Director of Continuous Improvement & Process Dev
Job Description:
Position Summary:
The Director of Continuous Improvement (& Process Development) oversees the Continuous Improvement department and is the primary party responsible for:
• Analyzing, mapping, auditing, and monitoring of business-wide processes and functional area policy and procedures
• Developing and implementing strategies to optimize process flow and increase efficiencies
• Improving cross-functional communication and optimizing use of project management software (Asana; MS office programs; etc.)
• Spearheading, assisting and/or leading improvement projects
• Liaising with IT/Business OPS and PD consultants to ensure company needs are reflected and captured in the development and rollout of enterprise-level software/systems
• Serving as mentor or leader in continuous improvement processes for staff
The Director of CI/PD is responsible for overseeing the selection and sequencing of process steps from a repertoire of unit operations, working with cross functional project team(s) to lead project management activities and continuous improvement initiatives within, to drive better execution of wine production and to ensure project milestones are achieved.
In addition of supporting the overall project management infrastructure (metrics, reporting, administration, business reviews etc.) this role will participate in implementing best practice tools and techniques and creating SOPs for project management within wine projects.
This role will oversee the Sr. Project Manager (and any other roles involving CI/PD.)
Classification: Salary/Exempt, Full-Time position with benefits.
Compensation: The salary for this role is DOE. As a Director-level position, it also carries potential for an annual bonus payment, of up to 10% of salary (based on a combination of company profitability, KPIs, and discretionary review).
Essential Duties:
• Supervise Project Manager (and other PMs) to ensure companywide SOPs are in place and being followed, and that all individual product/SKUs are being shepherded and optimized for efficient delivery lifecycle systems/oversight Work with key management personnel to identify, codify and create SOPs and controls for all new label/SKU concepts, from approved concept through delivery of final product
• Work closely with ownership and key management members to optimize Sales, Production, Operations & Planning cycles
• Conduct ongoing assessments of production methods and capabilities; interview and serve as member of cross-functional teams to gather information
• Formalize recommendations for system and process improvement, utilizing history, modeling and building data capture methods to track and review functional area errors and inefficiencies
• Assess special project issues and develop solutions or improvements to meet productivity, quality, and client-satisfaction (both customer and interdepartmental levels) and objectives.
• Work closely with all leaders, especially directors of Planning, Production, Supply Chain and Winemaking, to ensure that processes are integrated and cross-functional, adequately supporting business needs and improving productivity while reducing down time and loss
• Maintain high working knowledge of industry trends and utilize market intelligence to guide strategies and goal setting
• Provide report outs to Board and management as requested
• Serve as liaison for production and other key areas with IT/Business Operations in exploring, implementing, integrating and presenting the training and rollout of new project and/or software implementations or processes
• Other duties as assigned
Requirements
• Five or more years’ experience in project management, process development and/or continuous improvement processes within a high-volume, wine manufacturing environment, with a minimum of 3 years in a managerial or supervisory role
• Strong individual contributor with the ability to self-direct with little supervision; must work routinely as an independent auditor, possessing deep understanding of winemaking, demand planning, supply chain and wine manufacturing
• Highly organized; experience with CI processes required (Six Sigma, Agile, Transactional Lean, etc.); project management certification a big plus
• Fluent in the creation, utilization, and measurement of SOPs
• Must be able to lead a small team of auditors, project managers or other personnel effectively
• Must be able to work effectively with all levels of management; demonstrated ability to bring consensus and communicate effectively (oral and written)
• Bachelor’s degree required; degree in business or project management, supply chain, or a similar field a huge plus; Masters’ degree preferred; equivalent work experience acceptable
• High level of business acumen with the ability to problem solve, forecast, and create advanced projections in a complex/matrixed environment
• Ability to meet deadlines; Strong analytical skills required with attention to detail and data integrity, ability to synthesize insights into meaningful, actionable directions
• Ability to make improvements within processes, systems or products to enhance performance of functional areas
• Experience with Asana a big plus
• Responsible for producing ad hoc reports as required, utilizing different software programs; oral presentations for the Board or senior management may be regularly required
• Maintain, support and actively promote a safe working environment
• Ability to sit for long periods of time (eight or more hours per day).
• Ability to see and hear and respond to visual and auditory stimuli (due to equipment and related work/workflow of a warehouse environment, working with marketing art files, etc.) is likely required.
• Ability to lift 15+ pounds at a time
• Must be fully fluent in English; fluency or ability in Spanish a big plus but not required