Continuous Improvement Lead

**Job Purpose and Reporting Structure**:
The Continuous Improvement (CI) Lead, under the direction of the VP of Operations, leads the development and deployment of business processes in the manufacturing and operations. He/She is responsible for increasing efficiency and performance of the operations by waste reduction and elimination, by analyzing, defining and revising business processes, identifying and executing action plans, managing projects, delivering the outcomes and sustaining the improvements. The CI Lead will participate in the operations budgeting process by outlining cost reduction proposals and CAPEX demand for projects.

The CI Lead is a change agent responsible for transitioning and building a culture of continuous improvement and waste reduction. The CI Lead uses various tools and methods like kaizen, lean manufacturing and the process we have developed throughout the Resolve project. He/she leads the baselining of the actual operations, runs brainstorming sessions with selected groups of people, develop detailed solutions and implement improvement initiatives.

The CI Lead is working with various levels of the organization from the shop-floor to the management. He/she works cross functionally with Production, Safety, Quality, Human Resources, Information Technology and other functional departments for identifying and implementing corrective actions and new processes.

**Essential Duties and Responsibilities** include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Work with leadership in the development, implementation, and sustainment of an Operational CI Strategy to drive a CI mindset throughout the organization and deliver tangible improvements in business performance.
- Act as a strong project manager with capability to quickly establish credibility based on conceptual professionalism, lead cross-functional project teams.
- Develops metrics and KPI’s for measuring and monitoring operational efficiency.
- Controls the outcomes of implemented improvement projects, analyses, reports and communicates them.
- Work out financial modeling of improvement opportunities, outlining cost saving, payback of allocated resources, budgeting.
- Act as change manager with continuous improvement mindset, flexibility and iteration over time if necessary.
- Take responsibility for project and action plan development and execution.
- Trains and develops employees and human resources who report to him/her as functional manager or project manager.
- Act as agent and develops platforms for best practices sharing, and leads best practice implementation.

**SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES**:
This position is responsible for three direct reports, The plant level process engineers has a matrix reporting structure to CI Lead and Plant Manager.

**Qualification Requirements**:

- Bachelor's Degree: Business, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or related fields.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in Lean/Continuous Improvement
- Relevant experience with business process improvement
- Proficiency in lean manufacturing, problem solving, process design, value-added calculation, data analysis and management
- Good communication and presentation skills
- Excellent project management skills; Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and changing priorities
- Exceptional communication skills, understands target audience and able to adjust based on needs
- Experience collaborating cross-functionally in a matrix structure and influencing stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
- Ability to lead individuals and teams positively and successfully with and without formal authority
- Proficiency with MS Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Travel: Per business demand

**Language Skills**:
Ability to read, analyze and interpret technical reports, legal precedents, and purchasing agreements using English, is required.

**Mathematical Skills**:
**Reasoning Ability**:
The ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Along with the ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables is essential.

**Other Skills**:
Requires the ability to plan and prioritize, develop work schedules, use a computer. Knowledge of international bi-lateral trade agreement and applicability to the malting industry is preferred.

**Physical Demands**:
The physical demands 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. This position is frequently required to communicate both verbally and in writing.