Overview:
Operational Excellence Supervisor in New Paltz, NY
Viking Packaging is a leading corrugated box manufacturer in New Paltz, NY with a distribution location in Ridgefield, NJ (George H Swatek Inc.) strategically positioned in the tri state area (NY, NJ & CT), committed to providing top-quality packaging & container solutions to our clients. We take pride in our exceptional team and innovative approach, driving success in the industry.
We look for Problem Solvers who strive to make customers happy and successful, through packaging. Viking is all about innovative solutions, but it's our people who make the real difference.
Join our team of outside-of-the-box thinkers! At Viking Industries, we believe there's so much more that goes into making a box and that starts with our employees. We are dedicated to supporting, growing, and inspiring our team.
The Operational Excellence Supervisor is responsible for promoting and maintaining a safe, high-performing, and continuously improving manufacturing environment. This role oversees three core operational areas within the plant: workplace safety, product quality assurance, and continuous improvement initiatives, including Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and Six Sigma practices. The position plays a leadership role in supporting compliance, reducing waste, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing overall plant performance. This is a supervisor-level role with no direct reports but with significant cross-functional influence.
Ready to become a Viking?
* Annual Salary of $60,000 to $75,000 depending on experience.
* Medical
* Dental
* Vision
* Company sponsored Health Savings Account (HSA)
* 401k with match
* Paid Vacation and Sick Time
* Life Insurance
* Long Term Disability Insurance
* Pet Insurance
* Semiannual profit sharing
* Training Programs with the Council of Industry
* Growth from within the company
Responsibilities:
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:
* Safety Management (Approx. 40%)
* Develops, implements, and maintains safety programs in compliance with OSHA and company policies.
* Acts as the head of the safety team
* With members of the safety team, conducts safety inspections, risk assessments, and near-miss investigations.
* Facilitates safety training and refresher sessions; promotes a safety-first culture.
* Tracks safety incidents and corrective actions; maintains documentation for audits and compliance reporting.
* Collaborates with the Plant Manager, Maintenance Supervisor and Human Resources Manager on safety team initiatives and corrective action plans.
* Quality Assurance (Approx. 30%)
* Leads quality control processes (e.g, Check-A-Box) to ensure products meet customer and internal specifications.
* Manages quality documentation and inspection standards in coordination with production leads.
* Conducts root cause analysis on quality complaints or returns and leads corrective/preventive actions.
* Supports customer audits and internal reviews related to product quality including FSC, SFI, and SEDEX.
* Continuous Improvement / Lean (Approx. 30%)
* Leads operational improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, and productivity.
* Facilitates lean team projects, 5S audits, Kaizen events, process mapping, and standard work documentation.
* Promotes employee engagement in continuous improvement and trains front-line staff on Lean tools.
* Monitors and reports on key performance indicators (KPIs) and tracks project outcomes.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
* This role has no direct reports but provides guidance, coaching, and influence across all plant departments.
* May lead temporary teams or project groups as assigned.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
* High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor's degree in manufacturing, industrial engineering, or a related field preferred.
* Minimum of three (3) years of experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably in packaging, paper, or corrugated materials.
* Minimum of one (1) year in a leadership, lead, or supervisory capacity.
* Working knowledge of OSHA standards and quality systems.
* Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or other structured process improvement frameworks; certification preferred.
* Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook); experience with ERP systems a plus.
Preferred Qualifications:
* Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent certification.
* Familiarity with sheet plant operations (e.g., die cutting, gluing, printing, converting).
* Bilingual preferred but not required.
Working Conditions & Physical Requirements:
* Work is performed in a manufacturing plant environment.
* Regular exposure to machinery, noise, forklifts, and moving equipment.
* Must be able to walk, stand, and navigate the production floor for extended periods.
* Occasional lifting (up to 50 lbs) and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) required.
* Occasional extended hours or weekends based on business needs.
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