Job Description

Join boundless thinkers from all walks of life working together to feed the world. Take pride in working with powerful brands, including Purina Animal Nutrition, Nutra Blend, WinField United, Vermont Creamery, KozyShack, and more.

You'll join a global team committed to everything from the seeds that go into the ground, to the technology that improves crop yields and sustainability, to the nutrition that animals need, to marketing the final product.

Operational Excellence Manager

The Operational Excellence Manager will provide industry leading technical services that support the business objectives within the scope of Cheese operations for the Land O'Lakes Melrose, MN plant. The primary purpose of this role is to reduce processing variation, drive operational effectiveness, and increase cost competitiveness in addition to complying with the highest quality, safety, and environmental regulations and goals. This position will be leading the Continuous Improvement transformation at the Melrose, MN plant. The position requires an expert level of responsibility.

This role will address causes of variation:

* Develop 2-year roadmap for addressing specific key process improvements across the Melrose, MN Land O'Lakes facility.

* Assess specific causes of variation to drive consistency, reliability, capacity expansion, cost reduction, and risk mitigation opportunities.

This role will drive a culture of Continuous Improvement:

* Drive Management Infrastructure improvements

* Drive Mindsets and Behaviors improvements

* Implement standards around 5S, visual controls, communication etc.

* Drive a culture of cost savings

This role will utilize industry leading outside resources:

* Identify world-class technologies and drive best practices

* Solidify relationships / partnerships with key vendors

This role will align operations capabilities to business objectives:

* Identify and prioritize operational problems

* Coordinate plant technical solutions

* Assist in coordinating plant trials

This role will drive asset effectiveness through common standards and training:

* Develop clear common standards for specific equipment operation and performance measurement: Operations, Maintenance, Control Systems, Quality, Energy, and EH&S

* Develop specific key asset evaluation checklists

* Assist in developing effective operation and maintenance training programs

* Assist in developing specific maintenance strategies and PM programs

Experience-Education (Required):

* BS Engineering or Technical/Science discipline (Mechanical, Industrial, and Chemical)

* 10 plus years experience including 5 years Food/Dairy or Industrial Manufacturing experience and production supervision.

Competencies-Skills (Required):

* Problem solving and leading significant change.

* Collaboration and team building.

* Comprehension of variation.

* Leading improvement projects in a manufacturing environment.

* Excellent communication and coaching skills (written and verbal) at all levels of the organization, from the shop floor to senior management.

* Must possess strong project management quantitative and analytical skills

* Software applications such as Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, etc

* Dairy and/or food manufacturing experience are preferred

* Experience with the following methodologies and practices: FMEA, Kaizen, Lean tools, 5S, Visual Factory Aids, SMED concepts, VSM, VOC and Poke Yoke highly desired

* Lean Six Sigma Certification / Black Belt designation is highly preferred.

Hours: Melrose plant is a 24/7 operations. Off Shift hours may be required as needed.

Land OLakes, Inc offers a competitive salary and bonus potential. The company also provides a comprehensive benefits package as well as many other companies sponsored benefits. This position is based in Melrose, MN and relocation benefits are provided.

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including pre- and post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Neither Land OLakes, nor its search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.

Land O'Lakes endeavors to make Landolakesinc.com accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact the HR Solution Center at 844-LOL-HR4U (844-565-4748) M-F 8:00am-4:30pm CT.