Back to jobs
New

Continuous Improvement Technician

Batavia, NY

Are you a self-driven person looking to advance your career as a high-impact player on a team? If so, we have an exciting challenge for you and your future!

Our culture is built on value commitments to innovation, quality, results, integrity, community, people, and collaboration that fosters a strong employee engagement, teamwork, safety and wellness. We offer a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, wellness programs, employee discounts, retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, ongoing development, advancement opportunities and more. 

Founded in 1846, today HP Hood is one of the largest and most trusted food and beverage manufacturers in the United States. Our portfolio of national and super-regional brands and licensed products includes Hood, Heluva Good, Lactaid, Blue Diamond Almond Breeze, Planet Oat and more.

Job Summary

The primary objective of a Continuous Improvement Technician is to increase productivity, improve quality, reduce waste, enhance safety, and drive a culture of continuous improvement by working directly with production teams where the work occurs (Gemba).

*This position will require a flexible schedule to support operations across multiple shifts.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Monitor Production Processes
    • Observe daily operations on the shop floor.
    • Identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, quality issues, and safety concerns.
    • Collect real-time performance data and analyze trends.
    • Sustain and support daily manufacturing operations as the CI representative on the operations team.
  • Support Continuous Improvement Initiatives
    • Be the CI representative at Tier 2 and 3 meetings and actively implement solutions based on employee suggestions to eliminate waste and improve safety, quality, and line efficiencies
    • Participate in Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other CI activities.
    • Provide hands-on support for Operations in implementation of improvements.
    • Lead, own, and drive cross-functional continuous improvement projects, as assigned, i.e. 5S, improved yield and OEE.
    • Prepare, distribute & present project status reports to project team members and management.
  • Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis
    • Investigate recurring production, quality, and downtime issues.
    • Facilitate root cause analysis teams and implement effective countermeasures.
  • Standard Work and Process Optimization
    • Create, update, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs).
    • Ensure work instructions reflect best practices.
    • Help establish and sustain standardized work methods.
  • Employee Engagement
  • Work closely with operators, technicians, and supervisors.
  • Encourage employee involvement in improvement opportunities.
  • Train team members on CI tools and methodologies.
  • Visual Management and Workplace Organization
  • Support 5S implementation and audits.
  • Maintain visual boards, performance dashboards, and action trackers.
  • Promote a culture of workplace discipline and accountability.
  • Project Execution
  • Assist in planning, executing, and documenting CI projects.
  • Verify that improvements deliver measurable results.
  • Help sustain gains through audits and follow-up activities.
  • Safety and Quality Support
  • Ensure improvements align with safety and quality requirements.
  • Participate in safety observations and quality investigations.
  • Help reduce defects, rework, and process variation.

 

Education & Experience:

  • Associate’s degree required and >1 year of operations leadership experience (i.e. lead, supervisor, manager); or >3 years of operations leadership experience (i.e. lead, supervisor, manager).
  • >3 years of experience working with cross-functional teams in a manufacturing facility.
  • >1 year of experience leading improvement initiatives in operations.
  • Knowledge of Lean tools (i.e. 5S, root cause analysis, A3) preferred.

 

Skills & Competencies:

  • Strong communication, listening, leadership, and organizational skills.
  • Ability to define problems, collect and analyze data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
  • Has the ability to think creatively and proactively propose solutions with attention to detail.
  • Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and database management software.
  • Is a high-energy self-starter with a resilient, can-do attitude.
  • Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
  • Strong coaching, facilitation and organizational skills with a demonstrated track record of successful change management.
  • Prior knowledge/experience with Lean Manufacturing is preferred.

 

Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience and location.

The pay range for this position is

$67,600 - $78,800 USD

HP Hood is an Equal Opportunity Employer 

Female/Minority/Veteran/Disabled

"VERVRAA Federal Contractor"

Privacy Policy

CCPA

For Applicants in Massachusetts - It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Employment is subject to verification of an applicant’s identity and eligibility for employment in the United States as required by immigration laws. We are unable to assist with sponsorship at this time.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

If yes, you can always opt out by replying STOP. Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in HP Hood’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.