Continuous Improvement Specialist
About Golden State Foods
Golden State Foods is a distinguished leader in the food service industry, offering an extensive array of products and services to a diverse clientele. Rooted in the values of quality service and integrity, we are dedicated to creating a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where employees can advance, innovate, and contribute to our ongoing success.
About the Role
Golden State Foods is seeking a Continuous Improvement Specialist to drive operational excellence through the deployment of Lean Systems and the elimination of waste across our manufacturing operations. This highly visible role serves as both a facilitator and a coach, partnering with cross-functional teams to implement the Golden State Foods Business Excellence System and foster a culture of continuous improvement. Reporting to the Senior Continuous Improvement Manager, you will play a key role in identifying opportunities, implementing sustainable improvements, and developing team capabilities to achieve business objectives.
Responsibilities
- Lean Implementation & Process Improvement
- Support the implementation of Lean tools and methodologies aligned with the Golden State Foods Business Excellence System.
- Analyze current-state and future-state value streams, compare them with standards, look for opportunities to improve, develop improvement plans, measure results, and adjust to new standards.
- Participate and lead Kaizen events focused on waste elimination, process simplification, and standardization.
- Lead improvement initiatives that enhance safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance.
- Project Leadership
- Manage project timelines, dependencies, and overall impact to ensure successful outcomes.
- Utilize data and metrics to track progress and drive accountability.
- Bring cross-functional teams together and develop initiatives that impact business objectives.
- Training & Development
- Train and coach team members on Lean principles, tools, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Influence and engage employees at all levels to support a culture of operational excellence.
- Serve as a change agent and Lean subject matter expert throughout the organization.
- Digital & Data Solutions
- Identify and implement dashboards and digital tools that support continuous improvement activities.
- Leverage systems such as Power BI, Red Zone, and Excel to analyze data, monitor performance, and communicate results.
Requirements
- Passion for finding waste, leading cross-functional activities in a manufacturing environment, and a strong desire to be hands-on in identifying what works and what does not.
- Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to develop those skills in others.
- Strong knowledge of Lean Systems and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Proven ability to drive improvement results through influence and collaboration, and the ability to hold others accountable for those results.
- Exceptional coaching, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Data-driven decision-making and problem-solving capabilities.
Qualifications
- Required
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Science, or related field.
- Minimum of 1 year of professional experience.
- At least 1 year of experience participating in Kaizen events, continuous improvement initiatives, or Lean deployments within a manufacturing environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
- Preferred
- Lean Systems Green Belt Certification.
- Experience with analytics tools such as Red Zone, Traksys, JDE, Power BI.
- Experience implementing Lean methodologies in manufacturing operations.
Why Join Us
- People First: At Golden State Foods, we're a dynamic community where your talents are celebrated, and your ambitions are nurtured.
- Values Driven: Our core values drive everything we do, creating a culture of innovation, integrity, and excellence.
- People Development: We strive to continually develop our people to prepare for the needs of tomorrow.
- Philanthropy & Sustainability: We're committed to making a difference beyond our walls through philanthropy and sustainability efforts across all our locations around the globe.
- Extensive Benefits: Golden State Foods believes in a holistic approach to wellness, focusing on the whole person with benefits that support those needs.
Golden State Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diverse perspectives and are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace where every person is supported and empowered to thrive.