Global Continuous Improvement; Mdi) Manager - Europe

Position Title: Global Continuous Improvement (MDI) Manager
- Europe Based

Position Type: Regular
- Full-Time

Grade: Grade 06

Requisition : 44204

Location: GB (Scarborough or Whittlesey) / Netherlands (Lelystad) / France (Villeneuve-d'Ascq (VDA))

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.

This is a rare opportunity to join a high-performing global team at a pivotal moment in the evolution of McCain's proprietary Manufacturing Operating System - MDI (McCain Driving Impact). Built entirely in-house and currently in active deployment across 30+ plants worldwide, MDI is still being shaped, and this hire will have a genuine seat at the table in influencing its design.

Following internal promotion, we are looking for a Global MDI Manager who can land running. You will partner with plant and regional leadership teams across the globe to deploy, coach and sustain our Manufacturing Operating System - driving real growth, cultural change, and measurable cost improvements. This is not an execution role; it is a systems-thinking, influence-led position for someone who has built and deployed CI frameworks from the ground up.

• Support and lead the global deployment of MDI
  - McCain's Manufacturing Operating System - across a network of 30+ manufacturing sites, currently at Phase 2–3 of rollout.
• Facilitate the development of Daily Management Systems with cross-functional global leaders and their regional teams, driving standards and sustainment through governance and assessment processes.
• Partner with Regional Manufacturing Leadership Teams to identify and deliver cost savings through manufacturing process improvement.
• Perform loss analysis and lead focused improvement initiatives using proven CI methodologies (TPM, IWS, Lean, DMAIC, A3 and equivalents).
• Coach continuous improvement skills and mindset at all levels of the organisation - building lasting capability rather than dependency.
• Lead strategic ad hoc projects that contribute to the financial and cultural objectives of the Global Manufacturing function.
• Contribute to the ongoing design and evolution of the MDI system itself - this role sits at a genuine inflection point in the programme's development.
• Stay at the forefront of manufacturing excellence innovation, including the emerging integration of digital tools and process digitisation within MDI.

• Demonstrable experience designing and deploying a Continuous Improvement or Manufacturing Operating System autonomously - you have built the playbook, not just followed one.
• Deep working knowledge of TPM, IWS or equivalent integrated work systems philosophy, with Lean Black Belt or equivalent methodology as a benchmark.
• At least ten years of leadership or management experience within Continuous Improvement and Plant Operations, with a minimum of five years leading and coaching at least two of the following:
  Autonomous Manufacturing (TPM), Focused Improvement (DMAIC, 8D, A3), Daily Management Systems (IWS, HPWS, WCM), Early Management / Vertical Start-Up, or Skills Development / Work Simplification.
• FMCG manufacturing experience is essential; backgrounds in automotive or pharmaceutical manufacturing are also of strong interest.
• A Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations Management, Science, Engineering or a related field;
  Lean / CI certification and PMP designation are a bonus.

• The emotional and organisational maturity to lead entirely through influence - you can negotiate with Plant Directors, understand where to push and where to compromise, and build credibility without direct authority.
• A self-starter who thrives with autonomy and operates effectively across global cultures with minimal supervision.
• Excellent facilitation, communication and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to engage and influence senior leaders.
• Comfortable in ambiguity - able to define a plan and create clarity in a fast-moving, complex environment.
• Bilingua…