Continuous Improvement Coordinator

Continuous Improvement (CI) Coordinator

At Richelieu Foods, we are dedicated to a culture of belonging for everyone. Driven by our values of ownership, respect, and growth, we put people, safety, and quality above all else -- delicious pizza, outstanding service, and solid customer relationships are what happens as a result. 

Richelieu Foods, Inc. is a leading national private label and contract packing food manufacturer focused on frozen pizza. We have two manufacturing facilities located in IL and WI. We provide products to many national retailers, wholesalers, distributors, club and mass stores, as well as industrial accounts including other food manufacturers. 

Job Summary

The CI Coordinator serves as a key technical resource and leadership catalyst in optimizing high-volume production. This position assists in coordinating Lean transformational activities, champions change and provides the guidance necessary to deliver breakthrough results in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and culture. You will work closely with the Operations Team, CI Manager, and Plant Leadership to identify, analyze, and eliminate waste across the value stream.

 

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Culture & Engagement: Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement by building an employee-engaged work environment through direct collaboration with frontline teams.
• Performance Visibility: Develop and maintain tracking tools and visual dashboards to measure the impact of CI initiatives.
• Training & Mentorship: Provide technical instruction and mentorship on Lean tools to both CI- and non-CI-trained employees to broaden organizational capabilities.
• Strategic Analysis: Analyze complex operational data to identify and prioritize high-impact Lean transformation opportunities.
• Event Leadership: Facilitate targeted "Point" Lean events and participate in "Full Week" transformation activities to drive sustainable breakthrough results.
• Sustainment & Governance: Manage 30-day follow-up activities and audits to ensure process improvements are documented and sustained by management teams.
• Root Cause Analysis: Lead individual or cross-functional teams in performing deep-dive root cause analyses to eliminate waste.
• Standard Work: Create and maintain the “best known way” for task competition.
• Project Execution: Demonstrate strong ability to execute high-priority projects within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Required Qualifications

• A high school diploma or general education degree (GED)

• 1–3 years of manufacturing operations experience, with a preference for the implementation of CI or Operational Excellence initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years of relevant college courses
• Bilingual English/Spanish

Essential Skills and Abilities

• Basic understanding of Lean Manufacturing tools (5S, Kaizen, SMED), intermediate knowledge with MS Office (Excel, Teams, Outlook), and experience with OEE systems.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions using mathematical figures.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage effectively across all levels, from plant leadership to frontline production teams.
• Self-starter with the "ability to drive change" in a fast-paced environment.
• Capable of managing projects and priorities with accurate record-keeping and follow-up skills.

Working Conditions

• Standard Manufacturing environment with frequent exposure to hot/cold temperatures, moving mechanical parts and industrial power trucks  
• Requires 100% onsite attendance to perform the essential functions of the role.  

Pay and Benefits 

The following information is provided in accordance with applicable state and local laws. Compensation is based on experience, geographic locations, and other legally permitted factors. The starting hourly rate is $23.00. This position may also be eligible for overtime pay.

Benefits for this role include medical, dental, and vision insurance; pre-tax spending accounts; 401K with company match; paid time off; short-term and long-term disability; and life insurance. 

Disclosures 

This job description is not intended, nor should it be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, or working conditions associated with the job. It is intended only to be a general description of the essential functions common to positions of this type.   

Richelieu Foods, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.