Senior Manager, Collaborative Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement, B&W

Job Purpose
Collaborative Manufacturing is one of the biggest growth networks in the North America supply chain. It accounts for 25% of TO and over €1bn spend, with plans to continue growing the network to support future growth. The CM team deals with more than 100 (3PM) vendors to procure many different finished goods. The team procures approximately 4k different materials and is responsible for getting them at the best possible prices while - at the same time - securing continuity of supply and agility according to the company's needs.
The Senior Manager, the CM Ops Manager, CM PMO Manager and the Category SC team will work collaboratively and in close partnership to unlock agility and resilience. Reports to the Head of UMS B&W (Unilever Manufacturing Systems) with responsibility for strategic approach and tactical operations of collaborative manufacturing change management. Responsible for the development of the SC’s CM Engineering strategy, approach, and execution. Supports business requirements by ensuring innovations and existing products support Unilever’s quality, cost, customer service and continuous improvement objectives. The Collaborative Manufacturing Manager plays a pivotal role in driving operational excellence by leveraging Unilever Manufacturing Systems (UMS) principles to enhance agility, resilience, and efficiency within Operations, ensuring alignment with quality, cost, and service objectives. In addition, this individual will help support the B&W factories in the US as needed to drive key initiatives related to Operational effectiveness and EEM (Early Equipment Management) for projects/transformations.

Key Responsibilities
The individual should have exceptional leadership and be an innate problem-solver, with the ability to support the business in developing and executing effective business strategies; Some of the responsibilities include:

• Participates on Unilever project teams in support of Brand Development and Brand Growth business targets. Team interaction with Procurement, Marketing, Produce and Package Development, Finance, Planning, Quality, Customer Development and Legal.
• Research, investigate, and develop emerging manufacturing technology and its application to our Supply Chain in all areas, including processing, packaging, logistics, and more.
• Own the funnel of ideas and improvements for the CM technology transformations and continuous improvement.
• Own the long-term technical planning of the CM to align with the brand strategies.
• Execute on key strategic projects, including scope, budget, and schedule development and management.
• Manage conceptual, front-end, and detailed engineering of key strategic projects.
• Partner & interface with Global & Regional Digital, R&D, Engineering, Planning, and Procurement functions to determine optimum suite of activities for CM factories
• Develop and establish an External Services support model.
• Develop digital program for CMs.
• Supports innovation deployment in the spirit of vertical start-ups and ongoing launch success. Ensures that the CM passes technical evaluations.
• Responsible for monitoring KPIs, schedule timelines, process continuous improvements, cost savings opportunities, project and innovation management.
• Shares best practices and lessons learned across the Category (where competitively possible).
• Ensure safety standards are understood by the CM. Support CM with safety mindset program.

Required Qualifications

• Large geographical base across several time zones. Must be able & willing to travel up to 50% of the time.
• Minimum of 10+ years of broad-based Engineering responsibilities. Significant relevant factory experience and/or strong 3rd party experience.
• 5+ years experience supporting large scale CapEx & innovation projects.
• Project Management leadership with strong product management and early equipment management expertise (EPM/EEM). Excellent verbal and written communication skills, along with ability to negotiate.
• Ability to work with all levels and functions within an enterprise: Procurement, Engineering, Operations, and Finance.
   

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