Pactiv Evergreen is now a part of Novolex. Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food, beverage, and specialty packaging that supports multiple industries, including foodservice, restaurant delivery and carryout, food processing, grocery and retail, and industrial sectors. Our innovative product portfolio is designed to meet the diverse needs of businesses worldwide and the millions of customers they serve. Through continuous investment in research and development, we are committed to engineering more sustainable choices for the future. Our extensive manufacturing network spans North America and Europe, including two world-class plastic film recycling centers. Discover more about Novolex, our 20,000+ family members and our commitment to innovation and sustainability at www.novolex.com.

Pactiv Evergreen is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce.  Pactiv Evergreen is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, religion, creed, age national origin, physical or mental disability, genetic information, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, veteran status or other characteristics or statuses protected by law.  For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please call (847) 482-4320 or email TalentHelp@Pactiv.com.

All information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines and applicable laws.

Our Social Responsibility platform features a robust, employee-led Give Back program, which includes a matching gifts plan, community grants initiative, and our annual Company-wide Month of Action campaign. With each of these initiatives, our employees are empowered and equipped to give back to their communities and support the non-profits important to them and their families. Through our Give Back program, we own our commitment to Social Responsibility and live our purpose of Packaging a Better Future.

Position Summary:

The Continuous Improvement Engineer at the Franklin Park Novolex facility is a hands-on change agent responsible for driving cultural, operational, and analytical excellence on the shop floor. This role is designed for someone with high energy, a proactive mindset, and a strong passion for being physically present in the operation.

The CI Engineer will spend the majority of their time on the floor—coaching operators, partnering with supervisors and managers, and identifying improvement opportunities in real time. They will execute Lean tools, lead kaizen events, improve SQDCPP performance, and elevate the plant’s daily discipline by leading through example.

Reporting Relationship:

Primary report to the Plant Manager with a strong dotted-line partnership to the Regional Continuous Improvement Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Hands-On Lean Implementation (High Emphasis)

• Spend significant time on the production floor engaging operators and identifying improvement opportunities at the source.
• Lead daily Gemba walks with plant leadership to assess SQDCP performance and drive immediate countermeasures.
• Model Lean behaviors and drive cultural adoption through presence, enthusiasm, and hands-on coaching.
• Facilitate full kaizen events focused on SMED, waste elimination, material flow, centerlining, and reliability. Regional CI Manager to assist if necessary.
• Reinforce and sustain 5S, Standard Work, Problem Solving, Leader Standard Work and Daily Management routines.

2. SQDCP Performance Improvement

• Partner closely with supervisors, managers, Plant Manager, and Regional CI Manager to drive improvements across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Productivity.
• Support implementation and follow-up on daily SQDCP boards, short-interval control, and frontline accountability routines.
• Identify top SQDCP gaps and convert them into structured CI projects using PDCA, A3s, and root cause analysis.

3. Culture Building & Leadership by Example

• Serve as a visible CI leader on the floor, demonstrating ownership, intensity, urgency, and high standards.
• Coach operators and leads on problem solving, waste identification, and process discipline.
• Help build a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement across all shifts.

4. Data & Analysis

• Support downtime analysis, scrap trending, production variance analysis, and bottleneck identification.
• Pull and validate SAP and internal Manufacturing system data; assist with building and maintaining Power BI dashboards (preferred).
• Track all CI actions, verify savings, and maintain accurate documentation on project progress.
• Convert operational problems into data-driven insights and clear recommendation paths in partnership with Regional CI Manager.

5. Partnership & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Work side-by-side with the Plant Manager and Regional CI Manager to ensure alignment on top priorities.
• Collaborate with technical, maintenance, warehouse, scheduling, HR and quality teams to resolve operational issues.
• Support new initiatives, pilot technologies, and changes related to the Novolex Production System.

6. Special Projects & Cross-Plant Exposure

• Support select improvement initiatives that provide visibility across the Operating Unit and Business Unit, contributing analysis, Lean tools, or hands-on support where broader impact is needed.
• Participate periodically in cross-plant kaizens and best-practice sharing, helping transfer learnings and demonstrate Franklin Park’s leadership in Continuous Improvement.
• Engage in special CI projects that offer opportunities to influence system-wide improvements, expand technical expertise, and build relationships with leaders beyond the home site.

Required

• Very strong analytics 5+ years of experience in manufacturing with 2+ including administrative tasks.
• High comfort being on the floor 70%+ of the time; must love Gemba.
• Strong analytical skills with proven Excel capability.
• Practical understanding of Lean tools: 5S, PDCA, SMED, Standard Work, A3, problem solving.
• Strong communication and coaching ability with hourly and salaried teams.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, Operations, Industrial or related.
• SAP experience (production data, scrap, downtime).
• Power BI (viewing; building preferred).
• Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent training.
• Experience supporting kaizen events in a fast-paced environment.
• Exposure to TPM, centerlines, and manufacturing reliability tools.

Key Competencies

• High Energy & Proactivity – Acts with urgency, follows through relentlessly, anticipates issues before they occur.
• Hands-On Leadership – Leads side-by-side with operators, engages naturally on the shop floor.
• Gemba Mindset – Believes improvement starts at the source; visible in operations daily.
• Ownership & Accountability – Takes charge of issues and ensures closure.
• Strong Collaborator – Works exceptionally well with Plant Manager, supervisors, and Regional CI leadership.
• Analytical Thinking – Translates operational problems into clear data-driven actions.
• Culture Builder – Drives positive change through influence, coaching, and example.
• Integrity & Reliability – Trusted to deliver what they say; respected by all levels.
• Adaptability – Thrives in changing priorities and rapidly shifting environments.
• Results Driven – Obsessed with improving SQDCP performance and delivering measurable impact.