Continuous Improvement Specialist

Kepak is a leading food company with manufacturing sites across Ireland and the UK. The Group operates across three divisions: the Foods Division, Meat Division UK, and Meat Division Ireland. Guided by our values—Responsibility, Ambition, Passion for Food, and Teamwork—we are committed to operating as a successful, sustainable, future-ready business that is a great place to work. We supply fresh and value-added meat based products to retail and foodservice through private label and our own brands, including Rustlers, Big Al's and John Stone.

• Kepak Meat Division Ireland operates across multiple manufacturing sites, producing a range of quality meat and protein-based food products for retail and foodservice customers across both domestic and export markets. The division is recognised for its operational excellence, strong customer partnerships, and continuous innovation.*

We are seeking a Continuous Improvement Specialist to lead and deliver continuous improvement initiatives across our Retail Manufacturing operations. In this role, you'll identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, increase profitability, and embed a culture of operational excellence throughout the business.

Working closely with Operations, Commercial, Supply Chain, Engineering, Food Safety & Quality, and Health & Safety teams, you'll lead improvement projects using Lean methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, and Root Cause Analysis.

Key Responsibilities

• Identifying opportunities to streamline processes, eliminate waste, reduce costs, and improve operational performance.
• Implementing and embedding Lean methodologies and tools such as Lean Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, and Kaizen.
• Partnering with site leadership teams to prioritise improvement initiatives and deliver measurable business results.
• Establishing and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and demonstrate project success.
• Quantifying financial benefits, return on investment (ROI), and cost-saving opportunities from OpEx projects.
• Facilitating workshops and improvement events that engage teams and generate innovative solutions.
• Promoting a culture of continuous learning by designing and delivering training programmes on operational excellence principles and best practices.
• Working closely with project teams to ensure improvement projects are effectively managed from concept through to implementation and sustainability.
• Supporting quality, safety, sustainability, and customer-focused initiatives to strengthen our position as a leading food manufacturer.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree / Level 8 qualification in Business Administration, Engineering, Industrial Management or related field
• Proven experience in a operations role and/or continuous improvement role in food manufacturing
• Lean Manufacturing Green Belt certification is desirable
• Other project management qualifications and experience advantageous
• In depth knowledge of Op Ex tools and techniques and practical implementation experience
• Financial & Commercial Acumen: Understanding of cost drivers, budgeting, and commercial levers in manufacturing.
• Analytical mindset with ability to use data driven insights to identify areas for improvement

Benefits

• What can we offer you?

• Company Pension

• Paid Maternity Leave

• Further Education support - You’ll have clear pathways for advancement, supported by continuous professional development and a range of learning opportunities

• Refer a Friend Scheme - Earn up to Get up to €500 for successfully referring a friend or family member to Kepak Group.

• Bike to Work Scheme - Purchase a bike and safety equipment through a salary sacrifice scheme which reduces your taxable income – meaning you pay less tax!

• Long Service Awards - We recognise, acknowledge and award the dedication and valuable contribution of long serving employees

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