Continuous Improvement Manager

ABOUT UDA:
United Dairymen of Arizona (UDA) is a local, family-owned, dairy cooperative committed to serve the needs of our members, community, and customers by providing high quality milk and dairy products. As the only milk marketing co-op in the state, UDA oversees the production, processing, and marketing of Arizona's finest milk products from farm to Retail in 48 hours or less. From sweet cream and butter to non-fat dry milk, UDA provides milk products to manufactures and supermarket chains throughout the Grand Canyon State.

Our motto at UDA is “United in Excellence.” The dairy industry's success isn't built on one dairy or brand, its built on the community as a whole - this includes our amazing employees. When you join UDA, you're not just joining a business, you're joining a family. Since 1960 UDA has been headquartered, operated, and managed in Arizona. We strive to provide our employees with rewarding career opportunities aimed at long-term stability, growth, and advancement. We put our heart and soul into our products and value our team who show up, every day and do the work.

SUMMARY OF JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Continuous Improvement Leader champions the cross-functional development and implementation of a long-term strategic journey of Operational Excellence in the pursuit of a lean manufacturing environment. By leading, mentoring, and teaching business leaders, the CI Leader guides the empowerment of employees at all levels successfully utilizing Lean methodologies to foster an inclusive culture of continuous improvement.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Skills & Abilities:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Must maintain excellent communication, both verbal and written, with managers and employees.
• Coordinate on-the-job training.
• Oversee adherence to company policies and procedures.
• Must have the ability to work with all levels of the organization to facilitate change and improvements on the manufacturing floor and beyond.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 Experience and/or Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in engineering, accounting, business, or related field
• Accredited Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt, preferably Black Belt
• 5 years proven continuous improvement analytical experience from a similar role, including project management and business analysis with an exceptional understanding of continuous improvement concepts including Six Sigma, Lean, and value stream mapping.
• Ability to set-up, facilitate, and lead service improvement sessions with a range of business stakeholders (incl. experience of process/value stream mapping)
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office, including Project, Visio, Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
• Taking accountability for ideas from inception to delivery, in an environment that requires robust metrics to confirm success.
• Experience of designing or implementing a framework of continuous improvement across multi-functional departments.
• Experience hands-on implementation of continuous improvement programs and Lean solutions.
• Experience of designing remediation plans to address productivity and efficiency issues, and follow-up to insure completion.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with a diverse group of employees and subject matter experts.
• Strong analytical, project and product management skills, including a thorough understanding of how to interpret business needs and translate them into operational requirements.
• Experience of the whole project life cycle, able to operate in the initial conceptual design stage, in the depths of system testing, and at each stage in between

Physical Requirements:

• Requires ability to walk and stand for prolonged periods of time.
• Requires ability to stoop, bend, reach, lift and carry items between 20 and 55lbs.
• Requires the ability to push and pull items occasionally more than 55lbs.
• Requires ability to climb ladders and stairs including elevations of 30ft or more.
• Requires ability to visually observe the condition of surroundings.
• Requires ability to work in varying temperatures including hot working conditions.
• Requires the ability to work in varying extreme hot, cold and wet temperatures and conditions.
• Requires the ability to work in confined spaces.
• Requires the ability to work safely with hazardous chemicals.
• Requires ability to hear and speak.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as a change agent through collaboration, systematically enhancing continuous improvement across the enterprise.
• Develop financial justification for productivity and efficiency initiatives.
• Facilitate Quality Improvement Programs and work toward 100% "Right the First Time".
• Facilitate teams in each business unit that focus on identifying areas of opportunity, developing strategy for improvement, and measurement of results (KPIs).
• Serve as subject matter expert providing mentoring, coaching, and training as needed for each department to support the use of continuous improvement methodologies and tools.
• Facilitate productivity and efficiency initiatives in each business unit and communicate benefits across the enterprise.
• Lead Kaizen events to improve existing processes and strive to achieve sustainability.
• Use statistical analysis in determining opportunities for improvement for the entire enterprise.
• Utilize Lean Manufacturing methodology to improve efficiencies and minimize waste.
• Initiate programs aimed at reducing cost, increasing productivity, and eliminating needless waste.
• Establish CI metrics (KPIs) for each department within the organization and monitor/manage performance while providing feedback.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

BENEFITS:

• Medical, Dental & Vision plans
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match
• Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health & Wellness Programs
• Paid Time Off
• Shift Pay Differential
• Education Assistance
• On-site Fitness Center
• On-Site Health Clinic
• Uniforms provided and laundered onsite!

The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list; employees may be subject to additional, or altered, tasks and the scope of the role may change as necessitated by business demands. UDA will not consider any application submissions from unauthorized third-parties, consulting, or external staffing firms and will not be held subject, or liable, to any terms, fees, or penalties associated with a submission.

UDA is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.

Salary : $105,000 - $130,000