Job Description

Operational Excellence Manager

Location: Leola, PA

About Opportunity
A brand-new paper plate manufacturing Center of Excellence is opening in Leola, PA. We are seeking a passionate, results-driven Operational Excellence Manager to help launch and sustain this new operation. With a relentless focus on manufacturing excellence and continuous improvement, you will play a key role in fostering a “One Team” culture—uniting people around shared goals and delivering meaningful outcomes.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and paid holidays
• A values-driven culture that prioritizes safety, integrity, innovation, and teamwork
• Training and development programs to support career growth
• A chance to make a meaningful impact at a new Center of Excellence

What You’ll Do

• Lead and sustain continuous improvement (CI) initiatives that improve KPIs, reduce waste and variability, and eliminate bottlenecks using Lean tools and data-driven problem solving
• Champion Daily Management Systems (DMS) and Lean principles across teams, ensuring consistent understanding and application
• Facilitate Kaizens, lead follow-up problem-solving meetings, and train Managers, Leads, and Supervisors to independently apply CI tools and sustain improvements
• Reduce waste, defects, and process variability through data-driven analysis and problem solving
• Identify and eliminate production bottlenecks to improve flow and efficiency
• Facilitate and support action plans tied to strategic operational goals (A3s, Gantt charts, etc.)

What You Bring

• Acts as a proactive change agent with the ability to influence and align stakeholders at all levels toward a culture of continuous improvement
• Strong analytical and project management skills with the ability to identify root causes, solve complex problems, and deliver measurable results
• Clear and effective communication skills; able to train and engage cross-functional teams
• Champions ownership, accountability, and a learning mindset to strengthen operational discipline and team empowerment
• Builds strong cross-functional relationships to align priorities, share best practices, and accelerate improvement efforts

Experience & Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in Operations, Engineering, or related manufacturing field
• 5+ years of continuous improvement experience in a manufacturing environment
• Deep experience in CI, Lean manufacturing, and operational excellence
• Strong knowledge of methodologies such as FMEA, SMED, Kaizen, 5S, VSM, and Root Cause Analysis
• Skilled in data collection and statistical analysis; experienced in identifying loss and variation
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office with the ability to develop actionable reports and implementation plans
• Preferred: Lean/Six Sigma certification and background in paper converting

Work Schedule & Travel

• Initial schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Will transition to 24/7 operations later this year; flexibility required
• Travel required up to 50% during the first several months and throughout 2025–2026 for onboarding, training, and operational excellence initiatives
• Travel will primarily occur Monday–Friday, with some weekend travel as needed