Director Of Operating Excellence

Position: Director Manufacturing Excellence

Department: Operations

Reports To: VP, Engineering

Salary Type: Exempt

Location: Irwindale, CA

Pay: $185,000- 210,000

What if your job had a real impact?

By joining Bonduelle, the world leader in ready-to-use plant-based food, you are deciding to make a positive and sustainable impact on yourself, others and the planet. You will play an active part in our mission: "inspire the transition toward a plant-based diet to contribute to people's well being and planet health". Bonduelle is a family-run company of 14,600 people which provides over 100 countries with vegetables.

Well established in the United States, our business unit includes 4 production facilities with more than 3,200 associates. We process fresh vegetables, salads and meal solutions with our own brands: Ready Pac Foods®, Bistro®, Ready Snax®, Cool Cuts® and Bonduelle Fresh Picked™.

Join us at Bonduelle to start an adventure where people come first and contribute to a better future through plant-based food!

Position Summary:

The Manufacturing Excellence Manager partners with the Plant Director to drive and coordinate the Manufacturing Excellence program implementation at the site. Identifies, analyzes, proposes and implements continuous improvement and manufacturing excellence initiatives to optimize resource utilization such as materials, people, utilities, equipment. The Manufacturing Excellence Manager works with other functional areas to drive change through the facility to deliver cost savings targets within the plant operating activities. Acts as a coach and mentor to managers, supervisors and others to establish a zero-loss manufacturing culture and build Lean Sigma skills and capabilities so everyone can identify and eliminate losses every hour, every shift and every day.

What you will Do:

• Provides technical expertise and input in resolving bottlenecks to throughput; determines efficient methods for worker and equipment utilization.
• Tracks and ensure sustainability of improvements
• Share best practices and adopts best practices from other plants
• Reports out progress of cost savings execution
• Prepares and gives formal presentations to management about projects progress and direction.
• Owns the development, implementation and execution of the plant’s Manufacturing Excellence Program and the Continuous Improvement Playbook
• Partners with the entire plant team to identify and prioritize losses
• Develops management systems, establishes work measurement programs, and performs line workload observations to develop standards for labor and materials utilization.
• Leads critical cost savings projects using project management tools
• Works hand in hand with functional department representatives to create task teams and leads brainstorming to identify areas of improvement; proposes and implement continuous improvements initiatives.
• Train and coach the plant leaders, project leaders, and others as needed on the Focused Improvement methodologies
• Builds skills and capabilities on Continuous Improvement tools such as Zero Base Analysis, Process Mapping, 5-Why Analysis, Rapid Changeover, Line Balancing, Waste Walk, Kaizen, DMAIC, etc. across all functions of the plant
• Ensures standardization of CI methods across the plant.
• Ensure the benefits generated by the projects are properly measured and that the impact on total costs are validated by finance
• Prepares cost /benefit analyses and presents recommendations to management.
• Provides analysis, input, and support for the budget process.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Manages development and execution of the plant Productivity Deck (list of CI projects for the year)
• Uses six sigma and lean disciplines to drive continuous improvement projects, lead teams, coach, and mentor factory personnel.
• Build collaborative relationships with business partners.
• Report status and results of projects to stakeholders

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5/7 years of experience working in a manufacturing environment
• A bachelor degree in industrial engineering degree, or related field
• Bonduelle Fresh Americas requires its employees to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19, where allowable under the law, unless they are approved for a reasonable accommodation. If you are unable to provide proof of vaccination, you will be required to provide proof of a COVID test on a weekly basis.

Desired Qualifications:

• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt Certification Preferred
• A passion for learning and a craving to work in a fun culture
• Change Enabler
• Application of Continuous Improvement Tools (Lean, Six Sigma, TPM)
• Ability to work well in a team environment and collaborate up and down the organization
• Strong PC skills, including the use of Microsoft Excel, Word, Power Point, and Minitab
• A proven track record of results with a bias for action
• Highly self-motivated; able to work with minimal supervision
• Experience leading teams and facilitating meetings
• Must have very strong analytical and critical thinking capabilities
• Strong project management skills
• Cost accounting experience or financial acumen is a plus
• Strong problem solving skills
• Knowledge of TPM, with advanced understanding of Focused Improvement Pillar
• Strong communication and presentation skills

Bonduelle Fresh Americas does not require employees to be COVID-19 vaccinated and/or boostered at this time, but does require disclosure of vaccination status and supporting documents. Bonduelle Fresh Americas reserves the right to modify any internal policies, including safety policies, as needed and in compliance with all applicable laws.

Bonduelle Fresh Americas is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in hiring individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to create a workforce that truly reflects our communities. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, parental status, ancestry, disability, gender identity, veteran status, genetic information, other distinguishing characteristics of diversity and inclusion, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to veterans and individuals with disabilities or special needs during the application process and employment. If you need assistance, please contact us at (626) 856-8686 or [email protected].