Continuous Improvement Manager

Local Bounti is a leading controlled environment agriculture (CEA) company. Our mission is to bring our farm to your kitchen and deliver the freshest, locally grown produce in the fewest food miles possible.

By growing local and minimizing the distance between farm and plate, Local Bounti helps eliminate food waste and provides fresh, high-quality produce to areas of the country over 1,000 miles from their current source. Our sustainable greenhouse technology delivers ideal growing conditions for each of our diverse selection of crops, resulting in 90% less water consumption and 95% less land use than conventional agriculture, no need for herbicides or pesticides, and the lowest carbon footprint in the industry. We provide an interactive, educational, and safe work environment and are dedicated to helping our employees grow within the company. Local Bounti is committed to fully integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives in all our business activities.

We currently have an opening for a Continuous Improvement Manager. The pay scale for this position will be $130K to $150K

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager supports the delivery of the business’ cross-functional performance goals and strategic growth objectives by planning and leading key improvement initiatives to increase efficiencies, reduce costs and eliminate waste in all processes. This role works with the site’s leadership team to establish operational standards and analyze performance indicators to identify gaps and opportunities. The CI Manager is responsible for driving a culture of continuous and sustainable process improvement across the business by building the capabilities of all team members to apply Lean Manufacturing concepts and methodologies.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Perform detailed analysis of business processes to evaluate capabilities, measure waste and understand the drivers of operating costs to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Lead the reporting and assessment of key performance and financial indicators with the site leadership team to interpret trends, recognize gaps and determine the impact of process changes on the business.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to prioritize improvement activities and set performance targets that align with the company’s goals and objectives.
• Develop and facilitate the execution of the site’s cross-functional process improvement strategies, including time-bound project planning and the coordination of resources.
• Take ownership of the site’s highest-value improvement opportunities and directly lead projects from concept to completion.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to other project leads, including oversight of the chartering process, structuring effective action plans and determining the appropriate CI tools and approach to be used for specific initiatives.
• Partner with functional leaders to establish and document operational standards and best practices.
• Facilitate formal change management practices for all areas of the business, emphasizing communication, understanding and accountability for all affected team members.
• Establish measurable criteria and monitor the impact of completed projects on targeted aspects of the process to ensure results are being sustained and delivering the intended value.
• Report the progress of CI initiatives across the site to senior leadership, assessing risks and elevating support needs proactively.
• Build strong organizational CI capabilities through delivery of regular training and workshops on the practical application of Lean concepts, tools and methodologies.
• Function as the team’s subject matter expert for problem-solving; assist frontline team members with root cause analysis and applying effective countermeasures to significant operational issues as they arise.
• Serve as the site’s cultural champion for improvement and innovation, demonstrating thought leadership to foster positive mindsets and drive motivation for change.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to interpret business needs and goals and align them with operational requirements.
• Ability to coordinate and support multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; capable of preparing and presenting concepts, proposals and updates in a group setting.
• Able to lead through influence and consensus-building
• Able to shift priorities and reevaluate strategies in a business growth environment
• Seeks and delivers clear expectations for their self and others
• Speaks candidly and provides constructive feedback in a professional manner.
• Prioritizes facts and data in decision-making
• Genuinely sees problems as opportunities for improvement
• Enthusiastic about a hands-on approach to teaching frontline team members
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio and Teams)

Education and Experience:

• Minimum of three years’ experience in a Lean or CI leadership role.
• Minimum of five years’ experience in a manufacturing/CPG environment; desired experience in food manufacturing or controlled agriculture industry.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred in operations, supply chain, industrial engineering, business management or related field.
• Experience applying formal CI concepts (e.g., value stream mapping, DMAIC problem-solving, variable analysis, Kaizen).
• Experience training individuals and groups in CI/Lean tools and methodologies.
• Experience leading successful, high-value process improvement and cost-savings projects.
• Strong analytical capabilities with physical and informational systems; experience performing gap analyses of business processes

Physical Demands:

(Physical demands are a general guide and specific positions will vary based on working conditions, locations and facility/department needs)

• The working environment is subject to pressure for multiple calls, inquiries, and interruptions.
• Hearing: perceiving the nature of sound by ear.
• Lifting: raising or lowering objects weighing no more than 10 pounds, from one level to another.
• Mental Demands: mathematical reasoning, memorization, oral comprehension, spatial orientation, and written comprehension.
• Sitting: remaining in the normal seated position.
• Stooping: bending the body by bending the spine at the waist.
• Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words.
• Vision Near acuity: ability to see clearly at 20 inches or less