Manager of Continuous Improvement

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Dawn Foods is a global leader in bakery manufacturing and ingredients distribution. As the partner of choice for inspiring bakery success, we helpcustomers grow their business through meaningful partnerships, research-driven insights and innovations, and products and expertise they can depend on. As a family-owned company, our commitments to our people, products, customers, and corporate values, are all part of our recipe for success.

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Why work for Dawn Foods?

PEOPLE. PRODUCTS. CUSTOMERS.

Why should you apply? We invest in you!

• Industry-leading health insurance on Day 1!
• Competitive Pay
• 401(K) + company match
• 10 Paid Company Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• Professional training
• Family-owned business over 100 years in service
• An opportunity for career advancement, working as part of an empowering workforce

Job Purpose and Overview

The Manager of Continuous Improvement (CI) - Supply Chain supports the ongoing optimization of distribution site operations by leading strategic initiatives focused on process improvement, waste reduction, and operational efficiency. This role partners closely with distribution center leadership and cross-functional teams to implement Lean principles, Six Sigma methodologies, and data-driven strategies that drive performance improvements across logistics, warehousing, and inventory management processes.

Work Setting & Travel Requirements: This is a remote position with up to 50% travel.

What will you do as a Manager of Continuous Improvementat Dawn Foods?

• Identify, prioritize, and lead continuous improvement initiatives across multiple distribution centers, aligning with overall supply chain and business goals.
• Collaborate with site leaders and the Director of Continuous Improvement to assess current processes, conduct gap analyses, and implement best practices using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Communicate project goals, progress, and results to both site-level teams and executive leadership to ensure viability and buy-in.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, root cause analyses, and value stream mapping exercises to improve safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance.
• Develop and track KPIs and operational metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of CI efforts and support decision-making. Ensure sustainability of improvements through control plans, audits, and integration of new standards into daily operations.
• Serve as a change agent to foster a culture of continuous improvement and employee empowerment at all levels of the organization.
• Design and deliver CI training programs for frontline employees, supervisors, and managers.
• Standardize processes across distribution sites to ensure consistency and scalability.
• Evaluate new technologies and automation tools that can enhance efficiency and reduce operational costs.
• Support strategic projects such as warehouse layout optimization, labor planning, inventory control, and order fulfillment enhancements.
• Coach, mentor, and develop direct report(s) to become subject matter experts in continuous improvement tools and philosophies.
• Design and execute a scalable CI capability-building toolkit for frontline leaders, supervisors, and site managers across the distribution network.
• Establish a CI talent pipeline by identifying high-potential employees and guiding their development through hands-on project leadership and structured learning.

What Does It Take to be a Manager of Continuous Improvement at Dawn Foods?

Below are the minimum qualifications to be a fit for this job.

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor's degree in business administration, process management, supply chain, industrial engineering, or engineering management, with a minimum of 7 years' experience in manufacturing, logistics, distribution, warehousing, and/or other related supply chain fields. In lieu of a degree, 11 years of equivalent experience is required. A Master's degree is preferred.




• A minimum of2 years' owning continuous improvement initiatives.
• A minimum of 3 years' experience leading and supervising others.




• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt preferred.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional teams and managing direct reports, and strong interpersonal skills to drive change without direct authority.
• Requires excellent oral, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Requires analytical problem-solving skills, time management skills, and advanced skills in the use of data management tools to monitor progress toward goals.
• Proven track record of leading successful CI initiatives in a distribution or warehouse environment.
• Strong ability to influence others without direct authority to seek and gain executive alignment and activate resources to deliver project commitments.
• Relevant experience in food distribution and/or bakery products is preferred.
• Proficiency in Excel, SQL, or data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI) strongly preferred.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is performed in an office or remote setting with no unusual hazards.
• Ability to work in a professional office/distribution environment.
• Travel required: Up to 50%.

Note:The level of physical effort may vary from site to site and in some cases be greater or lesser than documented here.

If this sounds like the opportunity that you have been looking for, please click "Apply."

About Our Benefits

Dawn is proud to employ the top talent in the baking industry, and we reward our people with comprehensive health and well-being coverage, competitive compensation packages, and award-winning benefit offerings. We also help protect your future financial health with a generous 401(k) matching program that provides additional retirement funds and many tools and resources on financial wellness. Dawn encourages professional growth through tuition assistance and educational programs, and we are always searching for ways to improve our industry-leading services and benefits.

Compensation:

Base salary range $90,960.00 to $145,540.00 with bonus potential.

#LI-Remote #LI-CJ1

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An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender expression, citizenship status, military or veteran status, genetic information or any other status or condition that is protected by applicable law.

Requisition ID: 37296