Continuous Improvement Manager – Taste & Wellbeing South Africa

An Continuous Improvement Manager supporting our Taste & Wellbeing South Africa Plant Operations team in Johannesburg – Your future position?

Our Tulisa site is a key manufacturing location for Beverages, Snacks, Dairy and other Taste & Wellbeing ingredients.

We are now hiring a Continuous Improvement Manager, reporting directly to the Head of Operations, Tulisa Park, and leading one CI Learner to drive improvement initiatives, embed best practices, and support Operations teams in building a strong CI culture.

Sounds interesting? It could well be your perfect opportunity if you enjoy problem‑solving, driving change, and helping teams work smarter every day.

In this exciting role, you will be responsible for –

Strategy design and execution

• Contribute to the design of local Operations strategies by advising on the schedule and execution of key Manufacturing Excellence initiatives.

• Elaborate the manufacturing excellence strategy for the assigned site based on global OPEX strategy and oversee the design and execution of related tactical and operational plans to meet local Operations objectives.

Lean management

• Define the local Lean program and step change improvement opportunities in collaboration with site leadership and challenge the local Operations organization in identifying OPEX opportunities in order to define fundamental changes to the value stream.

• Prioritize improvement areas, as well as related actions, and support site teams selecting best tools/methods from the Lean toolbox to execute the improvement initiatives.

• Define Lean certification standards to be met with the Site Operations management and measure level of achievement.

• Develop and leverage internal and external Lean network to capture best practices and eventually recommend and deploy these within the organization.

• Support implementation of focus improvement initiatives in other sites when requested.

Project management

• Track implementation progress of approved OPEX projects/programs, monitoring resource plans, project team accountabilities, change requests, deadlines, milestones, etc. and manage periodic updates to project stakeholders.

• Coach project managers and teams on applying Lean and Six Sigma concepts and tools during solution design and project execution phases.

Change management and capability building

• Advise Lean/Operational Excellence and Project Managers in developing change management roadmaps.

• Influence local Operations management to engage in the change journey and negotiate resources and capabilities needs.

• Challenge existing processes/practices and coach project teams in applying effective problem solving to develop solutions and initiate change.

• Assess local capability gaps and develop and implement solutions with the Site Operations management to close these, e.g. trainings, resource changes, etc.

Performance Management

• Implement performance management system (PMS) for the site and cascade its KPIs.

• Implement SOPs for PMS (Performance Management System), SLA (Service level agreements), PDCA (Problem Solving), Shop floor Scheduling, etc.

People management

• Contribute to the annual human resources processes by providing input to line managers regarding performance of project team members.

• Work with the respective line managers and HR Business Partner(s) in developing a project management capabilities in the Engineering function.

• Contribute to the development and promotion of functional talents within and outside the Engineering function.

You?

Are you someone who wants to shape your world? Who thrives in a collaborative environment and enjoys challenging the status quo? Then come join us — and impact your world.

Your professional profile includes:

• University degree in Engineering or related discipline


• Minimum 5 years of experience in Continuous Improvement.


• At least 1 year in a Lean implementation


• At least 1 year in people management


• LEAN certification - preferably minimum Green Belt 


• Exposure to cross-functional teams and projects


• Training experience with operators, shift leaders and departmental managers.


• Good knowledge of product processing and industrialization processes.


• Good command in project management using TPM, KPI, Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing and project controlling tools.


• Good command in stakeholder management and communications.


• Good command in process mapping and design.


• Good knowledge of value chain diagnostics tools.


• Good knowledge of EHS rules and guidelines.


• Good knowledge of financial concepts (e.g. OPEX, CAPEX) and tools (e.g. SAP).

Your benefits

• Excellent opportunities for progressive learning and development.


• A creative team environment that will inspire you.


• Attractive compensation package.


• Medical aid.


• Performance bonus.


• Pension fund.

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