CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT MANAGER
We are seeking a Continuous Improvement Manager in London, Ontario. This leader will develop and lead plant continuous improvement strategy, drive adoption and sustainment of the Dessert Operating System (DOS) and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), and develop capability around Continuous Improvement. This role is responsible for building systems, capabilities, and improvement disciplines so that leaders and frontline teams can identify losses, solve problems, implement improvements, and sustain results as part of how they operate every day.
As a key member of the site leadership team, the Continuous Improvement Manager will partner with the Plant Manager and functional leaders to identify the plant's most significant losses, translate those losses into focused improvement priorities, and build the organizational capability required to eliminate them.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead and deploy the site's Continuous Improvement (CI) strategy, aligning initiatives with plant and enterprise objectives.
- Champion a culture of safety, food safety, quality, sanitation, and regulatory compliance across all improvement activities.
- Identify operational losses and prioritize high-impact improvement opportunities that drive measurable business results.
- Lead Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, Kaizen, and structured problem-solving initiatives to improve plant performance.
- Drive daily management systems, including visual management, tiered accountability, leader standard work, and action tracking.
- Use operational data and performance metrics to improve productivity, throughput, quality, reliability, and cost performance.
- Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, HR, Finance, and other functions to deliver sustainable improvements.
- Advance TPM practices and strengthen equipment ownership through standardized operating and maintenance practices.
- Ensure improvements are embedded through standard work, training, controls, and continuous monitoring.
- Benchmark best practices and scale successful solutions across departments, shifts, and facilities.
- Build organizational CI capability by coaching leaders and employees in continuous improvement methodologies and tools.
- Develop and support CI champions, pillar owners, and other capability-building roles across the site.
- Foster a culture of employee engagement, innovation, accountability, and continuous learning.
- Connect improvement initiatives to financial performance by validating savings, productivity gains, and operational benefits.
- Support major operational initiatives, including capital projects, equipment installations, product launches, digital transformation efforts, and capacity expansion activities.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Supply Chain, Food Science, Industrial Technology, or a related discipline; an equivalent combination of education and relevant manufacturing experience may be considered.
- 5+ years of progressive experience in Continuous Improvement, Manufacturing Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, or Supply Chain, including significant manufacturing-floor experience. Prior experience in food manufacturing is preferred.
- At least 2 years leading Continuous Improvement initiatives, kaizen events, or cross-functional projects with measurable operational or financial results.
- Demonstrated practical application of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, or comparable operational excellence systems in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience working with OEE, throughput, downtime, waste, yield, labor, quality, service, and cost performance data.
- Strong practical experience with structured problem-solving, root-cause analysis, visual management, standard work, process confirmation, and sustainment.
- Demonstrated ability to influence, coach, and develop leaders and frontline teams without relying solely on direct authority.
- Strong facilitation, communication, project-management, analytical, and change-management skills.
- Working knowledge of manufacturing safety, food safety, quality, sanitation, and regulatory requirements.
- Ability to work flexible hours and provide periodic off-shift or weekend support within a multi-shift manufacturing operation.
About Dessert Holdings
Dessert Holdings is a collection of premium dessert companies and brands: The Original Cakerie, Lawler’s Desserts, Atlanta Cheesecake Company, Steven Charles, Dianne’s Fine Desserts, Kenny’s Great Pies, and Willamette Valley Pie Company. Dessert Holdings is owned by Bain Capital, is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, employs more than 3,500 people across ten manufacturing facilities, and is continuing its journey of rapid growth.
EEO Statement
Dessert Holdings and its related entities provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristics protected by law.