Continuous Improvement Specialist

THE ROLE

• Reports to the Continuous Improvement Director
• Travel Requirement: 10%
• Location:
  
  Bakersfield, CA
• FLSA Status:
  Exempt Salary
• Employment Category:
  Full Time Regular
• Pay Range: $75,000-$85,000

Generous Brands is dedicated to inspiring people to thrive through the power of vibrant nutrition through its leading brands, Bolthouse Farms, Health‑Ade, and Evolution Fresh. Generous Brands partners with SAMBAZON to manufacture, distribute and sell SAMBAZON branded beverages.

Bolthouse Farms is a pre‑eminent provider of chilled juice, smoothies, shakes, and protein drinks. Health‑Ade is the fastest growing kombucha brand, dedicated to creating bubbly beverages that boost gut health. Evolution Fresh is a premier cold‑pressed juice brand with national availability. And SAMBAZON beverages bottle the superfruit power of açaí in juice and natural energy cans.

The company operates its North American business from facilities in Southern California, and the Greater Chicago Area. To learn more, please visit

This role plays a vital part in the company's achievements by strategizing, coordinating, and implementing operational excellence systems and procedures to bolster manufacturing efficiency, output, and capability. Demonstrates and embodies the company's core values.

• Implement and maintain a 5S culture.
• Project manage plant‑level initiatives and individual improvement endeavors, ensuring adherence to timelines and conducting follow‑ups to sustain enhancements.
• Educate, mentor, and coach team members on operational excellence and Lean manufacturing principles.
• Lead the way to foster a positive team attitude, trust in leadership, and collaboration to achieve business outcomes.
• Lead cross‑functional teams at all levels in problem‑solving and improvement initiatives, aiming to eliminate waste, cut costs, and drive operational excellence.
• Facilitate problem‑solving sessions and root cause analysis to address operational challenges.
• Develop relationships with all levels of the organization to achieve strategic goals.
• Communicate progress and results of improvement projects to stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Support the implementation of new systems to leverage data analysis for tactical and strategic decision‑making to enhance safety, quality, and reliability.
• Analyze data using Minitab and/or other similar programs to draw conclusions and implement solutions.
• Track and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of improvement initiatives.
• Stay updated on industry trends and best practices in continuous improvement to identify new opportunities for optimization.
• Coordinate and oversee improvement initiatives, managing projects from inception (current state) to completion (future state), meeting cost, schedule, and performance targets.

• Analytical
  
  Skills:
  
  Ability to analyze complex problems, data, and processes to drive informed decision‑making and identify improvement opportunities.
• Project Management:
  Proficiency in managing projects from conception to implementation, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and performance criteria.
• Lean Methodologies Expertise:
  Strong understanding and practical application of Lean manufacturing principles and other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Leadership and Communication:
  Excellent leadership skills to inspire and guide teams, coupled with effective communication abilities to convey improvement strategies and gain buy‑in at all levels.
• Strategic Thinking:
  Capability to align improvement initiatives with broader business objectives and create strategies that drive organizational growth.
• Change Management:
  Skill in managing change associated with implementing new processes or initiatives, facilitating smooth transitions and adoption.
• Training and Development:
  Experience in designing and delivering training programs tailored to foster a continuous improvement culture and enhance employee skills.
• Problem‑solving:
  Proficiency in leading cross‑functional teams through problem‑solving activities to eliminate waste, reduce costs, and drive operational…