Job Specifications
Job title: Continuous Improvement Specialist
Reports to: CI Controller
Location: Foods UK, Leek
Salary: Generous salary depending on experience
Hours: 36.25 hours per week
Benefits: Matched pension scheme up to 8%, Generous holiday allowance increasing with length of service, Subsidised staff canteen, Company shop offering discounts on Ornua products, Sports & Social Club, Staff Lottery, Discount on Bikes & Tech Scheme, Confidential Employee Assist Programme, Free onsite parking
Ornua (meaning “new gold”) is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, proudly bringing the unique taste of Irish dairy to the world for over 55 years.
Are you a CI Specialist with a true passion for CI and a strong intrinsic drive to innovate, optimise, and elevate operations? Do you thrive in environments that challenge the status quo and excite you to make a lasting impact?
Ornua is actively seeking a Continuous Improvement Specialist who is both collaborative and engaging, with the ability to influence, mentor and coach colleagues at all levels.
The CI Specialist will play a key role in owning and driving CI initiatives within the business aligned to our overall mission and focus on value-add partnering.
The CI Specialist is responsible for working closely with key stakeholders to provide data driven insights, solve challenges and drive performance in line with business objectives whilst optimising costs and eliminating waste. Leading on improvement activities including training, mentoring, tool deployment and benchmarking amongst others, this role drives an improvement-focused culture and increases employee engagement.
The CI Specialist will be the deputy for the CI Controller and be responsible for covering any holidays / absences always ensuring the smooth running of the department.
Why Ornua?
Ornua operates from 10 business units worldwide, including 16 production facilities, and has sales and marketing teams working in-market across all four corners of the globe.
The Group is structured across two divisions: Ornua Foods and Ornua Ingredients.
Ornua Foods is responsible for the marketing and sales of Ornua’s consumer brands including Kerrygold, Pilgrims Choice.
Our co-operative ethos lies at the heart of how we do business as a purpose and values-led organisation, creating value for Irish dairy farming families.
Our Values lie at the core of everything we do. Our five values encourage us to Seek and Embrace New Ideas, Make It Happen, Be Our True Selves, Show You Care, and Achieve Great Things Together.
We invest in our people and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Career Progression including Global Mobility opportunities.
Comprehensive Benefits with regional specific offerings.
Why This Role Is Valuable:
As our CI Specialist you will;
Lead high-impact, cross-functional improvement initiatives that directly influence site performance, cost optimization, and strategic priorities. You will be fully accountable for scoping, planning, and executing projects that deliver sustained value to the business.
Deliver measurable business impact by leading high-value CI initiatives, including yield optimization (£2 million) and procurement cost reductions (£6 million spend), ensuring tangible and sustained financial benefits to the business.
Deputy to CI Controller, attend relevant meetings during holidays / absences and help shape the future of CI within Ornua for the future.
Shape the site's continuous improvement roadmap by identifying opportunities, aligning with business objectives, and championing initiatives that drive transformation and efficiency across operations.
Act as a key business partner to senior leadership, using data-driven insights and structured problem-solving to influence decision-making and secure alignment on improvement priorities.
Leverage and refine Lean and Operational Excellence frameworks, embedding best-in-class tools (e.g., SMED, OEE, VSM, 5S, Standard Work) and creating tailored solutions that work in a complex, fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Develop site-wide capability through coaching and upskilling, enabling functions and teams to take ownership of continuous improvement and drive behavioural change at all levels.
Provide thought leadership on performance improvement, bringing external best practices and fresh thinking to challenge the status quo and elevate operational standards.
Lead data and systems integration for CI by managing the OEE and performance monitoring platforms, ensuring insights are action-oriented, transparent, and drive accountability.
Support Capex planning and project delivery, contributing to evaluations that align capital spend with CI-led opportunities and long-term strategic gains.
Inspire a high-performance, improvement-focused culture by showcasing results, celebrating milestones, and building momentum through visible leadership and impactful storytelling.
What You Bring To The Role:
Proven experience in delivering c
About the Company
Ornua is an Irish dairy co-operative that markets and sells dairy products on behalf of its Member Co-operatives, Ireland's dairy processors and, in turn, Irish dairy farmers. Ornua is Ireland's largest exporter of Irish dairy products and has annualised sales of EUR3.4 billion. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Ornua has a strong global team of 2,800 employees, operating from 10 business units worldwide, including 13 production facilities. Ornua builds sustainable routes to market for Irish dairy products. The Group is stru...
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