CI Manager

Job Summary:This position is responsible for leading, planning, standardizing, and directing business process improvement and waste elimination activities to ensure business continuity and operational excellence within the Plant and assigned functional areas.This position drives a learning culture that embraces standardized work, implementation flow, problem solving, strategy deployment through Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) methodology. This position is also responsible to identify, train and deploy resources to apply state-of-the-art approaches and tools to achieve performance excellence and process improvements.Essential Functions of the Job:
Lead, teach and coach TPM pillars through tools such as OPL, Centerlines, CIL, VMB, Fuguai, 5S, etc.,
Establish and standardize business and operational processes through facilitated work sessions, process & tool development, and process pilots then educate and transfer ownership to end state users and process owners.
Facilitates Kaizens, brainstorming sessions, workshops, problem solving sessions and process mapping exercises to bring alignment, extract knowledge and improve performance.
Monitor business and operational performance through metrics, identifies gaps in performance and facilitates problem solving activities to close performance gaps.
Trains, coaches, and facilitates continuous improvement tools and methodologies such as lean, six sigma, kaizen, quality, and process management.
Leads and executes improvement projects across or within functions/operational sites via Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodology.
Facilitate flow of information/processes/procedures and helps troubleshoot and resolve issues.
Adheres to company GMP's (good manufacturing practices), safety procedures and all other quality processes.
Works with management to ensure effective organizational design and that role is correctly organized, defined, documented, and communicated to all employees.
Ensures effective safety procedures, tools and record keeping are managed through site leadership.
Wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when required.
All other duties, as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
CI Specialists at local level.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in business or related field.
5 years related experience in a CI Manager role or related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination or education and experience.
2 years of experience working with and understanding TPM principles and methods
Must have a working knowledge or MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and be proficient with MS Excel.
Outstanding verbal, written, and communications skills including facilitation and public-speaking experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
Lean/Six Sigma Green, Black or Master Black Belt or equivalent training and/or certification.
Project Management experience in a manufacturing/cross-functional environment.
Knowledge and Skills:
Outstanding verbal, written, multi-tasking and presentation skills.
Ability to create momentum and foster organizational change.
Bilingual in Spanish.
Experience with Ceridian.
Candidate must be an experienced leader that can work with groups to apply continuous improvement concepts and principles across an organization.
Must have an inherent "data-based" approach with the ability to plan, acquire, analyze, and interpret Operations and business data to drive improvements and provide direction/focus.
Candidate must have a continuous improvement/problem solving "mindset" and experience.
Demonstrated ability to lead large teams in reviews, process improvement events and/or Kaizens as well as leading training and providing coaching support.
Possess a disciplined approach to project execution with a track record of positive hard and behavioral results.
Self-motivated/driven and able to create enthusiasm for improvement initiatives.
Must have a working knowledge of MS Word and MS PowerPoint software and be proficient with MS Excel software.
Additional Considerations:
Travel: Approximately 10% to various SunOpta locations for meetings and other job-related functions.
Location: This position will be our SunOpta Plant in Allentown, PA.
Work Environment: Approximately 50% of the work is performed in an office environment; 50% of work may involve being in a manufacturing / production environment.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.