Continuous Improvement Lead

Role Overview

Kraft Heinz is hiring a permanent Continuous Improvement Lead to support its Manufacturing team in Tomoana, Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. This is a strong opportunity for someone who wants to build a career in continuous improvement and FMCG within a collaborative environment that supports internal growth and advancement.

About the Company

Kraft Heinz is a major global food and beverage business with eight brands that each generate more than $1 billion in annual sales. Its portfolio spans more than 200 legacy and emerging brands, including condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, infant and nutrition products, and other grocery items sold across more than 40 countries.

Key Responsibilities

The role focuses on improving manufacturing performance by strengthening systems, routines, and problem-solving practices on the shop floor.

• Guide and coach teams on the local management system and continuous improvement practices.
• Build shop-floor accountability and help embed standard routines that support stable performance.
• Use structured problem-solving methods to remove recurring losses and stop issues from coming back.
• Gather, review, and interpret performance data to spot trends and compare results against targets.
• Work with operators, maintenance teams, and process owners to create improvement plans and CI project charters.
• Support better safety, quality, and process capability through improved standards, defect management, and operator practices.
• Help develop, maintain, and govern KPIs and loss trees so performance actions stay focused and measurable.
• Join daily, weekly, and monthly performance reviews and ensure actions are tracked through to productivity, efficiency, and unit cost gains.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate has a technical background and practical manufacturing experience, ideally in food production or FMCG.

• Degree in Engineering, Food Science, or a similar field, with experience in food manufacturing or FMCG.
• Good understanding of complex, end-to-end food production processes.
• Hands-on experience using Lean and continuous improvement methods to cut waste and lift performance.
• Comfortable with equipment care basics, autonomous maintenance, and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Confident using Microsoft Office tools such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Visio for analysis, reports, and presentations.
• Willing and able to work across shifts and collaborate effectively with different roster groups.
• Experience training operators and leading group discussions to support consistent work practices.
• Strong planning, organisation, and communication skills, including writing SOPs and short visual work instructions such as one-point lessons.
• Must have full working rights in New Zealand.

Benefits

• Performance-based pay with variable compensation linked to company and individual results, in addition to a competitive base salary.
• Paid parental leave for both primary and secondary caregivers.
• Flexible leave options, including purchased leave, volunteer leave, and LiveWell leave.
• Recognition as a Great Place to Work in Australia and New Zealand.
• Access to internal training programmes.
• Corporate discount programmes.

Additional Information

Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and the employer may close the vacancy earlier than expected. The company also states that it is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from underrepresented ethnic minority groups, women, veterans, people with disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other protected classes.

Location

This position is based in Tomoana, New Zealand.