Senior CI Manager

Northampton Business Directory; England; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing company in the UK seeks a Senior Operational Excellence Manager to lead Continuous Improvement initiatives. The role involves developing and deploying CI strategies, coaching leaders, and driving sustainable performance improvements on the factory floor. Ideal candidates need significant leadership experience in FMCG and a strong track record of measurable results. This position offers ownership and influence in a high-demand environment.

Benefits

10-15% Bonus

Car allowance

Qualifications

• Experience with structured CI frameworks and maturity-based models.
• Ability to lead complex manufacturing changes.
• Presence and credibility on the shop floor.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver the site’s CI strategy.
• Lead deployment and maturity of a complex CI framework.
• Coach leaders to embed CI behaviors.
• Drive sustainable performance improvement.
• Build capability and engagement across the factory.

Skills

Senior CI / Excellence leadership experience

Experience in blue-chip FMCG or Food & Drink manufacturing

Change management in high-volume environments

Credibility at senior leadership level

Strong track record of delivering measurable improvement

Job description

Senior Operational Excellence Manager

Food & Beverage Manufacturing

Salary disclosed upon conversation.

(It’s paying well. Also comes with a 10-15% Bonus & Car allowance).

Northamptonshire

This isn’t a CI role focused on maintaining frameworks.

It’s a leadership role built around driving real, factory-level change.

Our client is a complex, high-performing Food & Drink manufacturing operation operating within a structured, multi-pillar Continuous Improvement framework. They’re now looking for a Head of Continuous Improvement to own the agenda at site level and take performance to the next stage of maturity.

The role

As Head of CI, you’ll be responsible for how Continuous Improvement shows up on the factory floor - day in, day out.

You’ll lead CI / Excellence team, working across manufacturing, engineering, quality and supply chain, and partnering closely with the Site Director and senior leadership team.

Your focus will be on:

• Owning and delivering the site’s CI strategy
• Leading deployment and maturity of a complex CI framework
• Coaching and developing leaders to embed CI behaviours
• Driving sustainable performance improvement, not short-term fixes
• Building capability, accountability and engagement across the factory

This is a visible, influential role with genuine authority to challenge, shape and improve how the site operates.

The experience required

This role is suited to someone who has:

• Senior CI / Excellence leadership experience in blue-chip FMCG or Food & Drink manufacturing
• Worked within established, structured CI frameworks (multi-pillar, maturity-based models)
• Led change in complex, high-volume manufacturing environments
• Credibility at senior leadership level and presence on the shop floor
• A strong track record of delivering measurable improvement

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Formal qualifications are less important than depth of experience and results.

Why apply?

If you want ownership, influence and the chance to lead CI where it actually matters - inside the factory - this role offers the scope and backing to do exactly that.

This is an opportunity to step into a true Head of Continuous Improvement position within a demanding, high-standards FMCG environment.

Apply now to find out more.