job purpose

The Senior Continuous Improvement Manager serves as a strategic leader and architect of Fairlife’s Operational Excellence (Op‑Ex) framework, driving enterprise‑level transformation and sustainable performance improvement at the Webster, NY site. This senior role is accountable for shaping long‑term Continuous Improvement (CI) strategy, elevating operational capabilities, and embedding a culture of excellence that advances safety, quality, productivity, and financial outcomes.

Acting as a senior change agent, this leader influences cross‑functional direction, mentors CI practitioners, and ensures alignment between site‑level initiatives and Fairlife’s broader organizational goals. The ideal candidate brings deep technical mastery, proven leadership in large‑scale transformation, and the ability to inspire cultural change through vision, influence, and disciplined execution.

responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Transformation

• Lead the strategic deployment of the Operational Excellence framework across the site, ensuring alignment with fairlife’s enterprise CI roadmap and long‑term business objectives.
• Partner with senior site and corporate leadership to shape CI strategy, prioritize initiatives, and embed Op‑Ex principles into daily operations and long‑range planning.
• Serve as the senior advisor on Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies, guiding leaders in decision‑making and capability development.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Provide senior‑level leadership to the Op‑Ex team, including oversight of CI Practitioners ensuring high performance, engagement, and professional growth.
• Build organizational CI capability by developing structured training programs, coaching leaders at all levels, and establishing clear expectations for CI behaviors and performance.
• Foster a culture of accountability, empowerment, and continuous learning across the site.
• Lead critical and business impactful problem solving initiatives.

Operational Excellence Deployment

• Oversee the design, execution, and governance of CI initiatives, ensuring rigorous project selection, scoping, and prioritization to maximize impact and ROI.
• Lead and facilitate advanced problem‑solving workshops, Kaizen events, and cross‑functional improvement efforts that deliver measurable, sustainable results.
• Champion cultural transformation efforts that embed continuous improvement into the site’s operating rhythm, including daily management systems, tiered accountability, and standard work.

Performance Management & Analytics

• Establish, monitor, and analyze key performance indicators to identify systemic gaps and drive strategic corrective actions.
• Own the Op‑Ex Scorecard and develop multi‑year CI/Kaizen roadmaps aligned with corporate and site‑level objectives.
• Partner with Finance to validate financial impacts, track savings, and ensure transparency of CI‑related value creation.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Present insights, progress updates, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Advocate for the Operational Excellence brand across Fairlife, promoting alignment, engagement, and enthusiasm for CI initiatives.
• Provide ongoing cross‑functional coaching to strengthen CI deployment and ensure consistent application of Op‑Ex tools and methodologies.

skills/qualifications required:

Technical Expertise

• Advanced proficiency in daily visual management systems, tiered accountability, problem solving, standard work, and SMED.
• Strong analytical and process‑driven mindset with the ability to interpret complex data and translate insights into action.
• Expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem‑solving methodologies; certifications strongly preferred.

Leadership & Influence

• Demonstrated ability to lead high‑performing teams and influence leaders at all organizational levels.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to drive cultural change, resolve conflict, and make sound decisions in dynamic environments.
• Strong organizational and project management capabilities.

Team Management Qualifications

• Experience building, developing, and leading high‑performing CI teams.
• Ability to set clear expectations, create development plans, and foster a culture of accountability.
• Skilled in coaching, mentoring, and elevating CI practitioners.

Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or a technical discipline required.
• 7–12+ years of progressive experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success leading large‑scale CI initiatives and deploying Lean/Six Sigma methodologies.
• Experience in strategy development, planning, and budgeting.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Project, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio) and data visualization tools (PowerBI, Tableau, or equivalent).
• Experience training and coaching others in Lean/Six Sigma tools and principles.

working conditions & physical requirements:

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for 8–10 hours.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Reaching and bending as needed.
• Minimal exposure to hazards.

food safety requirements:

• Notify supervision of any repairs or adjustments that are required that may affect product quality or food safety.
• Understand, observe, and comply with the handling and usage of the color-coded container policy while in the Production Areas.
• Perform all duties necessary to meet Company, Customer and/or Government requirements/standards as prioritized by the Company.
• Ability to initiate action to prevent the occurrence of nonconformities relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the product, processes, quality system, or safety system.
• Identify and record any problems relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the ingredients, processes, quality system, or safety system.
• Control further processing or delivery of nonconforming product in terms of Food Safety and Quality issues until the deficiency or unsatisfactory condition has been corrected.
• In the event of absence, another employee with the same skill level will assume the duties and responsibilities as required.

