Process Improvement Project Specialist

Process Improvement Project Specialist

Join a team that nourishes life from farm to table! Upstate Niagara Cooperative, proudly owned by 200+ local family farms, is one of America's largest and most stable dairy cooperatives. Guided by farmer- and employee-led values, we process and market high-quality milk, yogurt, dips, sour cream, cottage cheese, and more under our trusted brands: Upstate Farms, Bison, Milk for Life, and Intense Milk. Here, you'll support sustainable farming, strong communities, and the mission to deliver fresh, local dairy to families every day.

Position Summary

The Process Improvement Project Specialist is responsible for leading and supporting cross-functional projects designed to improve manufacturing operations, increase efficiency, reduce costs, improve quality and safety, and enhance overall business performance across Upstate Niagara Cooperative's manufacturing facilities.

This position combines project management, process improvement, data analysis, and operational problem-solving. The Process Improvement Project Specialist will work closely with Plant Managers, Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Safety, Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance, Human Resources, and other functional leaders to identify opportunities, develop solutions, implement improvements, and ensure sustainable results.

The ideal candidate is a strong project manager who can work effectively in a manufacturing environment, understand operational challenges, organize complex initiatives, engage employees at all levels, and translate data and observations into practical improvements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management

• Lead assigned improvement projects from initial concept through implementation, stabilization, and project closeout.
• Develop project charters, objectives, timelines, milestones, resource requirements, and measures of success.
• Establish project plans and maintain schedules to ensure projects remain on track.
• Coordinate cross-functional project teams and facilitate project meetings.
• Identify project risks, barriers, dependencies, and resource needs and escalate issues when appropriate.
• Provide regular project updates to leadership, including progress, challenges, financial impact, and expected outcomes.
• Ensure project documentation, action items, decisions, and results are maintained throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate multiple projects simultaneously while prioritizing initiatives based on business needs and expected impact.

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing processes, productivity, quality, safety, reliability, labor utilization, material usage, and operating costs.
• Observe and evaluate current-state processes to identify waste, inefficiencies, bottlenecks, duplication, and opportunities for standardization.
• Develop and document future-state processes and improvement recommendations.
• Utilize continuous improvement principles and tools such as Lean, root cause analysis, process mapping, 5S, standard work, and PDCA/A3 methodologies as appropriate.
• Facilitate root cause analysis and problem-solving activities for recurring operational issues.
• Partner with plant leadership and employees to develop practical solutions that can be effectively implemented in the manufacturing environment.
• Assist with the development and implementation of standard operating procedures, work instructions, and standardized processes.
• Identify opportunities to leverage technology, automation, equipment, systems, or process changes to improve operational performance.

Manufacturing & Operational Improvement

• Work directly with manufacturing facilities to evaluate production processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Analyze production performance, downtime, labor utilization, yield, scrap, quality, throughput, and other operational measures.
• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability, preventative maintenance, downtime, and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Partner with Quality and Food Safety to ensure process improvements maintain compliance with regulatory, food safety, quality, and company requirements.
• Support projects involving production scheduling, staffing, workflow, material movement, inventory, sanitation, changeovers, and other operational activities.
• Assist in evaluating capital improvement opportunities and developing business cases when appropriate.
• Support implementation of new equipment, technology, systems, and processes that impact plant operations.
• Work with plant teams to ensure improvements are effectively adopted and sustained after implementation.

Data & Performance Analysis

• Collect, analyze, and interpret operational and financial data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas of concern.
• Establish appropriate project metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Develop reports, dashboards, and presentations to communicate project performance and results.
• Quantify the financial and operational impact of improvement initiatives, including labor savings, productivity improvements, waste reduction, quality improvements, and cost avoidance.
• Validate project results and ensure improvements are supported by measurable data.
• Monitor implemented improvements to confirm that gains are sustained over time.

Change Management & Employee Engagement

• Build strong working relationships with employees and leaders at all levels of the organization.
• Engage frontline employees in identifying problems and developing solutions.
• Facilitate meetings, workshops, process-mapping sessions, and improvement events.
• Communicate the purpose, benefits, and expected impact of process changes to affected employees and stakeholders.
• Assist leaders with change management and adoption of new processes.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and encourage employees to identify opportunities to improve the way work is performed.
• Recognize and address resistance to change in a constructive and professional manner.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Food Safety, Supply Chain, Finance, Human Resources, IT, and other departments on company initiatives.
• Serve as a project resource and subject-matter partner for process improvement initiatives across multiple manufacturing locations.
• Facilitate collaboration between plants to identify and share best practices.
• Identify opportunities to standardize successful processes across multiple facilities.
• Participate in company-wide initiatives that impact manufacturing operations and business performance.

Additional Responsibilities

• Travel between Upstate Niagara Cooperative manufacturing facilities as required.
• Participate in plant meetings, operational reviews, project meetings, and leadership discussions as needed.
• Maintain current knowledge of process improvement methodologies, project management practices, manufacturing technology, and industry best practices.
• Support special projects and other operational initiatives as assigned.
• Perform all duties in accordance with company policies, safety requirements, food safety standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Project Management, or a related field required.
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant manufacturing/project management experience may be considered.

Experience

• 3-5 years of experience in project management, process improvement, operations, manufacturing, engineering, or a related field.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects from planning through implementation and results measurement.
• Manufacturing or food manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working directly with plant operations and frontline employees preferred.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, or other structured problem-solving methodologies preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to analyze data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and operational performance.
• Ability to lead projects without direct authority over project team members.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships with employees and leaders at all levels.
• Ability to influence and drive change in a collaborative environment.
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience with project management, reporting, process mapping, or data visualization tools preferred.
• Ability to travel between company locations as needed.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this position, the employee may be required to walk through manufacturing and warehouse environments, stand for extended periods, climb stairs, and occasionally work in areas requiring personal protective equipment. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move materials or equipment weighing up to 25 pounds. Specific physical requirements may vary depending on project assignments and work location.

Work Environment

This position regularly works in both an office and