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- Tasks: Lead continuous improvement initiatives across multiple UK food manufacturing sites.
- Company: Join a dynamic team working with beloved UK food brands.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid working, and generous annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on operational excellence and team empowerment.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt required.
- Other info: Regular travel and collaboration with senior leaders across the UK.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Locations: Regular travel across our UK manufacturing sites in Grimsby, Clitheroe, Histon, Fakenham, Peterborough, plus collaboration with teams in our offices in Central London, Reading, and Leeds.
Are you passionate about driving operational excellence? Do you thrive on empowering teams and transforming processes? We’re looking for a dynamic CI Lead to join our Group Continuous Improvement team and help shape the future of some of the UK’s best-loved food brands. At our organisation, you’ll have the opportunity to work with an incredible portfolio including Harley’s, Cully & Sully, Yorkshire Provender, Linda McCartney’s, Farmhouse Fare, Sun-Pat, Robertson’s, New Covent Garden, Ella’s Kitchen, and many more.
About the Role
As our CI Lead (Business Improvement Lead), you’ll be responsible for driving continuous improvement and operational excellence across all business functions. Reporting to the Group CI Manager, you’ll partner closely with leaders across Operations, Finance, and other key functions to implement productivity initiatives, optimise processes, and embed a culture of sustainable continuous improvement. This is a highly influential role requiring strong leadership, coaching capability, and the ability to deliver measurable results through data-driven decision-making and Lean Six Sigma methodologies.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and deliver a structured CI roadmap, securing year-on-year cost and efficiency improvements.
- Partner with senior leaders – including Operations and Finance – to shape long-term improvement strategies.
- Build a robust pipeline of productivity projects using loss analysis, employee engagement, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Implement Lean principles such as Kaizen, SMED, and A3 problem-solving to drive process optimisation.
- Deploy and sustain IL6S (Integrated Lean Six Sigma) across the business.
- Coach and mentor teams, embedding high-performance ways of working and a culture of accountability.
- Act as a change agent, ensuring CI practices are understood, adopted, and sustained.
- Manage multiple projects using Black Belt-level methodologies to deliver measurable cost and efficiency gains.
- Deliver CI training and capability-building programs across all business units.
- Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.
About You
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations, or related field.
- Minimum 10 years of operational experience in manufacturing or CI.
- Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (or equivalent).
- A proven track record of leading large-scale CI initiatives and delivering sustainable change.
Preferred:
- Same as above – reinforces your strong CI foundation.
Competencies
- Deep expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and CI methodologies.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent leadership, coaching, and influencing capability.
- Confident communicator and facilitator.
- Skilled at managing multiple projects and priorities.
- Strong stakeholder management with the ability to work cross-functionally.
Role Conditions
- Regular UK travel across sites and offices is required.
- Primarily remote-based, with frequent time spent in manufacturing environments.
- Active engagement with production teams and senior leadership is essential.
What we can offer you
- Competitive salary / rate of pay
- Hybrid Working Option
- 25 days annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holidays
- Option to purchase additional annual leave
- A day off work to support our charity partners
- Flexible working options
- Pension
- Medical benefit
- Access to a HUB that offers many discounts from a range of suppliers and retailers
If you’re excited by the opportunity to make a real impact across multiple sites, build CI capability, and work with some of the UK’s most loved food brands, we’d love to hear from you.
CI Lead employer: Hain Daniels Group
Contact Detail:
Hain Daniels Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land CI Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the food manufacturing industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy to reach out to current employees at the companies you’re interested in. You never know who might help you land that CI Lead role!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio or case studies showcasing your past CI projects and the impact they had. When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers, share these stories to demonstrate your expertise in Lean Six Sigma and operational excellence.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Before any interviews, do some mock interviews with friends or mentors. Focus on articulating your experience in driving continuous improvement and how you’ve empowered teams in previous roles. This will help you feel more confident when it’s time to shine.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We want to see your application come through directly. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and gives us a chance to see your profile in the best light. Plus, it’s a great way to stay updated on any new opportunities that pop up!
We think you need these skills to ace CI Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the CI Lead role. Highlight your operational excellence and continuous improvement achievements, especially those related to Lean Six Sigma methodologies.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about driving change in food manufacturing. Share specific examples of how you've empowered teams and transformed processes in your previous roles.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a CI Lead, strong leadership is key. In your application, emphasise your coaching capabilities and how you've successfully led large-scale CI initiatives. We want to see how you can influence and inspire others!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of success. It’s the easiest way for us to review your application and get you on board to help shape the future of our beloved food brands!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hain Daniels Group
✨Know Your CI Methodologies
Make sure you brush up on your Lean and Six Sigma knowledge before the interview. Be ready to discuss specific methodologies like Kaizen and A3 problem-solving, and how you've applied them in past roles. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the concepts but can also implement them effectively.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a CI Lead, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership and coaching capabilities. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams through change or improvement initiatives. Highlight your ability to influence and engage stakeholders across different functions.
✨Prepare for Data-Driven Discussions
Since this role involves data-driven decision-making, be ready to discuss how you've used data analysis to drive improvements in previous positions. Bring examples of projects where you’ve delivered measurable results, and be prepared to explain your approach to loss analysis and productivity projects.
✨Understand the Company’s Brands
Familiarise yourself with the brands mentioned in the job description, like Harley’s and Linda McCartney’s. Understanding their market position and challenges will help you tailor your responses and show genuine interest in the company’s mission and values during the interview.
