Manager, Operational Excellence

About the role

This position drives operational excellence (OE) across the Samuel Adams Brewery in Breinigsville, PA through Lean Manufacturing, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), and continuous improvement initiatives. The Manager, Brewery Operational Excellence serves as a change leader and coach, partnering with brewery leadership to eliminate losses, improve equipment reliability, develop organizational capability, and create a culture of sustained performance improvement. The ideal candidate brings experience implementing manufacturing operating systems such as TPM, Integrated Work Systems (IWS), Unrivaled Performance (UP), World Class Manufacturing (WCM), or similar operational excellence frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational excellence initiatives across the brewery using Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and continuous improvement methodologies to eliminate losses, improve equipment reliability, increase operational effectiveness, and strengthen business performance.
• Lead or support deployment of TPM/IWS-based operating systems, including Autonomous Maintenance, Focused Improvement, Daily Management, and loss elimination practices.
• Coach and develop leaders, supervisors, maintenance teams, hourly coworkers, and cross-functional teams on Lean, TPM, problem-solving methodologies, loss elimination, and operational excellence behaviors.
• Develop and implement a site lean strategy based on performance losses, business needs, and brewery culture.
• Partner with brewery leadership, Finance, and implementation partners to align manufacturing performance with financial results.
• Partner with production and maintenance teams to improve equipment ownership, reliability, and operational discipline through standard work, visual management, and continuous improvement routines.
• Utilize structured loss analysis and operational performance metrics, including OEE, downtime, quality, and productivity measures, to prioritize improvement opportunities.
• Build and maintain tools, systems, procedures, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that support sustained improvement.
• Analyze brewery performance data to identify opportunities to reduce costs and improve productivity, utilization, quality, and employee engagement.
• Apply 5S, visual management, Manufacturing Execution Systems, and other communication tools to improve workflow and response.
• Support implementation planning, including timelines, resource needs, and cost considerations.
• Work in production environments with loud noise, extreme hot or cold conditions, dense equipment layouts, forklifts, and other operating hazards requiring strong situational awareness.

Requirements

• Education: 4-year/Bachelor’s degree with concentration in engineering, manufacturing, and/or related field.
• 4–6 years of progressive experience in supply chain, manufacturing, or OE direct-leadership roles.
• Knowledge of Lean principles, TPM concepts, continuous improvement methodologies, structured problem-solving, and change management.
• Experience implementing TPM (Total Productive Maintenance), Integrated Work Systems (IWS), Unrivaled Performance (UP), World Class Manufacturing (WCM), or similar manufacturing operating systems.
• Experience leading Autonomous Maintenance (AM), Focused Improvement (FI), Planned Maintenance (PM), or other TPM pillar activities.
• Experience utilizing OEE, loss analysis, and reliability metrics to drive operational improvements.
• Experience designing and implementing business processes, implementing Lean methodologies, and leading large-scale change management efforts in complex manufacturing environments.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to foster a collaborative work environment and promote adoption of standardized processes and systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• FMCG, food and beverage, packaging, pharmaceutical, or consumer products manufacturing experience.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Knowledge and understanding of the supply chain planning process.
• Workfront system knowledge and use.

Physical Requirements

• All production roles are required to pass a pre-employment physical exam to comply with their specific role requirement(s).
• Certain roles may require the use of a respirator and passing the associated fit test.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, sometimes repeatedly.
• Regular walking and standing for long periods of time (up to 11 hours a day) on concrete, metal and grated surfaces.
• Responsibilities may require crouching, stepping over, crawling under, bending, twisting, climbing and reaching above head and shoulders repeatedly throughout the day.
• Responsibilities may require climbing flights of stairs, working from heights or on elevated platforms.
• Ability to wear assigned PPE (safety shoes, gloves, facemask, hearing protection and hard hat).
• Established dexterity so you can handle materials, operate equipment and interface with computer systems with precision.
• Some roles (e.g., forklift operator) may be required to sit for a prolonged period of time and have strong peripheral vision and depth perception.

Working Conditions

• Frequent exposure to production environments:
• Subject to loud and constant noise.
• Non-environmentally conditioned spaces which may lead to extreme hot and cold.
• Operating environment is complex and densely populated with production equipment and forklifts that necessitates high situational awareness.
• Work overtime as needed which may require 12-hour days, weekends, and holidays.

Pay

The salary range is between $88,000 and $138,000. Where the person hired starts in this range is dependent on their related experience, skillset and location. This position qualifies for a discretionary annual bonus based on company and individual performance, and certain sales roles might include a car allowance.

Benefits

• Generous healthcare on day one.
• Stock purchase plan.
• 401k.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Fertility/adoption support.
• Free financial coaching.
• Health & wellness program and discounts.
• Professional development & training.
• Free beer (eligibility may apply).