Requisition ID: 58685
Make your application after reading the following skill and qualification requirements for this position.
Position Type: FT Permanent
Workplace Arrangement: #LI-Onsite
About the role
We are recruiting a Continuous Improvement Specialist to join our Dairy Consumer Foods team at Manufacturing facility in Portadown, where we produce cheese products for several of our brands. In this role, you will focus on analysing and optimizing business processes, implementing Lean principles, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Your objectives will include increasing efficiency, driving cost reduction, and enhancing overall operational performance. This will be achieved through close collaboration and interactions with onsite teams.
This is a full-time and permanent position.
About Kerry Dairy Ireland
Kerry Dairy Ireland is a vertically integrated farm-to-fork business with a very substantial consumer foods presence and a leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division, delivering high-quality dairy solutions with a focus on sustainability and innovation. From partnering with local family farms to producing world-class dairy products, we ensure every step of our value chain reflects our commitment to excellence.
With over 50 years’ experience in milk processing, dairy and nutritional technology advancement, and product innovation, we area key stakeholder in the global food industry and creators of a strong portfolio of market leading dairy brands including Cheestrings, Charleville and Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow and our new SMUG range. Our from food, for food culture and deep-rooted connection to our 2,800 milk suppliers differentiates our business and offers captivating opportunities for our customers and consumers.
Our dairy comes from some of the world’s richest grazing land and is produced by a network of Irish family farms that have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. Through a combination of expertise, innovation, and sustainability, Kerry Dairy Ireland is proud to shape the future of dairy while meeting the diverse needs of our farmers, customers, and communities.
Headquartered in Tralee, Co. Kerry, we operate multiple manufacturing facilities in the southwest of Ireland, including Listowel, Charleville, Newmarket, and Farranfore. Additionally, we manage 29 Farm & Home stores throughout the region, ensuring comprehensive coverage and service. In Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, our presence extends to key locations in Portadown, Coleraine, and Ossett.
Globally, Kerry Dairy Ireland employs over 1,600 dedicated professionals across Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China. In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, reflecting our commitment to excellence and growth.
What you’ll be doing?
Under the guidance of the Operations and CI Manager, your main responsibilities will be:
1. Work collaboratively with all departments and the Plant Leadership Team and our external partner in the diagnostics, future state designwork and implementation of the our internal Plant Programme.
Assist in the diagnostic analysis
Work collaboratively with the CI Manager, Plant Leadership Team and Teams to surface improvement opportunities
Define the initiatives required to achieve the future state target across the Operating, Management & People Systems
Create implementation plans to support on time delivery of these initiatives
During the implementation phase execute the delivery plans, monitor and update the progress versus these and highlight where additionalsupport is required. Embed the new standards to ensure sustainability of the initiatives.
2. Key role in being an ambassador for Continuous Improvement - coaching, mentoring and influencing at all levels to affect the requiredcontinuous improvement culture.
Support colleagues as they move through the change curve and align with the Plant Leadership Team on how best to support our peoplethrough the change
Act as a key mentor, influencer and supporter to the Plant Leadership Team
Facilitate the education of the team in the principles, philosophies and tools of continuous improvement
Organize training programs that foster cross-functional deployment of continuous improvement and develop capability
Collaborate with counterparts within and outside the regions to ensure consistency among processes and procedures.
3. Ensure each team is using a standardised set of key performance indicators (KPI’s) as per the 1Kerry Plant Management Systemstandard and that targets can be achieved through a rigorous performance management system. Support the implementation of the below:
Creating a Continuous Improvement culture whereby our colleagues feel empowered and supported to deliver on the targets identified.
Standard meeting governance that supports delivery of the metrics.
Performance gaps identified and trended with actions required to improve.
Alignment of the plant KPI structure with functional and global metrics.
4. Develop and implement an effective continuous improvement strategy for the plant through a sustainable delivery model
Ensure the continuous improvement strategy is aligned to the overall business strategy with full alignment and support from the PlantLeadership Teams and key stakeholders.
Support day-to-day prioritisation, decision making and escalation.
Ensure new standards are confirmed, documented, trained and sustained as part of the continuous improvement governance
Continually review and adjust the strategy in line with internal and external changes - Manage risks and remove blockages, in conjunctionwith the Plant Leadership Team, that might impact delivery.
What experience and skills will you need?
Authentic Leadership:
• Demonstrable track record of influencing and coaching teams
• The ability to credibly influence site management teams on the need for change.
Communication:
• The ability to work and communicate with all functions and levels within the business, conversing knowledgably to positively influence thechange culture on site
• Ability to identify and communicate effectively with key stakeholders.
Capability Building:
• Strong coach and people developer, keen to improve the skillsets and capabilities of teams and plant leaders
• Confident in running training sessions at various levels within the business.
Challenging Mindset:
• Ability to see the ‘bigger picture’ and understand how to approach creating a continuous improvement strategy
• Can challenge the status quo asking challenging questions where appropriate.
Project Management:
• Have proven project management experience with practical knowledge of PM tools and techniques to support delivery.
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
Kerry is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Consistent with our policy of providing equality of opportunity for all, we are required to seek particular information from applicants. As part of your application you will be asked to answer a short number of questions. This information will be held separate to your application and treated in the strictest of confidence.
Beware of scams online or from individuals claiming to represent us. A Kerry employee will not solicit candidates through a non-Kerry email address or phone number. In addition, Kerry does not currently utilise video chat rooms (e.g., Google Hangouts) to conduct interviews. Refuse any request that asks you to provide payment to participate in the hiring process (e.g., purchasing a “starter kit,” investing in training, or something similar). Kerry will not ask you to pay any money at any point in the hiring process with the exception of reimbursable travel expenses. In addition, any payments made by Kerry will be from official firm accounts bearing the Kerry name.
Recruiter: #LI-SR1
Posting Type: LI
Please note: We do not accept CVs or candidate profiles from recruitment agencies where Kerry terms of business have notbeensigned. Additionally, we will not consider or agree to payment of any recruiter fee under these circumstances. This alsoapplies toCVs or candidate profiles sent directly to any Kerry Hiring Managers.