Continuous Improvement Specialist

Job Summary

Responsible for supporting a culture of continuous improvement by leveraging core continuous improvement methodologies and implementing a daily management operating system called Butterball Operating System Solution (BOSS). This position is responsible for initiatives aimed at enhancing safety, quality, yields, cycle time, efficiencies, margin improvements, customer service, and overall operational excellence. Conducts basic root cause analysis, optimizes OEE (Overall Equipment Efficiency), and minimize downtime at our facilities.

Key Responsibilities

* Impacts the team embracing a culture of continuous improvement by coaching employees and leaders and fostering behaviors aligned with operational excellence principles and practices.

* Collaborates cross-functionally to handle change effectively, ensuring buy-in and engagement throughout the improvement process.

* Maintains and documents continuous improvement processes, procedures, and best practices to standardize operations and facilitate knowledge sharing across the organization.

* Provides necessary training on core tools and methodologies to equip team members with the skills required to complete improvement initiatives effectively.

* Coordinates and executes improvement projects and initiatives aimed at achieving business needs and goals.

* Executes and supports key activities as part of Butterball's continuous improvement transformation and technology implementation to include the following: pre-shift, shift cross-over and first hour of attainment meetings; start-up scorecard; productivity data capture; standard work and leader standard work; visual boards; action item registers; and weekly operational excellence reviews.

* Utilizes value stream mapping techniques to design optimal information, material, and production flow methods that yield efficiency and effectiveness across operations.

* Participates in Gemba walks and acts as coach for team members in the areas of continuous improvement, waste reduction and yield improvements, problem-solving, root-cause analysis, flow, and following up on action plans.

* Creates and/or implements standard work processes, coaching line leaders on practices to ensure consistency and efficiency in operations.

* Oversees the use of control boards and other visual management tools to enhance transparency, communication, and accountability within the organization.

* Owns simple projects that facilitate problem-solving in operations to address issues impacting yields, throughput, and efficiencies. Supports senior team members in more complex projects.

* Facilitates the 5S process improvements across the operations to enhance workplace organization, cleanliness, and efficiency.

* Stays abreast of industry best practices, trends, and performance benchmarks against to help identify opportunities for innovation and differentiation.

Minimum Qualifications (Educations & Experience)

* Bachelor's degree in related field (Engineering, Food Science, Poultry Science, etc.) or equivalent

* 3+ year of relevant experience or the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in the role

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Butterball Core Competencies

Caring about people, valuing contributions, and empowering to succeed is the Butterball Way. We recognize the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to Butterball and seek to create an environment where everyone can thrive. Everyone has a seat at the table and is expected to embody our core competencies:

* Safety First: We put safety first. The health, safety, and well-being of our people, products, and turkeys is everyone's responsibility and everyone's jobs.

* Integrity: We trust each other to do the right thing. We act with integrity and gain the confidence and trust of others through honesty, respect, and authenticity.

* Stewardship: We take care of what matters. We are accountable to our commitments and take responsibility for the well-being of our teams, our quality, our customers, our business, our brand, and our communities. We are always answerable for our actions and those we lead.

* Enthusiastic Attitudes: We create a climate where everyone feels they belong and can be engaged, every day. Where our people are enthusiastic and motivated to do their best and work together to make great things happen.

* Continuous Improvement: We are committed to continuous improvement. We challenge ourselves and our company to constantly learn, develop, grow, improve, and innovate.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

* Strong interpersonal and communication skills

* Ability to cultivate working relationships and collaborate with cross-functional partners while delivering the highest level of customer service

* Solid understanding of Lean Six Sigma methodologies and tools (e.g., DMAIC, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Root Cause Analyst, etc.)

* Skilled at gathering, reviewing, and interpreting data used to facilitate strategic decisions

* Demonstrated attention to detail, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills

* Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to effectively handle multiple priorities simultaneously

* Ability to successfully guide and implement basic continuous improvement projects and initiatives

* Ability to guide and motivate project teams to ensure ongoing enhancement of processes and policies

* Skilled at yielding results with a strong focus on creating measurable operational improvements

* Proficient with Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, etc.), Power BI, and SAP or other ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

* Prior work experience in relevant industry (Manufacturing, Retail, Food Manufacturing, etc.)

* Lean Six Sigma certification

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, keyboard, and occasionally lift up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

* Work will be performed in a variety of conditions including climate-controlled office environment(s); in a manufacturing plant environment with varying conditions, such as cold areas, wet areas, warm areas, chemicals, and other site conditions; and in a farm environment including working outdoors in seasonal conditions with live animals and at times in dusty environments. This position requires the individual to wear and work in personal protective equipment while in the manufacturing and farm environment. This individual may be working around sick or diseased animals where additional precautions may need to be taken.

* The noise level of the office and farm environment is usually moderate. The noise level in the manufacturing environment may exceed 85 DBA and require hearing protection. Showering in and out of farm locations may be required.

* Occasional travel may be required up to 10% of the time.

Disclaimer

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of what is required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not imply or establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Butterball, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the fair and impartial treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without regard to gender, age, race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, military/veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.