Director of Continuous Improvement

This is an office/hybrid position with an ideal base location in Bardstown or Louisville, KY.

What the Role Is

The Director of Continuous Improvement is responsible for the strategic oversight and management of the Heaven Hill Production System across our 9 internal sites and key strategic partnerships. This role will drive the development and execution of strategies that enhance operational efficiency, improve quality, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. A key area of focus will be on educating leadership on core principles and partnering directly with Site Directors to develop and advance the Heaven Hill Production System. The Director will also be responsible for establishing and monitoring key performance metrics to ensure the successful implementation of improvement initiatives. This position is intended to bring breakthrough cost savings and reliability improvements by working across the organization.

How You Will Spend Your Time?

• Advance foundational systems such as Centerlining, Clean-Inspect-Lubricate, and Preventive Maintenance Routines. Implement Daily Direction Setting standards with consistent formatting, cadence, and expectations against eliminating losses daily through a rigorous and data-focused daily effort.
• Implement Early Equipment Management techniques, including Commissioning-Qualification-Verification, Project Success Criteria, and Unit Operation Capacity Management tools, to ensure success against capital expansion improvements and reliability of new equipment.
• Develop and lead the execution of comprehensive continuous improvement strategies that align with corporate objectives. Focus on maximizing value, standardizing processes, and leveraging best practices to drive operational excellence.
• Educate leadership on core principles of continuous improvement and partner directly with Site Directors to develop and advance the Heaven Hill Production System.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and improve quality across all production sites and strategic partnerships.
• Establish and maintain measurable performance metrics for all continuous improvement activities, including process efficiency, quality improvement, and cost savings. Regularly report to senior management on progress and outcomes.
• Develop and deliver training programs to build continuous improvement capabilities within the organization. Foster a culture of continuous improvement by engaging and empowering employees at all levels.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including production, quality, and supply chain, to ensure the successful implementation of improvement initiatives. Collaborate with key strategic partners to drive continuous improvement efforts.
• Drive breakthrough cost savings and reliability improvements by working across the organization to implement effective continuous improvement strategies.
• Drive a continuous improvement culture within the organization.
• Use metrics to support process owners in linking projects to strategic operational objectives.
• Assist teams in developing Lean roadmaps for strategic objectives.
• Identify and share best practices across business units.
  
  

Who You Are…

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or equivalent business experience.
• Minimum seven (7) years of progressive experience in continuous improvement or a related field, with extensive experience in the manufacturing industry.
• Ability to coordinate multiple group efforts within the company to achieve objectives.
• Extensive experience in process improvement, particularly in manufacturing and supply chain.
• Proficiency in Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement principles.
• Strong leadership and project management skills.
• Hands-on knowledge of manufacturing, warehouse, logistics, distribution, or engineering.
• Proven ability to develop and execute continuous improvement strategies that align with overall business objectives, with a focus on operational excellence and quality improvement.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data, identify trends, and develop actionable insights for process improvement.
• Track record of building and leading high-performing teams, with the ability to motivate and develop team members to achieve their full potential.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts clearly and persuasively to a wide range of audiences.
• Proactive self-starter with the ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and deliver results under tight deadlines.
  
  

Required Skills

Valued but not Required Skills and Experience:

• Lean Six Sigma Certification
• MBA or advanced degree in a related discipline
  
  

Physical Requirements

While performing duties of job, employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands and fingers to handle, or feel objects, and use of computer; reach with hands and arms. Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Benefits

• Paid Vacation
• 11 Paid Holidays
• Health, Dental & Vision eligibility from day one
• FSA/HSA
• 401K match
• EAP
• Maternity/Paternity Leave
  
  

Heaven Hill and its affiliates are committed to fostering a diverse workforce as an Equal Employment Opportunity company. We invite applications from candidates of all backgrounds, without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, natural origin, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic.