Manufacturing Excellence Lead

About the Role

The Manufacturing Excellence Lead plays a critical role in driving operational performance by identifying and eliminating process losses, optimizing equipment reliability, and building capability within frontline teams. This position partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Continuous Improvement teams to establish and sustain process standards, improve process control, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

As the owner of key Daily Management Systems (DMS), including Centerline (CL) and Changeover (CO), the Manufacturing Excellence Lead provides coaching, technical expertise, and structured problem-solving support to improve line performance, reduce variability, and deliver sustainable results. This role serves as the subject matter expert for designated processes and is expected to spend the majority of working time on the production floor, coaching teams and driving improvements where the work happens.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Daily Operations

• Actively participate in Daily Direction Setting (DDS) meetings and support execution of daily production plans.
• Review and communicate performance results from the previous 24 hours, including:
• Centerline completion and compliance
• Changeover adherence, execution effectiveness, and post-changeover critiques
• Process performance, operational losses, and improvement opportunities
• Support frontline teams in achieving safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity objectives.
• Act as a coach and technical resource to operators, line leaders, and cross-functional teams.

Continuous Improvement & Process Excellence

• Identify, prioritize, and eliminate chronic process losses through structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Build and sustain process capability through data-driven analysis and process control techniques.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on waste reduction, efficiency gains, and operational excellence.
• Develop, implement, and maintain process standards that drive consistency and sustainable performance.
• Support smart standardization initiatives and deploy best practices across operations.
• Lead benchmarking and best-practice reapplication across lines, departments, and sites.
• Facilitate change management and validation activities to ensure successful implementation of process improvements.

Technical Ownership & Process Control

• Serve as the technical expert for designated equipment, systems, and manufacturing processes.
• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve equipment centerlines and operating conditions.
• Design and implement systems to collect, analyze, and interpret critical process and product data.
• Utilize reliability engineering principles, statistical analysis, and performance metrics to identify improvement opportunities.
• Lead root cause investigations and technical troubleshooting efforts for process failures and recurring losses.
• Develop and maintain process control strategies, operating procedures, and technical documentation.
• Partner with Equipment Owners (EOs), Maintenance, and Operations teams to improve equipment effectiveness and process reliability.

Daily Management System (DMS) Ownership

• Own and sustain critical Daily Management Systems, including:
• Centerline Management (CL)
• Changeover Management (CO)
• Run-to-Target (RTT)
• Monitor compliance and effectiveness of DMS practices through regular audits and coaching.
• Ensure process standards are clearly defined, understood, and consistently executed.
• Drive accountability for DMS performance and associated improvement plans.

Changeover & Equipment Improvement

• Lead the standardization and optimization of Rapid Changeover (RCO) activities.
• Participate in planned maintenance stops, shutdowns, start-ups, and major changeovers as required.
• Collaborate with line teams to reduce changeover durations while maintaining safety and quality standards.
• Support validation and qualification activities related to equipment modifications and process improvements.

Capability Building & Training

• Develop the technical capability of operators, line leaders, and support teams through coaching and training.
• Facilitate training on process improvements, new standards, equipment modifications, and troubleshooting techniques.
• Support development of high-performance teams through knowledge sharing and hands-on coaching.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning and operational excellence.
• Participate in internal and external technical development opportunities to expand expertise.

Additional Expectations

• Spend approximately 80% of working time on the production floor supporting and coaching teams.
• Become the recognized technical expert for assigned processes and equipment.
• Achieve qualification in all foundational operating roles within the assigned area.
• Foster strong collaboration with site leadership, line teams, maintenance personnel, and regional process experts.
• Champion safety, quality, and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the organization.

About You

Education & Experience

• Post-secondary education in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, Operations Management, or a related technical discipline preferred.
• Experience within a manufacturing, food processing, consumer packaged goods, or industrial production environment.
• Demonstrated success leading continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives.
• Experience supporting production systems, process optimization, and equipment performance improvement.

Technical Skills & Knowledge

• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, process control, and equipment reliability.
• Experience applying structured problem-solving methodologies (5-Why, Fishbone, RCA, A3, DMAIC, etc.).
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, TPM, IWS, Continuous Improvement, and High-Performance Organization (HPO) principles.
• Ability to analyze and interpret technical data to make informed recommendations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and data analysis tools.
• Experience working with manufacturing performance metrics and process monitoring systems.

Leadership Competencies

• Strong coaching, mentoring, and capability-building skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Effective facilitator capable of leading meetings, training sessions, and workshops.
• Ability to collaborate across multiple functions and build strong working relationships.
• Strong organizational, planning, and prioritization skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Personal Attributes

• Results-oriented with a passion for continuous improvement.
• Naturally curious and driven to solve problems at their root cause.
• Hands-on leader who thrives in a production environment.
• Strong sense of ownership, accountability, and initiative.
• Committed to safety, quality, and operational excellence.

Barry Callebaut can offer you a challenging and dynamic international environment that includes a broad range of opportunities for personal growth and development. Apply for one of our interesting positions and start a great career in the wonderful world of CHOCOLATE. Barry Callebaut is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fair and accessible employment practices that attract and retain talented employees. Should you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at the Brantford site.