Continuous Improvement Specialist (Portadown)

We are recruiting a Continuous Improvement Specialist to join our Dairy Consumer Foods team at the manufacturing facility in Portadown, where we produce cheese products for several of our brands. In this role, you will focus on analysing and optimizing business processes, implementing Lean principles, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Your objectives will include increasing efficiency, driving cost reduction, and enhancing overall operational performance through close collaboration with onsite teams.

This is a full-time and permanent position.

What you’ll be doing?

• Work collaboratively with all departments and the Plant Leadership Team and our external partner in the diagnostics, future state design work, and implementation of our internal Plant Programme.
• Assist in the diagnostic analysis.
• Work collaboratively with the CI Manager, Plant Leadership Team, and teams to surface improvement opportunities.
• Define the initiatives required to achieve the future state target across the Operating, Management & People Systems.
• Create implementation plans to support on-time delivery of these initiatives.
• During the implementation phase, execute the delivery plans, monitor and update the progress versus these, and highlight where additional support is required.
• Embed the new standards to ensure sustainability of the initiatives.
• Act as an ambassador for Continuous Improvement - coaching, mentoring, and influencing at all levels to affect the required continuous improvement culture.
• Support colleagues as they move through the change curve and align with the Plant Leadership Team on how best to support our people through the change.
• Facilitate the education of the team in the principles, philosophies, and tools of continuous improvement.
• Organize training programs that foster cross-functional deployment of continuous improvement and develop capability.
• Collaborate with counterparts within and outside the regions to ensure consistency among processes and procedures.
• Ensure each team is using a standardised set of key performance indicators (KPIs) as per the 1Kerry Plant Management System standard and that targets can be achieved through a rigorous performance management system.
• Support the implementation of creating a Continuous Improvement culture whereby our colleagues feel empowered and supported to deliver on the targets identified.
• Standard meeting governance that supports delivery of the metrics.
• Performance gaps identified and trended with actions required to improve.
• Alignment of the plant KPI structure with functional and global metrics.
• Develop and implement an effective continuous improvement strategy for the plant through a sustainable delivery model.
• Ensure the continuous improvement strategy is aligned to the overall business strategy with full alignment and support from the Plant Leadership Teams and key stakeholders.
• Support day-to-day prioritisation, decision making, and escalation.
• Ensure new standards are confirmed, documented, trained, and sustained as part of the continuous improvement governance.
• Continually review and adjust the strategy in line with internal and external changes - manage risks and remove blockages, in conjunction with the Plant Leadership Team, that might impact delivery.

What experience and skills will you need?

• Authentic Leadership: Demonstrable track record of influencing and coaching teams; the ability to credibly influence site management teams on the need for change.
• Communication: The ability to work and communicate with all functions and levels within the business, conversing knowledgeably to positively influence the change culture on site; ability to identify and communicate effectively with key stakeholders.
• Capability Building: Strong coach and people developer, keen to improve the skillsets and capabilities of teams and plant leaders; confident in running training sessions at various levels within the business.
• Challenging Mindset: Ability to see the ‘bigger picture’ and understand how to approach creating a continuous improvement strategy; can challenge the status quo asking challenging questions where appropriate.
• Project Management: Proven project management experience with practical knowledge of PM tools and techniques to support delivery; ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.

Kerry is an Equal Opportunities Employer.