Operational Excellence Manager

Join Our Purpose – Feeding the Future  

Role: Operational Excellence Manager

Location:  Trouw Nutrition – St. Mary’s, Ontario

Hours/Shift: Mon-Fri (8am-5pm, flexible)

Vacancy Type: Replacement

Why join us

Get ready to Own your career as an Operational Excellence Manager at Trouw Nutrition, a Nutreco company. As global leaders in animal nutrition and aquafeed, our shared purpose of Feeding the Future is making a positive global impact for generations to come. Join us in this impactful role and help deliver the production of feed, in a sustainable way to a growing population. Own your direction, Own your development and Own your path.

What you’ll do

You’ll lead the region’s adoption of Nutreco Operational Excellence by taking full ownership of performance outcomes—proactively diagnosing opportunities, translating them into clear improvement roadmaps, and driving delivery of stretching cost, productivity, and KPI targets across sites. In line with Own It, you’ll act as a connected self-starter: setting up strong governance and performance routines (SIM), coaching cross-functional teams to execute complex CI projects, and ensuring benefits are tracked and realized—while partnering closely with Plant Managers and regional leadership to solve operational challenges quickly and build lasting continuous-improvement capability that supports Nutreco’s purpose of Feeding the Future.  In addition, in the Plant Manager’s absence, you’ll lead plant operations.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for a hands-on Operational Excellence leader who truly Owns It—someone who takes end-to-end accountability for results, follows through on commitments, and proactively removes barriers to performance. You bring an engineering/mechanical foundation and proven project leadership in a manufacturing environment (ideally managing complex, cross-functional improvement work and capital projects up to ~$2M), with Lean/Six Sigma capability preferred. You’re analytical and confident, able to influence site and regional leaders through strong listening, communication, and stakeholder management, and you’re comfortable using data and systems (e.g., MES/ENGIE, M3, Power BI, MS Project/SharePoint) to diagnose issues, track benefits, and sustain performance routines that build OE maturity across multiple plants.

You’ll also need

• Engineering/mechanical foundation + manufacturing project leadership (PMP an asset), with experience delivering complex, cross-functional initiatives and capital projects up to ~$2M.

• Operational Excellence / Continuous Improvement expertise (e.g., SIM, 5S, TPM, PSG) with the ability to assess performance, prioritize opportunities, and build practical site improvement plans.

• Strong analytics and benefits realization discipline—able to use data to diagnose root causes, set measurable targets (cost/productivity/KPIs), and rigorously track impact (e.g., FFG/OE benefit tracking).

• Influencing and stakeholder leadership—confident communicator and coach who partners effectively with Plant Managers and leadership teams, using strong listening and collaboration to drive adoption and sustain change.

• Systems and digital fluency in operations—proficient with MES/ENGIE, M3, Power BI, and project tools (MS Project/SharePoint); Six Sigma and feed/extrusion experience preferred.

What you’ll receive

As part of Nutreco, you’ll be a member of the SHV family, a diverse group of companies with global footprint. Join us and you’ll gain access to a wide network of expertise and global career paths. You’ll also benefit from the backing of one of the world’s largest privately owned businesses, known for its stability and long-term focus.

In addition, you’ll receive

• Robust pension plan with employer matching that begins on Day 1!

• Competitive health benefits – Medical/Dental/Vision/HSA, that start on Day 1!

• Short-term/Long-term Disability and Mental Health spending allowance

• Maternal top-up and Tuition Reimbursement

• 15 vacation days to start (tiered)

• Annual bonus

How and why to find out more

We can offer you a rewarding career with real meaning and purpose. Where you’ll feel proud of the impactful role you perform every day and the part you play in Feeding the Future. So, if you’re interested in joining us, get ready to Own your progress, your potential and your career. We aim to review all applications within five business days and will get back to you as soon as possible.

#Ownit

Additional Information

Accessibility: Nutreco is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive recruitment experience. Accommodations are available upon request at any stage of the hiring process. If you require support, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

AI Screening Disclosure: Nutreco does not use artificial intelligence (AI) or automated decision‑making tools to screen, assess, or select candidates at any stage of the recruitment process. All applications are reviewed directly by our Talent Acquisition team and hiring managers.

Background Check: Final candidates who are offered a position will be required to undergo a criminal background check.

Eligibility: Candidates applying to job openings must already be authorized to work independently in the country where the position is based. Employer sponsorship is not available for this role.

Employment Equity: We are committed to employment equity and encourage applications from qualified individuals, including women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities.

Pay Transparency Statement: Compensation for roles at Nutreco varies depending on a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, education, and level of experience. We believe in the importance of pay equity and consider the internal equity of our current team members as a part of any final offer. 

 #SPTN

#trouwnutrition