Global Continous Improvement Manager - Operations

Join Oterra in making natural food and beverages easy, for a sustainable and healthy world.
Headquartered in Denmark, with production sites in Europe, Latin America, and the US, we’re a passionate team of over 1400 team members of 48 nationalities in 27 countries worldwide, serving 120 markets globally. As the leading worldwide provider of natural colors, we offer food and beverage manufacturers an alternative to artificial colors. Food and health are at the heart of everything we do and every day over 400 million people eat a product with our colors in it. We believe that nature got it right the first time.

 
Meet your new team!

We are looking for an experienced Global Continuous Improvement Manager – Operations. The Global Continuous Improvement Manager is responsible for driving continuous improvement initiatives and promoting a culture of efficiency.  The role involves implementing Lean  principles and methodologies to optimize production processes, eliminate waste, and enhance overall operational performance. The Global Continuous Improvement Manager is preferrable based at our HQ in DK but for the right candidate one of our office  in  Italy, France, Spain, USA, Peru, Brazil is also an option.

What would your role look like?

 The Global Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager works site by site with our COO and drives operational excellence worldwide by developing, implementing, and sustaining strategies to boost efficiency, quality, and productivity, lead cross-functional teams, coach for cultural change, track KPIs, and ensure best practices are shared globally, ultimately reducing costs and enhancing value across all sites. 

Duties and responsibilities:

• Strategy & Leadership: Develop and execute the global CI strategy, championing a CI culture and fostering cross-functional collaboration in close partnership with the Global Operations leadership team.
• Process Optimization: Analyse current processes, identify inefficiencies, and lead specific high potential projects to streamline workflows and eliminate waste.
• Methodology Expertise: Apply WCM, Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, BPA and other tools to solve problems and improve performance.
• Team Development: Coach and train management and employees in problem-solving, standardized work, and CI/WCM/BPA tools.
• Performance Measurement: Establish a pragmatic and meaningful governance model, KPIs, track progress, and report results to senior leadership.
• Global Best Practices: Share successful improvements and standardized processes across all international sites. 

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an experienced profile. To succeed in this role, you must have excellent  change - and communication skills combined with analytical and problem- solving skills, interpersonal skills and ability to lead and influence cross functional teams.

Experience and skills required

•  Hold bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical) Operations management, or related field.
• More than 3 years’ experience within production, preferably in a multi-plant industrial or manufacturing environment or in consulting environment.
• Have proven experience in anchoring and creating excitement about lean manufacturing and process improvement.
• Strong knowledge of lean principles and methodologies.
• Experience  in opportunity assessment, loss mapping and cost out programs, value chain mapping and lead-time reduction, kaizen & focused improvement programs and operations.
• Experience in LEAN standard work, WCM work place organization, TPM planned and autonomous maintenance, quality management system, health safety and environment requirements for shopfloor continuous improvement programs.
• Customer-oriented and multicultural work experience, able to interact with internal stakeholders and external parties. Managing diverse relationships from top management to the production floor.
• Fluent in English; additional languages (especially Danish, Spanish, Italian, French or Chinese ) are a plus.
• Willingness to travel internationally as required (btw 10% – 25% of the time).

What can we offer?

Oterra teams are characterized by having a culture where we all chip in when and where it is needed, have a flat structure but high standards, enjoy a good laugh, and have a pragmatic and operational approach to driving the operations and business growth globally.

• Competitive compensation package
• Multicultural, cross- functional teams
• Continuous opportunities for learning and career progression
• High exposure to senior management and quick decision making
• A meaningful job working bright colors that not only inspires and exceites, but also helps make food and beverages healthier and natural

Further information and application

We would love to know more about you and your motivation for this job! Please send us a CV in English.

Please note that we will be working with a continuous selection process, which means that we may close the application process earlier than stated if we find the right candidates. So, don’t delay, please send us your application today.

Start: As soon as possible.