Continuous Improvement Supervisor

Department: Operations

Location: Connors Bros., Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick, Canada

Reports To: Plant Manager

Employment Status: Full-Time, Salaried

POSITION SUMMARY

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Supervisor is responsible for leading and executing continuous improvement initiatives across the Connors Bros. sardine manufacturing facility in Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick. This role focuses on driving measurable improvements in efficiency, cost, and throughput through hands-on, plant-floor execution of improvement projects.

The CI Supervisor partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Sanitation, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams to identify opportunities, implement sustainable solutions, and support capital improvement initiatives, including select Capital Expenditure Requests (CERs). All activities must align with CFIA requirements, food safety programs, and the collective bargaining agreement.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Continuous Improvement & Project Leadership

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on line efficiency, labour optimization, waste reduction, yield improvement, and downtime reduction.
• Develop and manage project charters, timelines, KPIs, and sustainability plans.
• Facilitate kaizen events, Gemba walks, and structured problem-solving sessions.
• Track, document, and report performance improvements and cost savings.

Capital Projects & CER Support

• Support development and execution of Capital Expenditure Requests (CERs) tied to process improvement, equipment upgrades, and operational efficiency.
• Assist with ROI analysis, justification, and post-implementation validation.
• Partner with Engineering and Maintenance during equipment installations, modifications, and start-ups.
• Support commissioning and stabilization of new equipment or processes.

Operations & Manufacturing Support

• Work directly with production supervisors, leads, and hourly employees to identify improvement opportunities.
• Observe and analyze end-to-end production processes, including cooking, packing, sealing, labeling, casing, and sanitation.
• Support development, documentation, and sustainment of standard work.
• Assist with line balancing, staffing models, and workflow improvements.

Data, Metrics & Performance Tracking

• Analyze production, downtime, labour, scrap, and yield data.
• Support OEE tracking and improvement initiatives.
• Develop visual management tools and dashboards to support daily performance reviews.
• Use data-driven insights to prioritize and evaluate improvement initiatives.

Quality, Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure all improvement activities comply with CFIA regulations, HACCP, GMPs, and Connors Bros. quality standards.
• Partner with Quality and Sanitation to reduce defects, holds, rework, and food safety risks.
• Support container integrity, sanitation effectiveness, and process control improvements.

Training, Change Management & Engagement

• Train supervisors, leads, and frontline employees on CI tools, standard work, and problem-solving techniques.
• Support change management by reinforcing new processes and behaviours on the plant floor.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and employee engagement.
• Encourage employee-driven improvement ideas.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Maintenance on reliability and preventive maintenance improvements.
• Partner with Engineering on layout changes, equipment upgrades, and capital projects.
• Work within the collective agreement and collaborate appropriately with union leadership to support improvement initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Post-secondary education in Engineering, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field, or equivalent manufacturing experience.
• 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, or continuous improvement.
• Experience in food manufacturing; seafood processing strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of Lean tools (Standard Work, Root Cause Analysis).
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Experience working in a unionized manufacturing environment.
• Comfortable working hands-on in a production environment.

Preferred

• Lean Six Sigma Yellow or Green Belt certification.
• Experience with OEE, labour efficiency, and downtime analysis.
• Experience supporting capital projects and CER development.
• Familiarity with CFIA audits and food safety programs.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and facilitation abilities
• Results-driven and data-oriented
• Ability to influence without direct authority
• Hands-on, practical improvement mindset

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Manufacturing environment with exposure to noise, wet conditions, temperature variation, and seafood processing operations.
• Significant time spent on the plant floor.
• Flexible schedule required to support production and improvement initiatives.

SUCCESS MEASURES

• Measurable improvements in efficiency, yield, and labour productivity
• Reduction in downtime, scrap, and rework
• Successful delivery of CI and CER-related projects with documented ROI
• Sustained adoption of standard work and visual management
• Increased employee engagement in continuous improvement initiatives