Continous Improvement Change Agent - Manufacturing

Sara Lee Corporation is a global manufacturer and marketer of high-quality, brand-name products for consumers throughout the world. The Corporation has operations in 58 countries and markets branded products in nearly 200 nations. Sara Lee Corporation employs 137,000 people worldwide.Each and every day, Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE) delights millions of consumers and customers around the world.  The company has one of the world's best-loved and leading portfolios with its innovative and trusted food, beverage, household and body care brands, including Ambi Pur, Ball Park, Douwe Egberts, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Kiwi, Sanex, Sara Lee, and Senseo.  Collectively, these brands generate more than $12 billion in annual net sales covering approximately 200 countries.  The Sara Lee community consists of 52,000 employees worldwide.As an integral part of our Continuous Improvement team you will: Coordinate and strategically lead supply chain performance improvement across and within our plants, distribution centers, and, if needed, at suppliers. This will be accomplished through effective working relationships with several plant RTR Change Agents and plant leadership teams, lean production system design, effective problem-solving techniques, the design and management of performance improvement initiatives, training and coaching of plant personnel in all of the above, and advising the senior supply chain executives on the nature and progress of network wide improvement activities. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Establish meaningful metrics across a number of sites to monitor performance and identify the nature and cause of problems through effective problem solving methods. Lead root cause problem solving process, once the issue/opportunity has been identified, to ascertain the best solution/improvement for that site and/or Supply Chain as a whole.  Solutions will need to be communicated and coordinated with other Continuous Improvement Change Agents. Keeping total Supply Chain in mind, diagnose and evaluate performance (cost, quality, delivery) challenges stemming from demand management and forecasting, inventory management, capacity and production planning, and production process design and execution. Develop and implement solutions based on Lean Production system design and transformation principles, tools, and techniques (also the tools of Six Sigma). Work with plant sites to design common work standards, quality control charts and systems, and other elements of superior manufacturing practice to aid plant improvement. Create alternative methods of production control and scheduling that use best practice techniques and better connect the plant and its suppliers with customer and seasonal demand patterns. Train and coach plant personnel in these and other capabilities.  Direct and/or oversee the rollout of these activities at 5-8 facilities.Bachelor’s degree in a relevant business discipline preferred, master’s degree is desirable. Five plus years in functional area of business (Sales, Marketing, Manufacturing, APS, R&D, Finance, etc.) with progressively more responsible management roles desirable.  100 % Travel.  Incumbent can be located anywhere in the US.  Ability to learn and apply lean concepts and principles within functional area are critical.  Influence skills are critical. Listening skills are critical. Problem solving skills are critical. Both oral and written communications are very important. Leadership abilities are very important. Conceptualization skills are important.  Six Sigma skills desirable.  Software applications such as Lotus Notes, Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, etc. are desirable. Position should be self motivated/driven and be able to create enthusiasm for improvement initiatives. Position may be required to travel periodically to suppliers, supply chain plants, customers, etc. to fulfill responsibilities.An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer