Sr. Manager, Regional CI

Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food, beverage, and specialty packaging that supports multiple industries including food service, restaurant delivery and carryout, food processing, grocery and retail, and industrial sectors. Novolex manufacturing and sourcing expertise spans a diverse range of substrates including resin, paper, molded fiber, aluminum and more. We provide customers a broad array of stock and customized solutions with 120 product categories, 250 brands and over 39,000 SKUs.

The Novolex sustainability vision is built upon three pillars: our products, our operations and our people. Each is critically important to our growth and future as a business. These pillars form the foundation of our company-wide commitment to sustainability, helping us achieve our ambitious goals through our wide-ranging initiatives.

The Sr. Manager Regional Continuous Improvement Manager (RCIM) drives transformational culture change across multiple plants by deploying Operational Excellence tools, improving processes, and leading effective change management. The RCIM reports to the Director, Continuous Improvement and partners with cross-functional leaders throughout the organization to improve performance, build continuous improvement capability, and sustain measurable results.

This role is accountable for strengthening plant performance across assigned sites by building CI capability, deploying OPX
360 standards, coaching leaders and teams, and delivering measurable improvements in safety, quality, service, productivity, and cost.

This is a hybrid role and must be based in the Chicago, IL area and willing to work in the office 3 days a week.

Key Responsibilities

• Deploy the Novolex Operational Excellence (OPX
  360) system in alignment with business unit strategy and goals, prioritizing initiatives that deliver measurable financial and operational results.
• Implement OPX
  360 principles, processes, standards, and initiatives across assigned facilities to support cultural and organizational transformation.

• Lead, teach, and coach Kaizen events (i.e., VSMs, 5S, standard work, SMED, and TPM) for cells, processes, or facilities to improve performance
• Lead and participate in recurring lean exercises and cadences such as daily Gemba walks to ensure the assigned facility or facilities meet or exceed customer commitments
• Develop value stream maps to measure current performance and establish future state targets as wastes are eliminated, leading to improved KPI performance
• Deliver hands-on CI training and project execution to and with all functional areas to drive continuous improvement culture, including admin, operations, and support functions

• Manage and sustain productivity and cost savings projects for the assigned operating unit or facilities, ensuring annual savings targets are achieved and weekly updates are provided.

• May be involved in evaluating opportunities for new or existing product design, materials, and/or manufacturing processes to provide best cost and value add to customers
• May lead or assist in equipment, workspace, and process design optimization to achieve maximum efficiency, providing technical knowledge and training to support lean activities

• Support team development and performance by building CI capability, promoting employee engagement, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce.

• Coach and develop junior CI, process engineering, and other associates at the facility to develop their skill set

Critical Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Business, Supply Chain or a related field
• 5 or more years’ Continuous Improvement related experience in a manufacturing facility
• Experience leading and facilitating…