What is this job about?

Are you a Continuous Improvement Specialist who has a passion for not being satisfied with the status quo? Are you motivated to pursue positive change and work with employees in facilitating recommended changes? We are looking for a successful continuous improvement specialist that has excellent verbal and written communication skills and an ability to communicate with all levels of employees from upper management to production floor workers.

You will work with all positions to explain the reasons for changing processes and how to make those changes. Using Lean Six Sigma methodologies, the Continuous Improvement Leader leads the improvement efforts and trains others to implement them.

Why should you join our team?

Our company is rapidly growing offering potential career growth opportunities.

Dessert Holdings is North America’s fastest growing premium dessert company, recognized for providing retail and foodservice customers with chef-inspired innovative desserts made with real ingredients, a flexible and low-cost supply chain, and best in class service. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, it is a collection of premium dessert companies and brands: Steven Charles, The Original Cakerie, Lawler’s Desserts, Atlanta Cheesecake Company and most recently, Dianne’s Fine Desserts. Dessert Holdings is owned by Bain Capital and is continuing its journey of rapid growth.

The company employs approximately 3,000 people across eight manufacturing facilities and its headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota. The manufacturing facilities are geographically dispersed, with two facilities in Canada and one each in Colorado, Texas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and North Carolina.

Who are we looking for?

A team player who wants to join a rapid growing company with 5-7 years experience managing CI in a food production environment. Being organized and adept at weighing and managing priorities is key for a successful continuous improvement professional since there can be competition for what is handled and when. Using keen analytical skills and synthesizing information comes into play when determining how current processes can be improved.

Job responsibilities:

Primary responsibilities of a Continuous Improvement Specialist:

· Identify opportunities for process improvement, waste removal, and cost reduction

· Plan, facilitate, execute, and track continuous improvement events using Lean Six Sigma tools

· Teach, lead, and coach cross-functional teams on Lean Six Sigma tools and methodology

· Work to continuously improve processes both on the production floor as well as transactional by collaborating with multiple functions such as logistics

Some core responsibilities of the Continuous Improvement Specialist:

· Clearly define CI program objectives and scope

· Evaluate and prioritize potential improvements based on value and required effort

· Work with Site Leadership to advance CI program and deliverables

· Secure employee commitment (ex: process managers) for proactive change management

· Identify available resources (for example, people, material, and finances)

· Communicate a compelling case for change for CI initiatives

· Establish a clear and well-articulated implementation plan

· Establish criteria for the project’s success and preparing a sound statement of risks/constraints/limiting factors

· Appropriately implement principles of CI program governance

· Resolve technical problems such as formulation, equipment, product, interpretation of regulations, and resource availability

· Determine priorities for CI initiatives, and updating based on new information / need for intervention

· Conduct detailed analysis of issues to uncover root cause and size-of-prize

· Specify deliverables, outcome indicators, and performance-measured indicators

· Create project charters, including mapping out current vs. future state

· Clearly define methodology

· Specify obstacles and ways to overcome them through continuous improvement

· Regularly monitor the implementation of solutions to achieve objectives and expected benefits

· Report on progress and impact of CI initiatives per CI governance requirements

Required and Desired Skills:

Being organized and adept at weighing and managing priorities is key for a successful continuous improvement professional since there can be competition for what is handled and when. Using keen analytical skills and synthesizing information comes into play when determining how current processes can be improved.

Soft Skills:

· Coaching and the ability to develop key personnel

· Passion for Continuous Improvement

· Ability to communicate with all levels within the organization

· Excellent written and oral communication skills

· Predisposition to teach leaders a zero defect mentality

· Ability to weigh and manage priorities

· Skilled at synthesis and analysis

· Detail oriented

· Flexibility and diplomacy when dealing with staff and coworkers

· Ability to make decisions as well as influence decision-making

· Strong work habits focusing on safety, quality, and productivity

· Organizational skills

· Ability to multitask

· Project management

· Customer service

Hard Skills:

· Continuous Improvement

· Data Management and Analysis

· Basic Autonomous Maintenance Principles

· 5S

· Lean Manufacturing

· Kaizen

· Root Cause Analysis

· Value Stream Mapping

· Proficiency in commonly used and specialized software

· Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Suite, including advanced skills with Excel

· Demonstrated ability to work in high paced and changing environments

Required/Desired Education and Qualifications

· Bachelor’s Degree in business administration, finance, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field.

What is there for you?

· Competitive salary package to include annual performance bonus

· Benefits starts within 30 days

· Relocation benefits for out of state candidates

· Join a fast-growing company serving well known retailers and food service companies.