Ice Cream Site Unilever Manufacturing System Manager

If you want to work for a global, leading Ice Cream player with €7.9bn Turn Over in 2023, come join Unilever Ice Cream! The Ice Cream business is operating in a highly attractive category, as we are part of the 1 trillion snacking and refreshment industry, growing consistently at high pace. We have strong brands equities: 5 of top 10 selling brands including Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Magnum, Talenti, Popsicle, Good Humor, Klondike, and Yasso. We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of Ice Cream as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen by November 2025. 

Ice Cream has distinct characteristics from Unilever’s other operating businesses and the growth potential of Ice Cream will be better delivered under a different ownership structure. As Ice Cream company we are committed to developing and nurturing talent as we build our diverse and inclusive culture. You will have ample options for career growth and exploration, allowing you for you to explore roles and opportunities across the new organization. Your career development will be a priority for us, and we are dedicated to supporting your growth journey within the new company. We hope that you will want to build the new chapter of our Ice Cream history together with us. 

 SUMMARY: The site Manufacturing Excellence Manager reports to the Factory Director and is a member of the plant leadership team. They will coordinate and drive continuous improvement activities utilizing UMS (Unilever Manufacturing Systems) for loss eradication within manufacturing inbound and outbound supply chain context. They are responsible for developing a UMS Master Plan from the site manufacturing strategy and will be the owner to lead the production waste and cost reduction programs. They will provide skills development and coaching for all employees across all levels and will implement digital tools to enable improvement.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

(NOTE:  The duties listed below are normal for this job. Incumbents are cross-trained and may perform any combination of the following duties/responsibilities.  These duties are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.)

You’re a natural coach: Coach sites on World Class Manufacturing (UMS) journey and coordinate validation through maturity assessments.

You’re a strategy guru:  Support the development and implementation of Site Master Plans, with focus on quality data, SMED, Center-lining and Kaizen workshops.

You’re a champion for change: Challenges norms, establishes standards and celebrates success.

• Responsible for the implementation, management, and successful operation of the Unilever Manufacturing Systems (UMS) Continuous Improvement Methodology process in the factory.
• Ensure site UMS master plan and actions are aligned with the category manufacturing strategy
• Coach and mentor all pillar leads in the successful implementation of the UMS methodology on-site
• Drive kaizens and improvements across all areas of the factory, including Safety, Quality, Service, Operations, Cost, Waste, and Logistics
• Lead all Waste Reduction initiatives on site
• Organize performance results and improvement initiative reporting structure for external to site review
• Coordinate the development of the UMS preparation phase plan, tracks progress against the plan and leads issue resolution (gap analysis and adjustments to plan.)
• Implements appropriate reviews (monthly, quarterly) to evaluate both pillars and departments progress in their UMS plans.
• Serves as a resource and coach for questions and practices regarding in UMS process.
• Coordinates data collection and analysis for manufacturing performance
• Coordinates activities with internal regionally deployed ManEX (Manufacturing Excellence) Managers and Director
• Participates in RVS (Regional Virtual Sites) or GVS (Global Virtual Sites) teams, seeks out best practices, ensures lessons learned and key agreed upon items are horizontally expanded into the factory.
• Coordinates with Engineering to ensure appropriate EEM (Early Equipment Management) and UMS methodology is being incorporated into all new projects and new equipment/products and ensures this is part of the Site Acceptance Test.
• Provide MP (Maintenance Prevention) records and UMS site standards to Eng