Process / Continuous Improvement Engineer

Are you ready to drive operational excellence in a high-growth environment?

Our client is seeking a dedicated professional to join their rapidly expanding food manufacturing organization. This role focuses on implementing Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies to enhance safety, quality, throughput, yield, OEE, and cost efficiency. Your expertise will support the successful ramp-up of new equipment and capacity, building a sustainable culture of continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate plant-wide Continuous Improvement initiatives aligned with business goals for Safety, Quality, Reliability, Delivery, and Cost.
• Utilize Lean, Six Sigma (DMAIC), TPM, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S/Visual Management, Standard Work, SMED, and root-cause analysis tools to identify and eliminate waste.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, quality, and leadership to develop and execute CI roadmaps, project charters, and improvement plans.
• Analyze production data and KPIs to prioritize opportunities and track results.
• Coach, train, and mentor operators, supervisors, and cross-functional teams to build CI capability and ownership at all levels.
• Lead structured problem-solving events and sustain gains through control plans and standard work.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and change management in a high-growth, PE-backed environment.
• Participate in daily/weekly performance reviews to ensure actions deliver productivity, efficiency, and cost improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Food Science, Industrial Engineering, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 5 years of experience in manufacturing continuous improvement or operations leadership, preferably in the food industry.
• Proven track record in applying Lean and Six Sigma tools to achieve measurable results (Green Belt or Black Belt certification preferred).
• Hands-on experience in high-growth or scaling manufacturing operations, ideally with new equipment commissioning or capacity expansion.
• Strong data analysis skills and ability to translate insights into actionable plans.
• Excellent coaching, facilitation, communication, and change-management skills.
• Experience in USDA-regulated or food safety-focused environments is a plus.
• Bias for action, results orientation, and comfort operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial PE-backed setting.

At Talent Wave Associates, we connect outstanding talent with exceptional opportunities. We're proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to fostering an inclusive, people-first recruiting experience. Ready to ride the wave of opportunity? Apply today!

As part of our commitment to a fair, consistent, and efficient recruitment process, we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the initial screening of applications submitted through our applicant tracking system. These tools help identify qualifications and experience that align with the role requirements. Please note that AI is used solely to support our recruiters. Final decisions are always made by the hiring manager and the hiring team. Importantly, no applicant data is shared externally through these AI tools. All information remains securely within our systems and is handled in accordance with our privacy and data protection policies.

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