how fairlife nourishes you:

At fairlife, we believe in better — and that includes how we support our people. We offer a comprehensive suite of benefits and wellbeing resources designed to support you physically, emotionally, socially, and financially, both in and out of work.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Supplemental health plans (hospital indemnity, accident, and critical illness insurance)
• Paid Time Off to recharge and support work-life balance
• Paid parental leave & adoption assistance (up to $10,000)
• Parental support & family care benefits, including childcare resources and lactation support
• 401(k) to support retirement planning with up to 9% in employer match
• Wellness reimbursement (up to $500 for qualified wellbeing expenses)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for emotional wellbeing and work-life support
• Company-paid life insurance and short-term disability
• Employer HSA funding (for HDHP participants)
• Tuition reimbursement (up to $10,000) and student loan repayment ($200/month)
• Learning & development programs to unlock your full potential
• Rewards & recognition, matching gifts, free product, and Business Resource Groups

fairlife’s nour!sh program is designed to meet you where you are — supporting your individual wellbeing journey while enabling you to do your best work every day.

position location: Webster, NY

reports to: Director of Continuous Improvement

travel requirements: ~10%

exempt/nonexempt: Exempt

job purpose:

Manager, Operational Excellence Analytics will play a pivotal role in manufacturing operations to advance fairlife’s data driven culture. This role will partner with Operations, Decision Intelligence teams, and the Enterprise Applications team to drive the development, delivery, and adoption of scalable analytics and enterprise solutions across each of the Manufacturing facilities. The Manager will oversee a team of Operations focused analytics professionals responsible for driving a data-driven culture through strategic leadership, technical expertise, and stakeholder engagement. The Manager will collaborate with the Decision Intelligence (DI) and Enterprise Application teams to ensure strategic alignment and drive business improvements within Operations.

responsibilities: 

· Lead the design, development, and deployment of analytics solutions across Operations within fairlife.

· Collaborate with the Decision Intelligence (DI) and Enterprise Application teams to ensure strategic alignment and execution of key projects within Operations.

· Manage and mentor a team of data analysts across each manufacturing location, fostering growth and technical excellence.

· Partner with business leaders to identify opportunities for data-driven decision-making and prioritize analytics initiatives.

· Oversee the creation and maintenance of dashboards, reports, and visualizations that support strategic and operational goals.

· Ensure data integrity, performance optimization, and adherence to reporting standards.

· Partner with Operations teams and the Decision Intelligence teams to develop and deliver an analytics strategy that aligns with broader organizational objectives within the Decision Intelligence framework.

· Drive adoption of analytics tools and platforms, including Power BI, Azure, and Microsoft Fabric.

· Promote a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and customer service within the data systems and analytics team

skills/qualifications required: 

· 5–8+ years of experience in analytics, data science, or business intelligence, including team leadership.

· Proven ability to translate business needs into scalable technical solutions.

· Strong proficiency in SQL, DAX, and data visualization tools such as Power BI.

· Demonstrated success in creating, publishing, and managing data-driven reports and dashboards.

· Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

· Highly detail-oriented, with a strong commitment to data accuracy and quality.

· Self-starter with a growth mindset and a passion for data.

· Comfortable working in ambiguous, fast-paced, and entrepreneurial environments.

· Experience in or supporting manufacturing environments is a plus.

· Bachelor’s degree in analytics, data science, computer science, or a related field.

· Proficiency in English: Comfortable with both written and verbal communication, including reading and writing.

food safety requirements:

· Notify supervision of any repairs or adjustments that are required that may affect product quality or food safety.

· Understand, observe, and comply with the handling and usage of the color-coded container policy while in the Production Areas.

· Perform all duties necessary to meet Company, Customer and/or Government requirements/standards as prioritized by the Company.

· Ability to initiate action to prevent the occurrence of nonconformities relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the product, processes, quality system, or safety system.

· Identify and record any problems relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the ingredients, processes, quality system, or safety system.

· Control further processing or delivery of nonconforming product in terms of Food Safety and Quality issues until the deficiency or unsatisfactory condition has been corrected.

