver.
• Execute loss analysis processes as needed to support the timely identification of trends, losses, and process variation to establish plant improvement projects.
• Define and implement processes to support a continuous improvement culture: annual improvement planning, results review, understanding issues, taking actions, launching problem-solving or projects, and implementing sustainable solutions to drive improvement.

• Elicit requirements and drive process change using staff interviews, document analysis, requirements workshops, surveys, site visits, business process descriptions, business analysis and workflow analysis.

• Provide accurate and timely progress against key objectives, savings projects, potential risks, and risk mitigation efforts to the Director of Program Management & Continuous Improvement.
• Function as a core team member and subject matter expert in working sessions designed to improve business operations cross-functionally.

• Coordinate with the Talent Team and Technical Services to develop and publish SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures), OPL’s (One-point lesson), and SWI (Standard Work Instructions) for various manufacturing processes across the organization.
• Assist in building a Daily Management System platform for plants for 3 organizational levels: Operator, Supervisor, and Plant Leadership.
• Audit improved processes and CI initiatives for sustainability and compliance.
• Provide on-going training and expertise regarding Continuous Improvement tools.
• Provide analytical support to continuously identify gaps, project opportunities, and solutions.
• Share successful best practices with other plants and teams.
• Implement problem-solving and improvement methods of Lean-Six Sigma-TPM through formal training and hands-on coaching.
• Drive use of focused Kaizen improvement efforts aimed at breakthrough and incremental improvements in plant processes, department, and/or line-specific opportunities that meet and exceed performance metrics.
• Effectively deploy change management tools and techniques to ensure the adoption and buy-in of all stakeholders to improve processes and systems across CDI through documentation, training, and support to ensure sustainability.
• Make decisions independently on project topics that are in the best interest of the project, teams involved, and the business.
• Perform other initiatives and duties as defined.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position requires the ability to lead teams of people to achieve positive results through others (e.g. Influence).
• Responsible for supervising project teams and assigned tasks.
• Manage project objectives to keep project in scope and on time.
• This position may or may not have direct reports depending on the needs of the business.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below represent the required knowledge, skill, and ability, while maintaining excellent verbal and written communication with managers and employees.

• In conjunction with the Talent Team, coordinate on-the-job training.
• In conjunction with site management and Human Resources, oversee adherence to company policies and procedures.
• Must have the ability to work with all levels of the organization to facilitate change and improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and communicate Lean / Six Sigma / TPM methodologies.
• Proven history of project execution while staying within scope and timeline.
• Ability to understand strategic plans and synthesize a roadmap including individual projects which ultimately achieve the objectives.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to achieve results in cross-functional teams.
• Strong demonstrated understanding of:
• Dairy/Food processing and packaging technology and methods
• Process qualification & validation in the dairy industry
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education and, or Experience

• Bachelor of Science in related field or a minimum of 5 years of proven continuous improvement analytical experience from a similar role, with an excellent understanding of continuous improvement concepts, including Six Sigma, Lean, TPM or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Formal problem-solving training with examples of application and results.
• Possess an accredited Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt or demonstrate ability to obtain such within the first 3 months of employment.
• High tolerance for ambiguity in a complex environment, ability to shift priorities, settings, and audiences.
• Ability to set up, facilitate, and lead Kaizen-style improvement sessions with various business stakeholders.
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office and experience with SharePoint and Power BI.
• Taking accountability for ideas from inception to delivery in an environment that requires robust metrics to confirm success.
• Experience in hands-on implementation of continuous improvement programs and Lean solutions.
• Experience designing remediation plans to address productivity and efficiency issues and a track record of following through to ensure closure.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with diverse employees and subject matter experts. Able to make the complex clear and easily understood.
• Demonstrated strong analytical, project, and product management skills, including a thorough understanding of interpreting business needs and translating them into operational requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in the entire project life cycle, able to operate in the initial conceptual design stage, in the depths of system testing, and at each stage in between.

Language Skills

English is required as the spoken language. Other languages are a definite asset. A well-modulated tonal volume is required, with excellent diction skills needed.

Reasoning Ability

Must have the ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions given in written, oral, or diagram form. Must be able to discern when issues may require input from levels of authority within the corporation.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Must possess or be able to acquire a valid driver’s license.
• Accredited Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification or ability to become certified within 3 months of employment.

Physical Demands

An employee must meet the physical demands described here to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Therefore, the company will make reasonable accommodations that do not cause undue hardship to the company if such accommodation enables individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Sitting/Standing/Walking: This position during an 8-hour workday will do all three.

Lifting/Carrying: This position will lift to 60 pounds on an in-frequent basis.

Pushing/Pulling: This position will push or pull on an in-frequent basis.

Bending/Stooping: This position will bend or stoop on an in-frequent basis.

Squatting/Kneeling/Crawling: This position will squat, kneel, or crawl on an in-frequent basis.

Twisting/Turning: Twisting and turning are done while doing regular duties.

Climbing/Balancing: This position will climb or balance on an in-frequent basis.

Reaching: Frequent reaching from keyboard to telephones is required.

Grasping/Manipulating: Grasping and manipulating of papers, objects, and equipment will be required. Ability to use keyboard for data input will be required on an ongoing basis.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Employee will be subject to temperatures from 34 to above 100 degrees.
• Certain project activities may deviate from the below table as the need arises.
• This position will be exposed to industrial and office environments.

ADA/FEHA

The Company will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.

EEO

The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

This job description will be updated if duties and responsibilities change significantly. Job functions are subject to modification based on business necessity.