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Ajinomoto

AminoScience-driven multinational in food, biotech, materials

Operational Excellence Manager

Manufacturing EngineeringConfirmed live in the last 24 hours
Full-timeOakland, MS, USANo salary listedIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

  • A minimum of 4 years of manufacturing experience in a leadership role, preferably in the food industry.
  • A minimum of 2 years of AFNA manufacturing experience in a leadership role is preferred.
  • Strong knowledge of Total Productive Maintenance methodology, Lean principles, or a continuous improvement program.
  • Certifications in advanced continuous improvement tools are preferred.
  • Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to motivate, develop, and inspire others.
  • Experience successfully identifying, adopting, and leading change initiatives and gaining alignment.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders, peer groups, and all factory personnel levels.
  • A proven track record of driving results in a factory environment.
  • A Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM field or active enrollment in a STEM degree program is preferred; preference is given to engineering degrees or active enrollment in an engineering program. Equivalent experience in lieu of a degree will be considered.

Responsibilities

  • Develop, implement, and sustain Total Productive Maintenance strategies to improve equipment reliability, reduce downtime and food loss, and enhance overall operational efficiency in the food manufacturing facility.
  • Lead the factory continuous improvement culture to achieve Total Productive Maintenance program objectives and total delivered cost reductions.
  • Drive process improvement and team development by implementing AFNA Total Productive Maintenance reference standards for launched pillars with factory leaders and department teams.
  • Coordinate and conduct training sessions based on AFNA Total Productive Maintenance reference standards for all levels of the factory.
  • Lead Total Productive Maintenance activities and discussions with hourly and management leaders to facilitate and promote change toward business targets.
  • Perform internal assessments and coach the health and effectiveness of the Total Productive Maintenance standards in use.
  • Communicate and escalate requests to the central Operational Excellence organization for additional detailed training and assistance with AFNA Total Productive Maintenance reference standards.
  • Lead loss identification and prioritization, including operational efficiency, downtime, raw material loss, and labor loss, through visual and verbal sharing and guidance with factory leaders and team members.
  • Ensure effective root cause analysis and sustainable actions by guiding and developing applicable factory personnel.
  • Own understanding, accountability, and use of the key operational efficiency performance indicator within the factory to drive continuous improvement activities.
  • Lead the factory's cross-functional total delivered cost program to identify and generate projects and activities that drive annual cost-reduction targets.
  • Ensure cost-reduction projects and activities are executed according to timeline expectations.
  • Provide reporting of total delivered cost activities and escalations to AFNA leaders.
  • Lead direct reports with clarity and accountability, set clear expectations, drive alignment to business priorities, and model inclusive, values-based leadership.
  • Own performance outcomes, use data and ongoing feedback to drive results, address issues early, and make fair, timely talent decisions.
  • Build organizational capability by developing talent through coaching, succession planning, and intentional investment in future-ready skills.

Desired Qualifications

  • A minimum of 2 years of AFNA manufacturing experience in a leadership role.
  • Certifications in advanced continuous improvement tools.
  • A Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM field or active enrollment in a STEM degree program, with preference for engineering.

About the Company

Ajinomoto

AminoScience-driven multinational in food, biotech, materials

Ajinomoto is a global science-driven company that uses amino acid fermentation and biotech to make products for nutrition, medical nutrition, fine chemicals, and specialty electronics. Its AminoScience platform turns fermentation know-how into biobased ingredients and biopharma applications, while Build-up Film (ABF) provides a key insulating layer used in most high-performance semiconductors. The company combines food science with advanced materials, bridging everyday nutrition with industrial and tech applications. Its goal is to create shared value by pursuing sustainable growth, targeting net-zero emissions by 2050 and extending healthy lifespans to one billion people, supported by strategic investments through Ajinomoto Group Ventures.

Company size
1,001-5,000
Company stage
IPO
Headquarters
Tokyo, Japan
Founded
1925

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