· In the event of absence, another employee with the same skill level will assume the duties and responsibilities as required.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Supplemental health plans (hospital indemnity, accident, and critical illness insurance)
• Paid Time Off to recharge and support work-life balance
• Paid parental leave & adoption assistance (up to $10,000)
• Parental support & family care benefits, including childcare resources and lactation support
• 401(k) to support retirement planning with up to 9% in employer match
• Wellness reimbursement (up to $500 for qualified wellbeing expenses)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for emotional wellbeing and work-life support
• Company-paid life insurance and short-term disability
• Employer HSA funding (for HDHP participants)
• Tuition reimbursement (up to $10,000) and student loan repayment ($200/month)
• Learning & development programs to unlock your full potential
• Rewards & recognition, matching gifts, free product, and Business Resource Groups

position location: Coopersville, MI; Goodyear, AZ; or Webster, NY

reports to: Senior Director, Operational Excellence

travel requirements: 25%

exempt/nonexempt: exempt

job purpose: The Continuous Improvement (CI) Engineer reports to the CI Manager and plays a critical role in supporting and implementing CI initiatives to improve production performance, reduce waste, lower costs, while also enhancing safety and quality process across the dairy bottling manufacturing facility. Leveraging their experience in the beverage manufacturing environment while fostering a collaborative working culture with the other CI members and departments will be crucial to success. 

This role is a hands-on, floor-focused contributor who supports operational excellence efforts through direct engagement with manufacturing teams and processes. 

responsibilities:  

• Implement Lean tools and processes across the organization in support of the Operational Excellence framework including Visual Daily Management, 6S, Leader Standard Work, Kaizen, Root Cause Analysis, Process Mapping, etc. 

• Develop and drive key actions on the Op-Ex Lean roadmap for the site, supporting site objectives and CI priorities. 

• Drive cultural change through on-going teaching and coaching across all levels of the organization on the use of lean tools and principles to drive continuous improvement. 

• Lead complex problem-solving efforts across the organization. 

• Coach and support problem solving using a wide range of tools including Just-Do-IT, A3, Kaizen, Pareto, DMAIC, 8D, etc. 

• Lead the deployment and maintenance of key standard work initiatives including Centerlines (CL), Clean-Inspect-Lubricate (CIL), Preventative Maintenance (PM), etc. 

• Analyze manufacturing processes to identify improvement opportunities related to waste reduction, efficiency, quality, and safety using tools such as Value Stream Mapping (VSM), time studies, and basic line balancing. 

• Support improvements in key manufacturing performance indicators such as OEE, throughput, yield, and downtime reduction. 

• Support CI projects from problem identification through implementation and sustainment, including action tracking and follow-up. 

• Assist in developing and documenting standard work and best practices to ensure improvements are sustained over time. 

• Collect and analyze operational data to support KPI tracking and performance reviews. 

• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and EHS to support effective implementation of improvement actions. 

skills/qualifications required:  

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations Management, or another technical field.  

• 2–5 years of experience in a manufacturing or operations environment with exposure to continuous improvement activities. 

• Extensive experience with Lean tools and principles including:  Visual Daily Management, 6S, Leader Standard Work, Kaizen, Root Cause Analysis, Process Mapping, etc. 

• Strong problem-solving experience using a variety of tools to identify root causes and develop corrective and preventative actions. 

• Strong analytical and team-based problem-solving skills. Experience in data analysis for driving improvements.   

• Capable of leading and developing Lean / Continuous Improvement processes. 

• Ability to coach, mentor, and/or train across all levels of the organization. 

• Goal-oriented and self-driven with high levels of personal accountability and discipline for team, company, and personal growth.   

• Experience with various methods of managing and tracking improvement projects with cross-functional teams.  

• Ability to handle ambiguity and work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. 

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Supplemental health plans (hospital indemnity, accident, and critical illness insurance)
• Paid Time Off to recharge and support work-life balance
• Paid parental leave & adoption assistance (up to $10,000)
• Parental support & family care benefits, including childcare resources and lactation support
• 401(k) to support retirement planning with up to 9% in employer match
• Wellness reimbursement (up to $500 for qualified wellbeing expenses)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for emotional wellbeing and work-life support
• Company-paid life insurance and short-term disability
• Employer HSA funding (for HDHP participants)
• Tuition reimbursement (up to $10,000) and student loan repayment ($200/month)
• Learning & development programs to unlock your full potential
• Rewards & recognition, matching gifts, free product, and Business Resource Groups

position location: 100% On-Site based in Coopersville, MI (No Remote or Hybrid Option) 

reports to: Continuous Improvement Manager 

travel requirements: 0-10%  

exempt/nonexempt: Exempt 

job purpose:   

The Sr. Project Operations Manager leads all plant-side operational readiness, startup, and commissioning activities for an expansion, serving as the bridge between project execution and steady-state operation to ensure a safe, compliant and high-performing transition.  

responsibilities:  

• Lead plant-side operational readiness and startup for a major expansion by building and directing a cross functional team responsible for all activities required to successfully commission and transition new lines to steady state plant ownership. 

