Continuous Improvement Manager

Continuous Improvement Manager

• Opportunity to grow your Continuous Improvement career

• Collaborative and dynamic work environment

• Location: Christchurch, New Zealand

Grow Your Continuous Improvement Career with Kraft Heinz

Are you an experienced Continuous Improvement or manufacturing professional ready to take the next step in a hands-on, strategic role? Join Kraft Heinz Christchurch as the Continuous Improvement Manager and provide technical and strategic leadership across cost reduction, end-to-end supply chain efficiency, and operational culture development through the Kraft Heinz Management System (KHMS). This permanent role offers the chance to drive yield, OEE and line availability improvements, lead CI capital projects, shape site KPI strategy, and work closely with production, engineering, crop supply and logistics to deliver sustainable savings and best practice adoption.

The Company

The Kraft Heinz Company is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, with eight $1 billion+ brands and global sales of approximately $25 billion. Our brands are truly global, with products produced and marketed in over 40 countries. These beloved products include condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, infant and nutrition products, and numerous other grocery products in a portfolio of more than 200 legacy and emerging brands.

Key position responsibilities include, but not limited to:

• Manage CI plans and activities across the site and oversee their successful implementation.

• Support the Site Controller with KPI and budget planning (CP1–CP3).

• Use the CI team's resources to identify, prioritise and deliver strategic CI opportunities and cost-saving recommendations

• Provide practical CI advice to all departments and build strong internal working relationships to enable change.

• Plan, manage and deliver CI projects to meet objectives, timelines and budgets; promptly communicate any changes to key stakeholders

• Keep the team and yourself current with CI best practice and external trends, and share learnings across the business.

• Liaise with CI colleagues across Kraft Heinz (including COE) and with external partners to share best practice and leverage broader experience.

• Ensure all activities comply with Kraft Heinz Food Safety, Environmental, Health & Safety, Ethical and HR policies.

• Live the Kraft Heinz values and contribute to the company vision through your work.

• Develop and maintain plans for CI team engagement with relevant internal areas and external professionals.

• QRMP accountability as required.

About you:

• Strong and proven experience in operational or technical roles, preferably in food & beverage or related industries

• Degree in engineering, manufacturing, or equivalent practical experience

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, develop and coach a CI team

• Deep understanding of Continuous Improvement methods and experience analysing complex manufacturing processes to deliver practical solutions

• Lean Six Sigma qualification (Yellow/Green/Black) preferred

• Data-driven mindset with proven use of software/tools for analysis and digitisation

• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and project management skills to deliver projects on time and on budget

• Eligibility to work in New Zealand – with full working rights

Benefits of working with us

• Pay for Performance – industry leading variable compensation offerings tied to company and individual performance on top of a competitive base salary package

• Parental Leave – paid time off for both primary AND secondary caregivers

• Leave Options – Purchased leave, volunteer leave and LiveWell leave programs to give you even more flexibility to plan your life and spend time on causes that matter

• Great Place to Work certification in Australia and New Zealand

• In House Training Programs

• Corporate Discount Programs 

Ready to make an Impact?

If you're passionate about Continuous Improvement, thrive in a manufacturing environment, and enjoy leading teams to deliver measurable results, we'd love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and a brief cover letter outlining relevant CI achievements — applications are reviewed as received and the ad may close early.

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Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes.