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Global Continuous Improvement (MDI) Manager - Europe Based
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Position Title: Global Continuous Improvement (MDI) Manager - Europe Based
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Grade: Grade 06
Requisition ID: 44204
Location: GB (Scarborough or Whittlesey) / Netherlands (Lelystad) / France (Villeneuve-d'Ascq (VDA))
In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.
About the Role
This is a rare opportunity to join a high-performing global team at a pivotal moment in the evolution of McCain's proprietary Manufacturing Operating System - MDI (McCain Driving Impact). Built entirely in-house and currently in active deployment across 30+ plants worldwide, MDI is still being shaped, and this hire will have a genuine seat at the table in influencing its design.
We are open for this role to be based from UK, France or Netherlands.
Following internal promotion, we are looking for a Global MDI Manager who can land running. You will partner with plant and regional leadership teams across the globe to deploy, coach and sustain our Manufacturing Operating System - driving real growth, cultural change, and measurable cost improvements. This is not an execution role; it is a systems-thinking, influence-led position for someone who has built and deployed CI frameworks from the ground up.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Support and lead the global deployment of MDI - McCain's Manufacturing Operating System - across a network of 30+ manufacturing sites, currently at Phase 2–3 of rollout.
- Facilitate the development of Daily Management Systems with cross-functional global leaders and their regional teams, driving standards and sustainment through governance and assessment processes.
- Partner with Regional Manufacturing Leadership Teams to identify and deliver cost savings through manufacturing process improvement.
- Perform loss analysis and lead focused improvement initiatives using proven CI methodologies (TPM, IWS, Lean, DMAIC, A3 and equivalents).
- Coach continuous improvement skills and mindset at all levels of the organisation - building lasting capability rather than dependency.
- Lead strategic ad hoc projects that contribute to the financial and cultural objectives of the Global Manufacturing function.
- Contribute to the ongoing design and evolution of the MDI system itself - this role sits at a genuine inflection point in the programme's development.
- Stay at the forefront of manufacturing excellence innovation, including the emerging integration of digital tools and process digitisation within MDI.
What You’ll Need to Be Successful
Experience & Technical Capability
- Demonstrable experience designing and deploying a Continuous Improvement or Manufacturing Operating System autonomously - you have built the playbook, not just followed one.
- Deep working knowledge of TPM, IWS or equivalent integrated work systems philosophy, with Lean Black Belt or equivalent methodology as a benchmark.
- At least ten years of leadership or management experience within Continuous Improvement and Plant Operations, with a minimum of five years leading and coaching at least two of the following: Autonomous Manufacturing (TPM), Focused Improvement (DMAIC, 8D, A3), Daily Management Systems (IWS, HPWS, WCM), Early Management / Vertical Start-Up, or Skills Development / Work Simplification.
- FMCG manufacturing experience is essential; backgrounds in automotive or pharmaceutical manufacturing are also of strong interest.
- A Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations Management, Science, Engineering or a related field; Lean / CI certification and PMP designation are a bonus.
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Leadership & Interpersonal Skills
- The emotional and organisational maturity to lead entirely through influence - you can negotiate with Plant Directors, understand where to push and where to compromise, and build credibility without direct authority.
- A self-starter who thrives with autonomy and operates effectively across global cultures with minimal supervision.
- Excellent facilitation, communication and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to engage and influence senior leaders.
- Comfortable in ambiguity - able to define a plan and create clarity in a fast-moving, complex environment.
- Bilingual skills are an asset; multilingual capability is welcomed.
Other Requirements
- Willingness and ability to travel internationally (60%+ of the time).
Benefits
Although we do encourage you to taste the goods, you'll be pleased to know we don't pay you in chips. Alongside your salary, you'll enjoy a range of benefits - this is country dependant and can be discussed with you depending on your location if successful to next steps.
And because you're joining a global business, your career opportunities don't stop at the factory gate. Whether you're looking to deepen your expertise, step into leadership, or even explore opportunities internationally, we'll support your growth. With ambitious plans for the future, there's plenty of scope to develop your career with us.
About the Team / Location
You will join a small, high-calibre global MDI team operating within McCain's Global Manufacturing function, reporting directly to the Global Director, MDI. The team works with Regional Manufacturing Leadership across all of McCain's major geographies - a genuinely global remit with meaningful reach into plant-level operations worldwide.
For more information, connect with Cat Barnfather.
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About McCain
Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.
Leadership Principles
At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.
The McCain Experience
We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we’re better together.
Our purpose is grounded in building meaningful relationships. We’re big believers in the power of working together in person—it helps us stay connected, collaborate more effectively, and grow as a team. At the same time, we recognize the importance of flexibility. Most office-based roles follow a hybrid model, with the option to work remotely two days a week. There may be exceptions depending on the role and location, so we encourage you to speak with your recruiter for more details.
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McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain’s Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy, as applicable. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process, though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information is being handled here.
Job Family: Manufacturing; Engineering & Technical
Division: Global Operations and Growth
Department: Global MDI
Location(s): GB - United Kingdom : England : Scarborough || GB - United Kingdom : England : Whittlesey
Company: McCain Foods (G.B.) Ltd
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