Senior Director of Operational Excellence

Accountabilities: • Operational Excellence Strategy & Transformation:

• Develop and execute a network-wide Operational Excellence strategy aligned with business growth and manufacturing priorities.

• Design and implement a standardized manufacturing operating system to improve performance visibility, accountability, and operational consistency.

• Partner with plant leadership to establish improvement roadmaps, performance expectations, and disciplined execution practices.

• Identify, document, and scale best practices across manufacturing facilities.

• Manufacturing Performance & Financial Impact:

• Lead strategic initiatives to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), throughput, labor productivity, asset utilization, and manufacturing capacity.

• Drive sustainable cost reductions through waste elimination, improved material yields, equipment reliability, and greater manufacturing efficiency.

• Collaborate with Finance and Operations to quantify improvement opportunities, validate savings, and deliver measurable EBITDA improvements.

• Establish relevant performance metrics and management routines that strengthen ownership, accelerate problem-solving, and sustain results.

• Continuous Improvement & Operational Discipline:

• Advance the adoption of the KCOP Continuous Improvement program and structured problem-solving methodologies.

• Strengthen operational consistency through standard work, visual management, root cause analysis, and performance accountability.

• Lead cross-functional initiatives to eliminate manufacturing losses and unlock additional capacity.

• Build sustainable processes and capabilities that make continuous improvement part of daily operations.

• Leadership, Culture & Capability Building:

• Champion a high-performance, merit-based culture built on personal accountability, operational ownership, and measurable outcomes.

• Coach and influence plant leaders and cross-functional teams to strengthen execution, problem-solving, and change leadership.

• Develop organizational capabilities through targeted training, leadership development, and knowledge sharing.

• Foster collaboration across Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and Human Resources to accelerate transformation.

Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or a related discipline. An advanced degree is preferred.

• Professional Experience: At least 12 years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations, Operational Excellence, or continuous improvement.

• Multi-Site Transformation: Demonstrated success designing, implementing, and sustaining manufacturing operating systems across multiple facilities.

• Industry Background: Experience in food manufacturing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or comparable high-volume manufacturing environments is strongly preferred.

• Operational Performance: Proven ability to deliver measurable improvements in OEE, productivity, waste reduction, manufacturing costs, and profitability.

• Continuous Improvement Expertise: Strong command of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), and structured continuous improvement methodologies. Black Belt certification or equivalent is preferred.

• Financial Acumen: Ability to connect operational performance improvements to measurable business value and financial outcomes.

• Leadership & Influence: Exceptional leadership, communication, and influencing skills, with a track record of driving organizational change across functions and locations.

• Strategic & Execution Mindset: Ability to combine long-term transformation planning with practical manufacturing expertise and disciplined implementation.

• Culture Building: Strong ability to develop leaders, encourage accountability at every level, and establish sustainable continuous improvement practices.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: Annual salary range of $180,000–$240,000.

• Remote Work: Fully remote position based in the United States.

• Executive Visibility: Direct reporting relationship to the Chief Operating Officer and close partnership with plant leadership teams.

• Strategic Impact: Opportunity to shape manufacturing performance, build organizational capabilities, and drive lasting operational improvements across a U.S. manufacturing network.

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