Operational Excellence Specialist - Stourton (Leeds, GB)

Review: Operational Excellence Specialist - Drive Impact in a Leading Dairy Operation

This is a compelling opportunity for a seasoned professional looking to make a tangible difference within a large, complex, and well-established operations site. As an Operational Excellence Specialist, you will be at the forefront of driving improvements in quality, safety, efficiency, and continuous advancement. This role offers a unique chance to leverage your expertise and significantly influence the site's performance.

Key Advantages for Potential Candidates:

• Visible Impact and Influence: You will be a key contributor to site performance, directly impacting operational targets and service delivery. Your role involves challenging existing processes, coaching colleagues, and transforming data into actionable insights, offering a high degree of professional satisfaction.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: This position necessitates and encourages broad collaboration across various functions. You'll have the opportunity to build strong relationships and influence stakeholders across the organization, enhancing your networking and communication skills.
• Driving Continuous Improvement: A core aspect of this role is the ownership and execution of Continuous Improvement (CI) activities. If you are passionate about Lean methodologies, data-driven decision-making, and challenging the status quo, this role is an excellent platform to showcase your skills.
• Commitment to Quality and Sustainability: You will be responsible for ensuring compliance with Arla's stringent standards, legal requirements, and a strong focus on quality, EHS, and economy. The emphasis on sustainability and responsible resource usage aligns with growing global priorities.
• Innovation and Technology: The role encourages optimizing processes and embracing innovation through technology, making it an exciting prospect for those interested in modernizing operations. You will also support New Product Introduction (NPI) and New Product Development (NPD) projects.
• Career Development and Growth: The company offers a robust environment for professional development, including a steep learning curve, internal mobility, and strong onboarding support. The emphasis on promoting from within and providing comprehensive training (internal and external) indicates a commitment to employee growth.
• Purpose-Driven Culture: Joining Arla means becoming part of a purpose-driven, safety-first culture rooted in farmer-owned values and a deep commitment to sustainability. This aligns with a desire to contribute to a company with a strong ethical foundation and a positive societal impact.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Beyond the intrinsic rewards of the role, candidates can expect a competitive salary, annual pay reviews, a strong pension scheme, life assurance, and attractive flexible benefits that include purchasing additional annual leave and access to a reward gateway for discounts.

Key Considerations for Your Career Path:

• Required Expertise: The role demands a strong foundation in operational excellence, with a Master's degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field and a minimum of 5 years in food production operations. Alternatively, deep specialist skills with 10-15+ years of experience and specialized training are valued.
• Data-Driven Approach: A proven track record in CI/Lean, quality and food safety compliance, and proficiency in data-driven decision-making tools (SPC, OEE, MDE, SAP, MES, basic statistics) are essential for success.
• Leadership and Coaching Skills: The ability to act as an "Improvement Champion" and a "Collaborative Coach" is paramount. You'll need to effectively challenge existing norms, mentor colleagues, and foster an inclusive culture.
• Problem-Solving Acumen: As a "Pragmatic Problem-Solver," you'll need to prioritize effectively, communicate clearly, and diligently follow through on solutions in a complex operational environment.
• Adaptability: Working in a large, complex operations site means you'll need to be adaptable and comfortable navigating diverse challenges and stakeholder needs.

This Operational Excellence Specialist role presents a significant opportunity for a motivated and skilled individual to not only advance their career but also to contribute meaningfully to a leading global dairy company. If you are driven by impact, collaboration, and continuous improvement, this position offers a rewarding and challenging path forward.