Are you an experienced specialist in food and drink manufacturing, passionate about driving performance and operational excellence?

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior Continuous Improvement (CI) professional to make a meaningful impact and shape the future of a leading food manufacturing operation.

Role Overview

As CI Manager, you will partner directly with business leaders, providing expert guidance, coaching, and support to deliver transformative improvement programs across the manufacturing operation.

Your mission will be to champion the Manufacturing Excellence strategy, leading cross-functional teams to develop and sustain a continuous improvement culture, and turning ambitious business goals into measurable results.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver critical CI projects from concept to completion, coaching teams and managers to adopt best-in-class improvement tools and lean methodologies.

• Drive action plans to achieve Manufacturing Excellence, using advanced problem-solving and data analysis to identify and unlock operational opportunities.

• Facilitate and lead multi-functional improvement teams, setting clear accountabilities, engaging across all business functions and ensuring colleague wellbeing remains a priority.

• Champion the effective use of lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement techniques, training and mentoring others to achieve sustainable improvements.

• Lead maturity assessments, manage stakeholder engagement, and ensure delivery of robust, structured project plans aligned with business needs.

• Utilise advanced analytics to conduct root cause analysis, measure process performance, and present actionable recommendations to drive progress.

• Collaborate with Technical, Hygiene and Engineering, ensuring food safety, environmental safety, and high operational standards are maintained throughout all improvement activity.

• Develop high-performing teams with coaching, people management best practices, and robust succession planning.

Key Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Proven track record in CI leadership roles within the food and drink manufacturing sector, ideally chilled food manufacturing.

• Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma, or equivalent Level 5 Improvement Specialist Apprenticeship.

• Strong analytical skills, advanced understanding of CI tools (5S, SMED, statistical models), and expertise in data-led performance improvement.

• Inspiring leader with experience managing and developing cross-functional improvement teams.

• Skilled in building relationships at all levels and influencing a culture of high-performance, inclusion, and respect.

• Confident communicator, able to engage, coach, and motivate a wide audience and guide teams through periods of change.

• IT literate, including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

• Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths and English, ideally Level 3.

Key benefits

• The opportunity to influence the strategic direction of established food manufacturing operations.

• A values-led environment where people development and colleague wellbeing are core to success.

• Platform to deploy fresh ideas, drive innovation, and make a tangible difference in an industry-leading setting.

• Support for further professional growth and recognised development opportunities.

If you’re ready to lead the next step change in food and drink industry performance, we’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch for more information on this exciting role or apply with your CV today to begin your next chapter.