Continuous Improvement Leader

Continuous Improvement Lead (Operations)

This role supports both NPD and Operational Excellence activities, with a focus on process improvement, data-driven decision making, and cross-functional collaboration. The position involves leading CI initiatives, optimising production processes, maintaining data systems, and ensuring machinery settings and documentation meet safety, quality, and performance standards. The individual will also provide technical leadership, training, and project management support to drive efficiency and embed a culture of continuous improvement across the site.

Continuous Improvement Lead Areas of Responsibility

20% – NPD Process / Method Engineering

* Support NPD trials and define/document machinery settings.

* Improve machinery performance for safety, quality, and efficiency.

* Train and coach teams, maintaining up-to-date training records.

* Analyse yield/loss from trials, prepare reports, and support mass balancing, ensure document control for products, machinery settings, and quality and Provide technical and people management support.

* Assist Production in meeting targets, compliance, and traceability.

* Support integration of new equipment/methods and compile data reports.

80% – Operational Excellence

* Partner with Operational Excellence Manager to deliver site strategy and Lead CI initiatives (e.g. SIMs, RCA, White Belt training).

* Improve efficiency using OEE monitoring, DMAIC, and A3 methodology.

* Maintain/develop Power-Bi and data monitoring systems.

* Track and manage KPIs, ensuring alignment with business requirements.

* Drive benchmarking, best practice adoption, and CI tool use (SMED, 5S, VSM, etc.), Support financial roadmap, capital projects, corrective actions, and new integrations and Deliver CI training and role-cover for Operational Excellence Manager.

* Collaborate across functions to develop and maintain tools/databases.

* Provide leadership in CI projects and communicate progress effectively.

Continuous Improvement Lead Experience Skills & Competencies

* Six Sigma Yellow Belt (Green Belt preferred).

* Food Safety, IOSHH, and HACCP desirable.

* 3–5 years in a similar role; bakery industry desirable.

* Project management experience, ideally in operational efficiency, excellence, or NPD.

* Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel (queries, pivot, dashboards), and Power-Bi and Knowledge of quality control testing and Strong analytical, organisational, and commercial awareness.

* Project management capability.

* Flexibility to work occasional nights/weekends when required.

Continuous Improvement Lead Benefits

* Salary: £48k (DOE)

* Mon to Fri 830AM - 500PM

* Company events

* Company pension

* Cycle to work scheme

* Life insurance

* On-site parking

* Referral programme

* Sick pay

Unfortunately, due to time restrictions we cannot respond to every applicant, in the event that we haven’t contacted you within 48 hours please take it you have not been successful for this particular role, but your details will be kept on file and considered for all future vacancies.

We are an equal opportunities agency and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

We are acting on behalf of the client as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy