Operational Excellence Lead

Build your career at Sazerac! With almost 400 years of rich history Sazerac Company has thrived as an independent American family-owned company with operations in the United States and around the world. Since the 2000s Sazerac has averaged double digit growth every year! Sazerac Company produces and markets the most award-winning bourbons and whiskeys in the world including Buffalo Trace Pappy Van Winkle Eagle Rare Blantons Traveller and Sazerac Rye. Additionally Sazerac owns many popular brands across a range of spirits including Fireball Svedka Wheatley BuzzBallz Southern Comfort Seagrams V.O. Myerss Goldschläger Parrot Bay 99 Brand and Platinum Vodka.

Were proud of our award-winning culture and distilleries. Our Louisville office has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Kentucky four times and our Buffalo Trace Distillery has earned the title of worlds most award-winning distillery through the dedication of our craftsmen for well over 200 years. Whether youre a recent graduate or an experienced professional Sazerac provides extraordinary opportunities for growth with competitive salaries and benefits in an exciting entrepreneurial industry.

The Operational Excellence Lead is responsible for deploying and sustaining a structured performance management system that drives continuous improvement across the integrated supply chain. This role partners closely with site leaders and cross-functional teams to standardize work improve performance optimize costs and embed a culture of operational excellence across global operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Deploy and integrate the Performance Development System (PDS) to align individual capability development with performance targets
• Establish and lead a structured performance management framework using RCA GEMBA KAIZEN PMS and Lost Cost Tree methodologies
• Partner with operations finance and site leadership to identify priority areas performance losses and root causes
• Lead standardized work area design visual management systems and zone ownership implementation
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement through coaching training and Lean methodologies
• Integrate Total Quality Management (TQM) principles to reduce variability and sustain quality standards
• Develop monitor and refine KPIs aligned with business priorities
• Drive productivity initiatives by eliminating waste and resolving operational bottlenecks
• Lead strategic planning and deployment of performance improvement initiatives
• Support world-class customer service through improved efficiency accuracy and reliability

Must Have

• Bachelors degree
• Minimum of 4 years of relevant experience
• Experience leading Lean Manufacturing Work Systems
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and methodologies
• Demonstrated strategic thinking stakeholder management and change leadership skills
• Proven coaching analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Data-driven decision-making mindset

Physical & Travel Requirements

• Ability to move between worksites and operational areas as needed
• Up to 50% domestic travel to satellite facilities (primarily Kentucky and Carrollton TX) with remaining time based at a primary facility

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A career at Sazerac offers you the opportunity to reach your full potential as part of a creative decisive high-performance team. Sazerac values the needs and wants of our team members and offers inclusive benefits to attract and retain the best talent. Our culture is built upon the values of hard work diligence and personal responsibility.

Sazerac Team Members enjoy:

• Competitive Pay
• Comprehensive Benefits from Day One including medical dental vision disability and life insurance.
• Family Coverage:Options to cover family members including domestic partners.
• 401(k) Plan:Immediate access to a matching 401(k) plan.
• Flexible Time Away:Enjoy paid time off (PTO) holidays and parental leave.
• Mental Health and Wellness:Access to mental health care and wellness incentive programs.
• Educational Support:Benefit from tuition reimbursement and our scholarship program for dependents of Sazerac team members.
• Fun Extras:Enjoy branded apparel fun events and a team member bottle purchase program.
• Training and Development:Opportunities for professional growth and development.

Benefits salary range and programs may vary by role or location. For roles within our commercial team - the Salary range refers to base salary only and does not include car allowance annual bonus fuel or cell phone ask your Talent Acquisition Partner for more information about our total rewards package. Sazerac is committed to equality of opportunity without regard to race color religion national or ethnic origin veteran status age gender gender identity or expression sexual orientation genetic information physical or mental disability or any other legally protected status.