Director, Continuous Improvement - KeHE Distributors, LLC

• Health/Rx
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible and health spending accounts (FSA/HSA)
• Supplemental life insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Paid sick time
• Short term & long term disability coverage (STD/LTD)
• Employee stock ownership (ESOP)
• Holiday pay for company designated holidays

Good people, working with good people, for our common good.

Sound good?

KeHE-a natural, organic, specialty and fresh food distributor-is all about "good" and is growing, so there's never been a more exciting time to join our team. If you're enthusiastic about working in an environment with a people-first culture and an organization committed to good living, good food and good service, we'd love to talk to you!

The Director of Continuous Improvement will play a pivotal role in shaping our organizational capabilities by designing, implementing, and overseeing initiatives focused on Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies. This strategic position requires a visionary leader who can develop and execute a comprehensive training strategy to remove all forms of waste and drive a continuous improvement culture. As with all positions at KeHE Distributors, we expect that all actions will be consistent with KeHE’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leads and develops a team of continuous improvement engineers focused on developing and adapting continuous improvement efforts to best serve the business.
• Formulates and executes strategy plans aligned with the organization's continuous improvement goals.
• Drives execution and standardization of processes and initiatives to reduce waste.
• Collaborates with executive leadership to ensure improvement initiatives support the overall business strategy.
• Incorporates best practices, case studies, and real-world examples to enhance the practical application of continuous improvement principles.
• Conducts thorough time studies to establish accurate baseline data for operational processes, identifies areas for improvement and efficiency gains.
• Manages and oversees distribution process enhancement projects ensuring consistent implementation and successful outcomes.
• Collaborates with operations teams to identify waste, bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas of improvement within current distribution processes.
• Collaborates with cross functional teams to analyze, design, and implement distribution process improvements in alignment with company goals and objectives.
• Develops and delivers training programs to distribution center staff on updated processes, new technologies, and Lean principles to drive continuous improvement.
• Analyzes data, generates performance metrics, and prepare regular reports to measure the effectiveness of implemented improvements, identifying trends and opportunities for further enhancements
• Leads the development and execution of Lean projects to eliminate waste, streamline processes, and enhance overall productivity within distribution centers
• Stays current with industry trends and best practices in distribution and process optimization to proactively identify innovative solutions
• Establishes and assesses key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the improvement success and impact of initiatives.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to manage various teams and provide leadership effectively.
• Ability to communicate effectively and in a professional manner both verbally and written.
• Ability to influence others to enhance change management outcomes.
• Strong proficiency in warehouse management, labor management, and slotting software to enhance operation capabilities.
• Strong expertise with time studies, process analysis, and workflow optimization.
• Advanced skills in project management to create efficient processes through waste elimination.
• Strong understanding of Lean principles and expertise in implementing projects.
• Ability to synthesize data and provide clear, concise recommendations.
• Strong relationship management skills and ability to provide guidance to higher management levels internally and externally.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to manage and lead projects across multiple sites, ensuring consistent implementation and successful outcomes.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross functional teams.
• Willingness to travel to various distribution center locations by airplane, rail, rental, or personal motor vehicle for about 25%-70% of time.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or related field required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Certification and training in Lean is required.
• Six Sigma certification is preferred.
• 10+ years of experience working in continuous improvement in a distribution or supply chain environment including 5+ years of management experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.