Manufacturing Excellence Manager

Job Description :

Title: Manufacturing Excellence Manager - Montgomery

This is an on-site position at our new Diageo Plant in Hope Hull Alabama.

About Diageo:

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness!

Our performance ambition is to be one of the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. We are proud of the brands we make and the enjoyment they give to millions. We are passionate about alcohol playing a positive role in society as part of a balanced lifestyle. It is central to our purpose to celebrate life, every day, everywhere!

Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share standard methodology.

Diageo Montgomery:

As part of its efforts to build an increasingly resilient and efficient supply network, premium drinks company Diageo North America announced plans to open a new manufacturing and warehousing facility in Montgomery, Alabama. The 360,000 square foot facility will have a multi-million case annual production capacity for Diageo’s leading beverage alcohol brands. This site will enhance the company’s North America supply chain operations and support future growth for the company’s export business.

The new facility, which will be referred to as ‘Diageo Montgomery,’ will provide a new point of operations closer to the company’s beverage distributors in the southern region. The site’s strategic location is expected to reduce required road travel, significantly helping to further mitigate carbon emissions associated with logistics operations. The new facility will also employ top tier technology for more efficient water and energy usage across the site.

Purpose of Role:

• Problem Solving

• Provide thought leadership in developing practical solutions to complex analytical problems.

• Execution of critical initiatives to deliver growth site wide.

• Culture Change

• Key member of the site’s steering committee and serve as coach to embed sustainable CI culture.

• Ensure best in class practices align and support Relay ambition across all maturing, brewing, packaging and warehouse operations.

• Best in class Practices

• Work directly with the different departments (plant floor and management) to implement improvements and deploy best in class practices/standards.

• Be a driving force behind strategic, operational and organizational initiatives.

• Provide insight through analytics and drive CI implementation efforts.

• Leadership of site’s manufacturing excellence program including 5S, Set Up Time Reduction, Autonomous Maintenance, Focused Improvement, and Asset Care.

• Responsible for improved performance - efficiency and OEE

• Standardize ways of working - based on best in class practices, different site inputs and the global standards

• Ensure all our procedures/ways of working are properly documented, up-to-date and accessible to all users.

• Build Capabilities:

• Improve capability of the Operator and Team Leader (Supervisor) by defining a standardized up-skilling program.

• Provide technical support and be the subject matter expert in all aspects of Manufacturing Excellence (CI).

Key Outputs:

• Support and model behaviors to deliver Zero Harm. 

• Collaborate with operational partners to deliver against critical metric objectives.

• Drive reduction in targeted waste streams.

• Support, coach and track root cause problem solving to permanently address issues.

• Using lean techniques, optimize safety, quality, production, and cost objectives through employee involvement and team approach to problem solving.

• Direct the planning and implementation of key initiatives to improve all operations.

• Regular meetings with the teams to drive performance improvement and increased levels of engagement.

• Remain abreast of industry changes and new technology, equipment, systems etc. as they relate to improving the key operations.

• Link with planning to develop clear guidelines for effective planning of operations.

• Benchmark and measure our performance against best in class.

• Monitor a balanced scorecard of critical metrics e.g. OEE, Schedule adherence etc.

Qualifications:

• 4 year Bachelor's Degree or equivalent (preferably in Engineering or related field), with advanced training and experience in Lean Manufacturing / CI (Lean/ Six Sigma Certification/ 5-S. 

• 5+ years track record across a range of Engineering or Manufacturing fields preferably in the beverage/food business or CPG companies including time in both a front-line and management role

• Solid, demonstrated experience in implementing best in class tools and lean manufacturing techniques and leading plant wide change initiatives.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Leadership skills particularly in, creating possibilities, change management, consistently delivering great performance and a strong sphere of influence.

• Must have exceptional influencing skills and be proficient in presentation and training skills.  Ability to influence without direct control of resources.

• Demonstrated leadership and role modeling in breakthrough performance coaching to build high performing teams.

• Excellent organization skills. Ability to handle multiple priorities.

• Superior problem solving and analytical skills (quantitative and qualitative).

• Demonstrated passion for solving problems and manufacturing and operational excellence.

• Successful candidate will be self-motivated and able to achieve high impact within Diageo NA.

Plant Address:

Diageo Montgomery

7000 Celebration Way

Hope Hull, AL 36043

Worker Type :

Regular

Primary Location:

Montgomery

Additional Locations :

Job Posting Start Date :

2026-07-30MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA: SALARY RANGE IS FROM $91,200 TO $152,000 (ANNUAL)

At Diageo certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, including annual incentive payment and stock awards. US-based employees are eligible for healthcare benefits, retirement benefits , short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, wellness benefits and industry leading parental leave, among others. (Benefits/perks listed may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Diageo and the country where you work.) The salary range displayed is the salary range for the role’s primary location.