Operational Excellence Engineer

COMPANY OVERVIEW:

Balchem is committed to making the world a healthier place by delivering trusted, innovative, and science-based solutions for the health and nutritional needs of the world. Balchem employs approximately 1,400 employees worldwide who provide the service, quality, and technology that enables our customers to win with their customers. We have built a reputation for delivering results to all of our stakeholders. Founded in 1967, Balchem, a Maryland corporation, became a publicly-traded company in 1970 and is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “BCPC.” Our corporate headquarters is located in Montvale, New Jersey, and we have a broad network of sales offices, manufacturing sites, and R&D centers, primarily located in the U.S. and Europe. The Company consists of three business segments: Human Nutrition and Health, Animal Nutrition and Health, and Specialty Products.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Operational Excellence Engineer is responsible for driving measurable improvements in safety, quality, cost, productivity, reliability, and waste reduction across food manufacturing operations with a focus on chemical processes. This role partners with site leadership, operations, quality, maintenance, engineering, and technical teams to identify process losses, standardize best practices, improve process capability, and implement Lean Manufacturing methodologies. The position supports continuous improvement initiatives using tools such as value stream mapping, root cause analysis, 5S, standard work, visual management, Kaizen, SMED, and daily management systems to improve throughput, reduce variation, and strengthen operational discipline. The Operational Excellence Engineer also supports data-driven decision-making through performance metrics, process monitoring, and improvement project tracking, while coaching teams to build and sustain a culture of continuous improvement, food safety, and operational excellence.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Establish, maintain, and continually improve plant performance through a Lean mindset. Improvement focus areas include:
  • Cost reduction and waste elimination.
  • Throughput improvements or debottlenecking.
  • Process flow improvements, increasing overall plant productivity.
  • Increased process reliability through improved processes, procedures, and practices.
• Ensure the use of CAPA and accelerated continuous improvement processes to track and capture value initiatives.
• Facilitate generation of initiatives and prioritization, maintain standards for tracking, and ensure accountability processes are in place.
• Assist manufacturing leadership in establishment of metrics and key performance indicators as well as best practice performance dialog processes.
• Occasionally provide updates to senior leadership regarding overall or specific plant progress.
• Develop, continually improve, and promote usability of data visualization tools such as Power BI and Pi Data Historian as it relates to improvement initiatives.
• Lead specific site high speed turn-around efforts.
• Foster a team-oriented culture of coordination, cooperation and communication cross-functionally throughout the company.
• Build and maintain a high-performance environment and coach others in effective team interaction and function.
• Must understand the company vision and mission and maintain alignment accordingly.
• Must be familiar with and comply with company policies and procedures including those of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), and Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations
• Ability and willingness to learn, understand, follow and promote documented work procedures.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial, Manufacturing Engineering or related field from an accredited university/college and significant applicable work experience.
• 5+ years of operational excellence experience; proven direct leadership experience; minimum of 5 years leadership experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Proven application of skill set delivering tangible business results
• Food or pharmaceutical experience is a plus.
• Proficient computer skills (Microsoft Office suite especially Excel and PowerPoint)
• Experience with the function of ERP systems such as SAP, MS Dynamics, or similar software.
• Knowledge of data visualization tools and distributive control systems is a plus.
• Knowledge of food GMP’s a plus.
• Specific knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and TPM systems.
• Clear sense of urgency and ability to manage priorities to meet immediate needs and long-term goals.
• Ability to manage time and workload efficiently, and the ability to prioritize and modify priorities accordingly.
• Strong safety orientation.
• Self-motivation and ability to work independently given a scope of work or mission.
• Demonstrated ability to work and develop others at all levels in an organization.
• Sensitive to other cultures/backgrounds, able to work in a multi-cultural workplace.
• Demonstrated ability to function in a fast-paced environment while moving multiple simultaneous projects forward.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to discuss, develop, and implement plans.
• High sensitivity to quality and on time delivery of commitments.
• Ability to lead and develop others.
• Willingness and ability to respectfully hold team and peers accountable for execution and overall reliability performance.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time.

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Balchem is committed to a workplace culture that values and promotes diversity, inclusion, equal employment opportunities, and a work environment free of harassment and hostility.