Director Of Automation, Continuous Improvement

About the company

Albertsons Companies is at the forefront of the revolution in retail. With a fixation on innovation and building culture, our team is rallying our company around a unique vision: forging a retail winner that is admired for national strength, deep roots in the communities we serve, and a team that has passion for food and delivering great service.

Albertsons is one of the largest retail employers, providing approximately 300,000 jobs across 2,200 stores, 22 distribution centers, 20 food and beverage plants and various support offices. We operate in 34 states and the District of Columbia under the Albertsons banner, as well as Safeway, Tom Thumb, Jewel Osco, Shaw’s and many more recognizable names.

Albertsons Companies recently rolled out our Presence with a Purpose work model. Placing a premium on adaptability, safety and family well-being, Presence with a Purpose will help us build a hybrid work environment between remote work and office time. A one-size-fits-all approach does not apply to everyone, and teams are allowed to make decisions that are best for them.

What you will be doing

We are seeking a highly motivated Director of Automation, Continuous Improvement to lead driving continuous improvement with our Automated Supply Chain systems. The role will be responsible for identifying areas of opportunity for optimization, standardization, and productivity, measuring and tracking overall equipment effectiveness, and implementing strategic programs to improve our efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and customer service levels.

The position will be based in Boise, Idaho. Relocation is available.

Main responsibilities

• Use analytics tools to mine, analyze, and draw conclusions from large data sets; use the information to drive performance improvement of automation systems.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive continuous improvement strategy across all automation sites, including audits, enhancements, and life-cycle replacements.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of improvement initiatives, including cost savings, quality improvements, and efficiency gains.
• Manage and develop (directly and indirectly) a team of Supply Chain Automation improvement professionals, including project managers, engineers, and technicians.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment of initiatives with other functional areas, such as finance, DC operations, network strategy, and corporate maintenance.
• Lead data driven Lean Six Sigma initiatives to improve processes, including establishing best practices and driving their adoption.
• Evaluate existing automation operations and identify opportunities for optimization, standardization, and process improvement.
• Communicate progress and status of Supply Chain Automation improvement initiatives to senior management and key stakeholders.
• Track comprehensive system OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) across all sites and deliver initiatives to improve OEE metrics.

A copy of the full job description can be made available to you.

What we are searching for

• Deep knowledge of Supply Chain Automation technologies, and design theory.
• Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field; Master's degree is a plus.
• Strong project management skills, analytical and problem-solving skills, ability to develop and implement innovative solutions to complex challenges, and experience leading cross-functional teams.
• Travel will be required for the role ~ 30-45% (variable)
• Experience in Lean Six Sigma, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and other relevant manufacturing or supply chain improvement methodologies.
• 10+ years of experience in Supply Chain Automation, and/or warehouse maintenance including experience managing teams and implementing large-scale automation projects.

What it is like at Albertsons?

Albertsons Culture Principles

Compassion: We always treat each other with kindness and respect

Team: We always support and recognize each other

Inclusive: We always value everyone’s perspective

Learning: We always strive to grow and develop ourselves and others

Competitive: We always act with integrity to win over the customer

Ownership: We always take actions to drive our success

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