Continuous Improvement Manager

Novolex is a leader in packaging innovation, choice and sustainability. We manufacture products in paper, plastic and sustainable materials for the food, retail, health and industrial markets.

This is a remote position with desired locations in OH, KY, IN or IL.

The Novolex sustainability vision is built upon three pillars: our products, our operations and our people. Each is critically important to our growth and future as a business. These pillars form the foundation of our company-wide commitment to sustainability, helping us achieve our ambitious goals through our wide-ranging initiatives.

The Continuous Improvement Manager will be responsible for managing the launch of a new greenfield site in Connersville, IN. S/he will lead a cross-functional team across all disciplines to ensure the project is launched on-time, on-budget, and at expected quality and production rates.

The incumbent will identify the project's critical paths, timelines, and develop tools and cadences to drive visibility, communicate, and solve for challenges. S/he will lead all project management processes, while executing tasks independently and acting as a liaison with functional, segment, and business unit resources across Novolex. The successful incumbent will be comfortable managing multiple priorities and stakeholders.

This role will report to the EVP, Operations and be accountable to the Chief Technology Officer and Plant Manager for the Connersville facility. Success in this role will lead to the incumbent transitioning to our Continuous Improvement team as site startup is complete.

Key Responsibilities:

• Organizes activities, manages resources, and provides direction across all functional areas to deliver the project on-time, on-budget, and at expected quality and rates
• Facilitates recurring meetings on a daily, weekly, monthly, and ad-hoc basis to ensure critical path items are identified, reported on, and expedited to expectations are met
• Meets with and reports out to internal and external stakeholders to provide updates on the project, its goals, and timeline for completing open project tasks
• Manages conflicting priorities between functional leaders to ensure appropriate prioritization and mitigate conflicts that will arise from competing objectives
• Evaluates and assesses project progress, pulling in cross-functional resources across the various functions, businesses, and segments to meet objectives
• Monitors all aspects of the project, including providing oversight to managers across the various functional areas to ensure project success
• Works with the Operating Committee to ensure Annual Operating Plan metrics are being met and recovery plans for any metrics or deliverables that are not on-track
• Participates in the Joint Operating Committee between Novolex and Nova Chemicals, as the operational voice for key decision-making

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or a related discipline; in-lieu-of degree, an equivalent number of years' experience in a related discipline
• Prior program management experience, leading large, complex and/or greenfield start up or joint venture projects requiring cross-functional collaboration
• Prior experience in executing continuous improvement programs, deploying lean manufacturing principles and tools (i.e., VSM, 5S, Standard Work, SMED, TPM) at a plant manager level or higher in a converting plant
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a plus
• Track record of managing multiple prioritizes under tight timelines
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills to all levels in the organization
• Organizational saavy to develop internal and external relationships and influence
• Proficient in the use MS Office, MS Project, and Smartsheet to manage projects
• Ability to travel to Connersville, IN site 75% of the time for the next 6-18 months and 75% travel to other U.S. sites afterwards.

Benefits

With safety as our top priority and a commitment to employee well-being an important focus, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits that include medical, dental and vision insurance (including Telehealth options) as well as a variety of other well-being resources focused on mental, physical and financial health. Specific benefits and well-being programs may vary depending on where you work.

Community Engagement

At Novolex, giving back to the local communities that support us is important. Our Focused Giving Program prioritizes support for organizations whose missions promote sustainability initiatives or address food and hunger needs. We also encourage facility level support of activities in the communities where our employees live and work.

Training and Development

We offer constant opportunities for advancement. From skills development to advanced education programs, training and development programs and courses are available through Novolex University. Programs include company and industry training curricula, support for formal education through the Tuition Reimbursement Program, and a Learning Management System that supports and enhances employee skills at all levels of the organization.

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