Sr. Manager, Continuous Improvement Operations
Company
KeHE Distributors
Location
Naperville, IL
Other
Supply Chain/Logistics
Why Work for KeHE?
- Full-time
- Pay Range: $86,305.00/Yr. - $136,506.00/Yr.
- Shift Days: , Shift Time:
- Benefits on Day 1
- Health/Rx
- Dental
- Vision
- Flexible and health spending accounts (FSA/HSA)
- Supplemental life insurance
- 401(k)
- Paid time off
- Paid sick time
- Short term & long term disability coverage (STD/LTD)
- Employee stock ownership (ESOP)
- Holiday pay for company designated holidays
Overview
Good people, working with good people, for our common good.
Sound good?
KeHE-a natural, organic, specialty and fresh food distributor-is all about "good" and is growing, so there's never been a more exciting time to join our team. If you're enthusiastic about working in an environment with a people-first culture and an organization committed to good living, good food and good service, we'd love to talk to you!
Primary Responsibilities
POSITION PURPOSE:
The Operations Continuous Improvement Senior Manager will play a crucial role in driving process enhancements and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across the organization. This role involves leading improvement initiatives, managing the continuous improvement engineering team, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and utilizing industry best practices to optimize operations and achieve strategic goals. As with all positions at KeHE, we expect that all actions will be consistent with KeHE's Mission, Vision, and Values.
Essential Functions
- DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Identify opportunities for process improvements and efficiency gains across various warehouses and departments.
- Manage Continuous Improvement engineering team to ensure the success of the Lean Transformation.
- Lead and manage projects to streamline processes, reduce waste, and enhance productivity.
- Apply continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, and Agile to identify and solve operational challenges.
- Facilitate workshops and training sessions to promote continuous improvement methodologies throughout the organization.
- Work closely with teams across departments to identify areas for improvement and develop actionable solutions.
- Communicate effectively with stakeholders to ensure alignment and support for improvement projects.
- Manage the change process associated with continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring smooth adoption and minimal disruption.
- Develop and deliver training programs to educate employees on continuous improvement techniques and best practices.
- Promote a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the organization.
- Collect and analyze data to identify trends, measure performance, and assess the impact of improvement initiatives.
- Use data-driven insights to drive decision-making and refine improvement strategies.
- Regularly review and report on project outcomes and performance metrics.
- Other duties and projects as assigned.
Minimum Requirements, Qualifications, Additional Skills, Aptitude
- SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
- Strong communication skills both verbal and written to communicate to all levels of an organization.
- Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and guide team members.
- Demonstrated ability to manage and lead projects across multiple sites, ensuring consistent implementation and successful outcomes
- Proficiency in using Warehouse Management, Labor Management, and Slotting software to enhance operation capabilities
- Solid understanding of Lean principles and experience in implementing Lean projects
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams
- Willingness to travel to different distribution center locations about 25%-50%.
- Knowledge of Six Sigma is preferred.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
- Minimum of 6+ years of experience in continuous improvement in a warehouse or supply chain environment, with at least 4 years in a leadership or team management position.
- Experience in influencing with and without authority to enhance change management outcomes by influencing change adoption resulting in sustainability.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Work performed is typically performed in a temperature-controlled environment
- Must sit, stand, or walk for extended periods
- May spend long periods at a desk or computer terminal
- May use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment during workday
- Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties
- Work is fast-paced; occasional evening and weekend work may be required
Requisition ID
2025-26534
Equal Employer Opportunity Statement
KeHE Distributors provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion or faith, sex, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability or medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training as well as the administration of all Human Resources and Talent Acquisition processes.