• Serve as the primary liaison between the project organization and plant leadership, ensuring plant operational needs, risks, and insights are fully represented in project planning, design decisions, and execution. 

• Own change management and communication to the plant, clearly translating project decisions, design changes, and operational impacts to plant teams while intentionally managing plant involvement in project forums to avoid disruption and overload. Engage plant leaders in critical discussions as needed to inform decisions and ensure readiness. 

• Oversight of hiring, training, and SOP development aligned with the project timeline and production ramp up to ensure a successful handoff to the plant team. 

• Ensure asset, maintenance, and material readiness by establishing reliable maintenance programs for all new equipment and systems, including, critical spare parts identification and inventory, preventive maintenance strategies and schedules. 

• Coordinate and execute all plant infrastructure tie-ins, including utilities, access points, traffic patterns, and facility interfaces, ensuring activities are properly planned, communicated, and executed with minimal impact to existing operations. 

• Ensure quality, safety, and environmental readiness by coordinating QA requirements including sanitary design reviews, validation activities, and QA equipment readiness. 

• Ensuring all safety programs, environmental policies, permits, and regulatory considerations are incorporated into project planning and startup and applying existing plant safety and food safety standards to all new equipment and processes. 

• Incorporate lessons learned and best practices from existing fairlife operations and prior expansions into design and execution, including participating in equipment FATs and benchmarking visits to other fairlife plants to validate design, readiness, and operational standards. 

• Develop, align, and communicate startup and ramp up curves that meet business, quality, and service requirements.  Actively manage early life performance. 

• Drive and measure startup success using defined KPIs, including EHS, product quality and regulatory compliance, employee engagement and morale throughout the change, production ramp up performance, and long-term equipment reliability during the first 2–3 years of operation. 

skills/qualifications required:  

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive manufacturing or plant leadership experience, including direct involvement in major capital projects, startups, or commissioning. 

• Experience in dairy, brewing, food, or pharmaceutical manufacturing; aseptic processing experience strongly preferred. 

• Strong leadership capability with a track record of building trust, influencing cross functional teams, and delivering results. 

• Ability to lead through ambiguity Demonstrated ability to identify and mitigate food safety risks associated with temperature sensitive raw materials such as milk. 

• Demonstrated ability to analyze and reengineer operations and processes, develop policies, and design and implement effective strategies and procedures. 

• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels. 

• Experience working with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies. 

• Knowledge of budgeting, cost estimation, and fiscal management related to capital projects. 

food safety requirements: 

• Notify supervision of any repairs or adjustments that are required that may affect product quality or food safety. 

• Understand, observe, and comply with the handling and usage of the color-coded container policy while in the Production Areas. 

• Perform all duties necessary to meet Company, Customer and/or Government requirements/standards as prioritized by the Company. 

• Ability to initiate action to prevent the occurrence of nonconformities relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the product, processes, quality system, or safety system. 

• Identify and record any problems relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the ingredients, processes, quality system, or safety system. 

• Control further processing or delivery of nonconforming product in terms of Food Safety and Quality issues until the deficiency or unsatisfactory condition has been corrected. 

• In the event of absence, another employee with the same skill level will assume the duties and responsibilities as required. 

how fairlife nourishes you: 

At fairlife, we believe in better — and that includes how we support our people. We offer a comprehensive suite of benefits and wellbeing resources designed to support you physically, emotionally, socially, and financially, both in and out of work. 

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, effective day one! 

• Supplemental health plans (hospital indemnity, accident, and critical illness insurance) 

• Paid Time Off to recharge and support work-life balance 

• Paid parental leave & adoption assistance (up to $10,000) 

• Parental support & family care benefits, including childcare resources and lactation support 

• 401(k) to support retirement planning with up to 9% in employer match 

• Wellness reimbursement (up to $500 for qualified wellbeing expenses) 

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for emotional wellbeing and work-life support 

• Company-paid life insurance and short-term disability 

• Employer HSA funding (for HDHP participants) 

• Tuition reimbursement (up to $10,000) and student loan repayment ($200/month) 

• Learning & development programs to unlock your full potential 

• Rewards & recognition, matching gifts, free product, and Business Resource Groups 

fairlife’s nour!sh program is designed to meet you where you are — supporting your individual wellbeing journey while enabling you to do your best work every day. 

position location: Coopersville, MI 

reports to: Plant Director, Coopersville 

travel requirements: up to 25% 

exempt/nonexempt: exempt