Are you an experienced Continuous Improvement professional who can turn operational insight into measurable, sustainable results?

Our client is a successful food manufacturing business seeking an accomplished CI Manager to lead and embed continuous improvement across its site. This is a high-impact opportunity for a hands-on operational excellence leader who can combine strong analytical capability with the people skills needed to influence change at every level.

You will lead a CI team and work closely with Operations, Technical, Engineering and Supply Chain colleagues to improve performance, strengthen capability and build a culture in which teams actively identify and solve problems.

The opportunity

As CI Manager, you will develop and deliver the site-wide Continuous Improvement strategy, ensuring it is aligned with operational priorities and wider business objectives.

You will take ownership of improvement activity from initial data analysis and opportunity identification through to implementation, benefits tracking and long-term sustainability. Your work will directly support improvements in safety, quality, service, productivity, waste, yield and cost.

This role will suit someone who enjoys being visible on the factory floor, challenging established ways of working and bringing people with them through change.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the site Continuous Improvement plan.

• Lead cross-functional projects that deliver measurable improvements in productivity, efficiency, quality, waste, yield, cost and operational performance.

• Analyse manufacturing and operational data to identify trends, losses and improvement opportunities.

• Translate complex information into clear priorities, practical actions and robust implementation plans.

• Improve OEE, line efficiency, throughput, labour productivity, process capability and equipment utilisation.

• Identify and reduce downtime, waste, giveaway, process variation and non-value-added activity.

• Lead product and process improvement projects in collaboration with Operations, Technical, Engineering and Supply Chain.

• Apply practical Lean and CI methodologies, including 5S, Kaizen, standard work, visual management, DMAIC, PDCA and structured root-cause analysis.

• Lead problem-solving activity and ensure that improvements are sustained over time.

• Establish clear measures and track the operational and financial benefits delivered by CI projects.

• Coach managers and operational teams in CI tools, structured problem-solving and improvement techniques.

• Facilitate workshops, Kaizen events and improvement activity that actively involves employees in developing solutions.

• Share best practice and successful improvements across the wider business.

• Provide strategic guidance to support future investment and operational decisions.

• Ensure all improvement activity supports health and safety, food safety, quality, legality and customer requirements.

About you

You will be an experienced Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence or manufacturing improvement professional with a strong track record in a production environment.

You will combine the ability to work confidently with data and performance measures with a practical, engaging approach to leadership. Importantly, you will be able to communicate effectively with colleagues across all levels—from shop-floor teams to senior stakeholders—and create genuine ownership of change.

You are likely to be:

• Hands-on, visible and credible within a manufacturing environment.

• Confident leading complex, cross-functional improvement projects.

• Skilled at identifying root causes and converting insight into action.

• Comfortable challenging existing processes in a constructive way.

• A collaborative and inspiring communicator.

• Experienced in coaching others and building CI capability.

• Focused on sustainable results rather than short-term fixes.

• Commercially aware, with the ability to quantify operational and financial benefits.

Essential experience and qualifications

• Proven experience in Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence or manufacturing improvement.

• Strong practical knowledge of Lean and Continuous Improvement methodologies.

• Evidence of delivering measurable improvements in productivity, efficiency, waste, quality and/or cost.

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to turn data into actionable improvements.

• Experience leading improvement projects from identification through to implementation and sustainment.

• Strong change management, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Experience engaging and communicating with people at all levels of an organisation.

• A hands-on approach and strong presence within a manufacturing environment.

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt qualification.

Desirable experience

• Experience within food manufacturing or FMCG.

• Experience in a high-volume, 24/7 manufacturing environment.

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt qualification.

• Experience leading product and process improvement projects.

• A track record of improving OEE, yield, waste, labour productivity and manufacturing cost.

Why consider this role?

This is an opportunity to make a visible difference within an established food manufacturing operation. You will have the scope to shape the site’s CI roadmap, lead a team, influence operational strategy and create improvements that benefit performance, people and profitability.

The organisation values ambition, reliability, integrity, collaboration and a commitment to doing better. It is looking for a CI leader who shares those values and can help create a stronger, more mature culture of operational excellence.

Apply now

If you are an experienced Continuous Improvement or Operational Excellence professional looking for your next senior opportunity within food manufacturing, we would be pleased to hear from you.

To apply, please submit your CV or contact our recruitment team for a confidential discussion.