Operations Excellence, Sr Manager

Make a Difference in YOUR Career!

Our vision is both simple and ambitious: to put our drinks on every table.  

We are the leading global independent beverage solutions provider. We serve a broad range of national and international retailers as well as Global, National and Emerging (GNE) brands. Our products are distributed worldwide from our production sites in Europe, North America, and Australia. Although our own branding may not appear on the labels of the beverages we produce, there is a good chance you are reading this while sipping one of our drinks.

Our ambition is to continually improve and it’s what keeps us at the top of our game. We are solutions-based. We are innovative.  We seek out new challenges and conquer them.  This is our company ethos, but it’s our people’s too: Refresco is at the cutting edge of a fast-moving industry because we have passionate people pushing the boundaries of what’s best.

Stop and think: how would YOU put our drinks on every table?  

Position Description

Reporting to the Continuous Improvement Director, the Operations Excellence, Sr Manager serves as a regional CI leader with accountability for driving continuous improvement strategy, governance, and results. The Operations Excellence, Sr Manager is responsible for auditing, coaching, coordinating, and sustaining CI initiatives across multiple manufacturing plants. Partnering with the Corporate CI team, Plant Leadership, and Maintenance teams, this role monitors, audits, coaches, and drives the strategic deployment of CI strategies and best practices to enhance operational efficiency, equipment reliability, and overall plant performance. The CI Manager evaluates the organization’s operational systems at a regional level to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with organizational standards. This role requires a strong Lean background and the ability to influence change across multiple sites while supporting regional operational objectives and standardization initiatives.

Essential Job Functions:

• Adhere to and ensure compliance to all health and safety policies/procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and PPE requirements across assigned region.
• Adhere to and ensure compliance to food quality and food safety as per the standard(s) provided by corporate, customer, and/or governing bodies (ex. SQF).
• Audit, evaluate, and coach Continuous Improvement (CI) strategies aligned with company goals, providing regional oversight in collaborating with Plant Leadership, Corporate CI, and Maintenance teams.
• Lead, facilitate, and coach Kaizen events for high‑impact regional initiatives and complex cross‑site opportunities to drive sustainable improvements in safety, quality, labor efficiency, yield, and maintenance effectiveness.
• Train and mentor employees and plant leadership teams in Lean methodologies, including 5S, SMED, Centerlining, PdM, RCA, and Standard Work to foster a culture of continuous improvement and consistent application across sites.
• Identify and implement process improvements that enhance equipment reliability, operational efficiency, and waste reduction while ensuring compliance with OSHA, EPA, and FDA regulations.
• Maintain management system evaluation logs, areas of opportunities, and improvement logs
• Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) for operational management systems, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement across the region.
• Lead the implementation and sustainment of the Refresco Management System (RMS) across multiple sites.
• Champion best practice sharing and continuous improvement through cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Maintenance, and CI teams.
• Facilitate critical CI Kaizen events, focusing on downtime reduction, equipment reliability, and waste elimination.
• Partner with plant leadership to enhance workplace safety, energy efficiency, and material waste reduction through structured improvement initiatives.

Required Skills:

• Hands-on experience deploying production management systems and lean methodologies, including Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, and Visual Management to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
• Demonstrated success in implementing and sustaining cultural, operational, and maintenance improvements through structured change management.
• Skilled in planning, leading, and coaching Kaizen events to drive continuous improvement, asset reliability, and o