<p>Symrise is a global supplier of fragrances and flavors, cosmetic active ingredients as well as functional ingredients. Its customers include perfume, cosmetics, food and beverage manufacturers, the pharmaceutical industry and producers of dietary supplements and pet food.</p> <p>With sales of around €5.0 billion in the 2024 financial year, the company is one of the world's leading providers. The Group, headquartered in Holzminden, Germany, has more than 100 locations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Asia, the USA and Latin America.</p> <p>Together with its customers, Symrise develops new ideas and market-ready concepts for products that form an indispensable part of everyday life. Economic success and corporate responsibility are inextricably linked.</p> <p>Symrise - always inspiring more...</p> <p>Position Summary</p> <p>We're looking for a passionate and hands-on Regional Continuous Improvement (CI) Project Manager to join our North America Food & Beverage Strategy function. This exciting role goes beyond improving processes-you will help us build a culture where continuous improvement becomes second nature. You'll be the go-to person for CI methodologies, culture, mindset, ensuring we're not just making financial gains but also becoming more efficient in everything we do. You'll partner with various cross functional teams, e.g. Finance, Operations, Technical, Supply Chain, Procurement and more-to deliver both functional/operational improvements and business success while staying in sync with our global Taste Nutrition & Health (TN&H) continuous improvement framework. This is an individual contributor role.</p> <p>If you enjoy proactively leading change, working collaboratively, and turning good ideas into great results, this is the role for you!</p> <p>Essential Duties and Responsibilities</p> <p>1) Build a Culture of Continuous Improvement</p> <ul> <li>Inspire regional teams to embrace a mindset of continuous improvement, supporting through communications and methodology trainings as part of their everyday routines. </li><li>Foster a collaborative approach, helping cross-functional teams solve problems together by "walking side by side" through the CI journey. </li></ul> <p>2) Drive Continuous Improvement Strategy and Regional Alignment</p> <ul> <li>Bring the global TN&H CI framework to life at the regional level, adapting it to fit local needs while staying true to the bigger picture of regional business strategy. </li><li>Balance the focus on both functional/operational efficiency (non-ops &; ops) and financial impact, making sure our efforts lead to real, measurable value creation - both for us and our customers. </li></ul> <p>3) Lead Process Improvement Projects</p> <ul> <li>Lead process optimization initiatives to reduce wasted effort (e.g. material, time, talent, transportation etc.), improve efficiency, and enhance overall performance. </li><li>Use tools like value stream mapping and root cause analysis to identify and solve issues quickly and effectively. </li></ul> <p>4) Work Across Departments:</p> <ul> <li>Partner closely with teams including Finance, Operations, Technical, Supply Chain, Portfolio and Procurement to ensure CI projects deliver both functional/operational and financial results. </li><li>Act as a bridge between departments, ensuring everyone is aligned and working toward common goals. </li></ul> <p>5) Represent the Region Globally & Share Successes:</p> <ul> <li>Represent the region in global TN&H/ division CI forums, sharing success stories and lessons learned to help improve global TN&H framework. </li><li>Identify best practices from the region and "lift and shift" them to other areas, helping everyone benefit from what's working well. </li></ul> <p>6) Act as a Center of Excellence (CoE):</p> <ul> <li>Be the regional CI expert, offering guidance, support, and training to teams as they navigate their CI journeys. </li><li>Provide coaching and mentorship, making sure teams feel confident and capable in their continuous improvement efforts. </li></ul> <p>7) Measure and Communicate Impact:</p> <ul> <li>Track and report on the impact of CI initiatives, looking beyond just financial gains to also include efficiency improvements like productivity, cycle time, and customer satisfaction. </li></ul> <p>Position Requirements</p> <ul> <li> <p>Education</p> </li><li> <p>Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Operations, Business or a related field.</p> </li><li> <p>Certifications in Project Management, Lean Six Sigma, Kaizen, or similar are a big plus.</p> </li><li> <p>Experience</p> </li><li> <p>Minimum 5-7 years of experience managing projects in continuous improvement, operational excellence, or a similar role within a multinational environment.</p> </li><li> <p>Must have experience within the food & beverage and/or flavor industry.</p> </li><li> <p>Hands-on experience working with cross functions (e.g., Finance, Operations, Technical, Supply Chain and Procurement).</p> </li><li> <p>Strong track record of driving both efficiency gains and financial improvements.</p> </li><li> <p>Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities</p> </li><li> <p>Knowledge in various continuous improvement methodologies (e.g. Lean six sigma, Kaizen) and other process improvement tools. Formal training and/or certifications preferred.</p> </li><li> <p>Strong business acumen with the ability to see the bigger picture and align CI efforts with strategic business goals.</p> </li><li> <p>Good professional knowledge of English - oral and written.</p> </li><li> <p>Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a focus on collaboration over conflict.</p> </li><li> <p>Ability to analyze KPIs and use data to make informed decisions.</p> </li><li> <p>Comfortable working across departments and influencing without direct authority.</p> </li><li> <p>Ability to travel domestically as needed both by land and by air (approximately 25% - 30% annually).</p> </li></ul> <p>Become part of our open and transparent culture. It will give you the opportunity to flourish and to develop inspiring experiences that contribute to the health and well-being of consumers in 160 countries around the world. Putting our employees in focus fuels our strong company growth above market rates and makes us an excellent place to develop your career.</p> <p>Come join us and embark on a fascinating journey with Symrise.</p> <p>If you feel that you fit the above criteria, then please apply by using our online application system. Your application will be treated confidentially.</p> <p>We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin or any other basis protected by applicable law. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications, merit and business necessity.</p> <p>Pay Transparency Disclosure: The expected annual salary range for this position is USD $110000.00 - USD $135000.00. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and company performance.</p>