Operational Excellence Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Scope of Position

The Manager, Operational Excellence, is responsible for driving and embedding Operational Excellence as a core way of working across the plant. This role leads the deployment of the site’s Operational Excellence strategy, including the Operating System, Management Infrastructure, and Mindsets, Behaviors & Capabilities (MBC), enabled through Industry 4.0 tools and digital solutions.

This is a highly visible, strategic role that partners with plant leadership to deliver world-class performance by improving safety, quality, service, and cost. The Manager will lead cross-functional teams, drive daily performance improvement, and ensure sustainable results that improve supply chain effectiveness and reduce cost of goods sold.

This position collaborates closely with key Supply Chain functions, including Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Finance, HR, and Logistics, and will work directly with Plant and Operations leadership to influence site priorities and direction.

Responsibilities

Operational Excellence Leadership

• Lead and coach cross-functional OpEx teams to deliver measurable improvements across the site Balanced Scorecard.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and continuous improvement initiatives to eliminate waste and reduce losses.
• Support deployment of World Class Manufacturing (WCM) pillars across the plant.

Diagnostics & Performance Assessment

• Conduct operational diagnostics across the Operating System, Management Infrastructure, MBC, and Industry 4.0 capabilities.
• Use data analysis, floor observations, process monitoring, and employee interviews to identify performance gaps and improvement opportunities.

Implementation & Sustainability

• Guide teams in building and executing Tactical Implementation Plans (TIPs) aligned to site workstreams.
• Ensure accountability, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability through regular progress reviews and follow-ups.

Capability Building & Training

• Partner with site leadership to build OpEx capability across all levels of the organization.
• Deliver structured training for leaders and frontline teams in continuous improvement tools and methodologies.
• Serve as the plant’s lead trainer for key CI tools and practices.

Cost Management & Zero Loss Focus

• Ensure improvement opportunities are captured through the plant enabler program to deliver verified savings.
• Track performance to sustain results and ensure countermeasures remain effective long-term.
• Conduct Zero Loss analysis to identify and prioritize loss elimination opportunities.

Stakeholder Influence & Change Leadership

• Influence and coach leaders across the organization to adopt and sustain OpEx practices.
• Drive engagement and alignment across departments to support plant-wide transformation.
• Lead change management efforts and overcome resistance through strong communication and relationship-building.

Program & Strategic Deployment

• Lead the deployment of the Campbell’s Operational Excellence strategy to achieve world-class supply chain performance.
• Provide direction on tactical objectives and improvement priorities for the site.
• Monitor performance metrics, identify trends, and recommend improvements to processes, systems, and operating practices.

Who You Will Work With

You will partner with all plant functions and collaborate closely with the Corporate Operational Excellence team, working alongside Plant Leadership to shape and execute site improvement priorities.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED
• 2+ years of experience in Operational Excellence, Lean, or Six Sigma fundamentals
• 2+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment
• 1+ year of people management experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Strong working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence systems, and Asset Care/Reliability
• Experience improving organizational capability through learning & development or High-Performance Work Systems
• Exposure to TPM, Visual Factory, 5S, and structured problem-solving tools
• Lean / Lean Six Sigma certification(s)
• Proven success influencing stakeholders across all levels without direct authority
• Strong cross-functional leadership and collaboration skills
• Ability to analyze complex data sets and translate insights into action
• Strong systems proficiency: Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI, SAP
• Excellent communication and leadership presence with the ability to inspire and engage teams

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