Director, Continuous Improvement

Why Work for KeHE?

• Full-time
• Pay Range: $140,000.00/Yr. - $175,000.00/Yr. Bonus: 20%
• Shift Days: M- FRI, Shift Time:
• Benefits on Day 1
• 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
  

Overview

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!

Primary Responsibilities

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.

Essential Functions

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.
  
  

Minimum Requirements, Qualifications, Additional Skills, Aptitude

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.
  
  

Requisition ID

2024-24257

Equal Employer Opportunity Statement

KeHE Distributors provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion or faith, sex, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability or medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training as well as the administration of all Human Resources and Talent Acquisition processes.