CI Manager

North Sioux City, 1 Devils Food Drive, North Sioux City, South Dakota, United States of America

Posted Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM

The CI Manager is responsible for driving sustainable Process Improvements in the facility by delivering breakthrough results in Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale. The CI Manager works closely with plant leadership, Regional CI, and department employees to achieve results. This position requires strong technical, Lean Manufacturing, and hands‑on leadership skills to drive cultural change in the plant.

• Leads, facilitates, and coaches full week Kaizen events to drive sustainable improvements
• Coach Point Kaizen facilitators through prework, the event, and sustainment
• Works closely with Plant CI team and CI Champions to:
  • Develop and execute improvement action plans
  • Execute and improve Center lining, SMED, and other various heatmaps to drive improvement within the facility
  • Build an employee engaged work environment
  • Provide and teach CI tools to CI and Non‑CI employees
• Perform theory of constraints analysis, identify the constraint, and implement practical and effective solutions to improve throughput
• Establish and drive productivity pipeline roadmaps across departments and the facility
• Track and analyze CI initiatives, including driving the cost savings program for the site to meet annual targets
• Utilize P&L/financial acumen to course‑correct CI plans based on weekly financial and P&L results, identifying cost savings and tracking effectiveness of lean activities
• Demonstrate understanding and use of SAP tools to support plant needs
• Implement and coach HPS tools to improve all plant areas
• Build cultural Lean change throughout the plant
• Leverage resources and share best practices across multiple plants when possible
• Facilitate and coach RCA tools and methodology to drive waste out of the process
• Work with customers, suppliers, and all levels of management staff
• Manage multiple projects concurrently
• Ensure the facility implements and maintains Continuous Improvement initiatives
• Maintain knowledge of and experience with SAP
• Possess extensive technical skills and hands‑on experience in continuous improvement manufacturing activities
• Demonstrate bias for action, act as a change agent, and challenge the status quo to drive operational excellence
• Show strong will to drive change and influence without authority
• Exhibit excellent problem‑solving skills and ability to work autonomously
• Maintain accuracy, detail orientation, and confidentiality

• Effectively present information to employees, top management, public groups, and/or board of directors
• Define problems, collect and calculate data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Write routine reports and correspondence
• Interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram and/or schedule form
• Work well with others in stressful situations and meet deadlines as necessary
• Work in a fast‑paced environment while making sound decisions
• Maintain a strong will to drive change and sustain
• Use MS Office Suite, Excel, and Power Point
• Maintain harmonious working relations with employees from all departments
• Maintain harmonious working relations with management from all levels
• Communicate effectively with all employees and management

• Ability to use and reach throughout the day; hands, fingers, arms, stand, walk, climb, and/or balance approximately
• Ability to see, hear, and talk
• Ability to work in light to moderate noise levels
• Ability to work across multiple shifts

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred, ideally in Engineering, Business or Operations
• Bakery experience a strong plus
• 2 – 3 years’ experience in Continuous Improvement
• 1 – 2 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment, preferred

Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are legally authorized to work in the location to which they apply.

Maker's Pride is an Equal Opportunity Employer.