Continuous Improvement Manager (Wine Jobs: Management & Administration)

Competitive salary dependent on experience plus excellent benefits and staff wine allowance.

We have an opportunity for a Continuous Improvement Manager to join our Operations Team at our Accolade Park site close to the M5 near Bristol. You will be required to drive and facilitate Continuous Improvement across the European Supply Chain and Operations The primary objective is to coach, educate and influence all employees  whilst implementing and sustaining a beneficial Lean methodology... You will produce measurable operational productivity gains aligned to the business requirements which will be reset periodically through a situational analysis... You will develop coaching capability so that in mentoring others, their learning is facilitated and projects realise anticipated gains. You will ensure participation in continuous improvement occurs at every level within the organisation and integrates within functions outsider the supply chain and operations. The role also requires latest thinking, concepts and technology are assessed for their application at Accolade Wines.

Accolade Park  is the largest bottling plant in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2018 we are delighted to be the Winners of the Manufacturer of the Year award at The Manufacturer MX Awards.  Over 500 of our 1700 staff across the world are based here, and enjoy the benefits of a fantastic onsite subsidised canteen, gym, exercise classes, staff wine shop and free parking. In addition there is a bus service from Bristol City Centre and St Andrews train station is nearby.

Drawing on our proud heritage as one of the first wineries established in Australia, Accolade Wines has evolved into a global wine company with some of the world’s best known brands sold in over 140 countries and have more than 1,700 talented employees in 19 countries. Today our portfolio comprises of more than 35 wineries and brands from premium regions in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile and California.  This breadth makes us one of the world’s leading providers of New World premium, commercial and value wines. In the UK our most popular and market leading brands are Hardy’s, Kumala and Echo Falls. Visit our Echo Falls Instagram pages to see our latest social media campaigns http://instagram.com/echo_falls

• To lead the continuous improvement approach and programme throughout the European Supply Chain
• Leads the education and engagement of everyone in creating a lean methodology.
• Leads the process for annual strategy creation and ongoing management with periodic reviews. Supports the financial tracking of projects.
• Participates in the operational activities assisting teams with structure and problem solving.
• Identifies opportunities to implement common processes and best practices from other sites and businesses; disseminates and acts upon relevant industry and corporate benchmarking data
• Facilitates collaboration with no supply chain and operations functions to ensure overall business performance is optimised from an end to end perspective.

Essential knowledge and skills:
Functional

• Technical Ability:
  • Fully understand the philosophy of all control systems within manufacturing and  retain and utilise this knowledge and skill
• Safety Awareness:
  • Demonstrates health and safety understanding and compliance
• IT Systems:
  • Relevant IT system knowledge.
• Analytical Ability & Decision Making:
  • Ability to obtain information and identify key subjects required to understand strategic issues.
• Lean Processes:
  • Understanding of Lean Processes
  • Ability to select and use Lean Sigma tools as appropriate to support and accelerate business improvement
  • Use the DMAIC and IDOV (E) methodologies to structure improvement projects.

 
Behavioural

• Builds Productive Working Relationships:
  • Works as effective team member, leading, guiding & inspiring others
• Communications:
  • Communicates well at all levels: share ideas and contribute
• Initiative Oriented:
  • Take the initiative to problem solve, challenge & improve to deliver the agreed targets
• Planning & Organisation:
  • Excellent planning and organisational skills.
• Creativity & Innovation:
  • Ability to generate innovative solutions to work situation
• Professional & Emotional Maturity:
  • Professional approach, demonstrating flexibility and ownership.
  • Able to work well under pressure
  • Demonstrates enthusiasm and is self motivated
• Leadership skills:
  • Outstanding leadership and Management Ability
  • Bring the Lean Principles and company values to life in your work and in others work through the influence you exert.
  • Develop effective coaching skills so you can develop others capability.
  • Use your influence to ensure improvement actions are implemented as agreed

Required experience:

• Technical degree or equivalent experience
• Extensive experience of Lean implementation in manufacturing operations.
• Strong demonstrable knowledge of Lean Production Tools
• Lean Sigma Black Belt, Lean Coach or equivalent qualification, ie. Post Graduate study in Business Improvement Methodologies, particularly Lean or Six Sigma.

You will have the flexibility to work out of office hours to accommodate the occasional call with our Australian colleagues and have the ability to travel to our Weybridge site if required.

In addition to a competitive salary we also offer a fantastic range of benefits including private medical cover, retail discounts, First Bus discounts, a staff wine allowance and even a free pass to Bristol Zoo.