Director of Engineering and Continuous Improvement

Director of Engineering and Continuous Improvement Join to apply for the Director of Engineering and Continuous Improvement role at McIlhenny Company Location: Avery Island, LA What this job is all about The Director of Engineering and Continuous Improvement leads all maintenance, engineering, and capital project activities and is responsible for developing and executing strategies that enhance equipment reliability, drive process improvements, and strengthen overall operational performance throughout our facility and overall corporate campus on Avery Island, LA. This role ensures operational excellence in safety, quality, and efficiency while driving strategic initiatives and continuous improvement in alignment with company goals. As a key member of the Operations Leadership Team, the Director partners closely with cross‑functional leaders to deliver on business objectives and fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation. In this role you’ll do things like: Provide hands‑on leadership by coaching direct reports, offering regular feedback, conducting 1:1s, and creating clear development plans to foster individual growth. Build and sustain a high‑performance culture by ensuring accountability and cultivating talent to meet current and future business needs. Model and reinforce the company’s core behaviors—communication, collaboration, continuous improvement, trust, and leadership—ensuring they are consistently demonstrated and promoted across all levels of the organization.\Partner with the VP of Operations on strategic initiatives, factory operations, employee engagement, and project execution. Develop and execute engineering and continuous improvement strategies in partnership with cross‑functional teams including Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Finance, Quality, and R&D to achieve operational and business goals. Lead regular business reviews with operations departments and executive leadership to assess progress and align priorities. Collaborate closely with production and facilities maintenance teams to strengthen preventive and predictive maintenance programs. Design and implement engineering solutions to optimize production and packaging efficiency, capacity, and cost‑effectiveness. Provide engineering expertise and leadership for complex, cross‑departmental projects and strategic initiatives. Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications and establishing professional networks. Lead cross‑functional process improvement initiatives across manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and R&D. Apply working knowledge of product design and assembly to the manufacturing process. Develop and maintain systems for equipment and process flow measurement to support data‑driven decision‑making. Evaluate and implement “best value” solutions balancing new vs. existing technologies, automation vs. manual labor, and new vs. refurbished equipment. Other great stuff about this job You’ll be more than just a number Take pride working in a privately held, family‑owned business with a strong team and culture where you are valued. Uniquely generous benefits: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) savings plan with company match and potential profit‑sharing. What will give you an edge Working knowledge of packaging materials and food packaging and processing equipment. Experience working in a cross‑functional environment with a wide variety of stakeholder groups, a range of employee levels (from hourly employees to executives) as well as external partners. 8+ years engineering work experience in manufacturing operations. PMP Certification. Experience in CPG industry. Proficiency in Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies. Experience working with Microsoft products and track record of learning new systems and tools. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. To be considered for the position, candidates must meet the minimum qualifications as outlined in the job ad. Equal Opportunity Employer #J-18808-Ljbffr