At Bel, we are not just a company—we are a company on a Mission, built on 160 years of bold innovation, family values, and a commitment to social purpose. With beloved brands like Babybel®, GoGo squeeZ®, The Laughing Cow®, and Boursin®, our snacking solutions bring more than joy; they want to serve as a force for good. Our U.S. Mission? To help close the critical 80% nutrition gap by making it easier for Americans to eat more fruits, veggies, and dairy as part of their daily lives.

The company has headquarters in Chicago and New York City and operates 4 manufacturing plants in Little Chute, WI; Brookings, SD; Traverse City, MI; and Nampa, ID.  #IWorkForAllForGood

Job Summary:

The Industrial Performance Engineer supports plant performance by leading improvement initiatives, using data to identify opportunities, and developing practical solutions that strengthen operations.

This role works closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and leadership to solve business challenges and improve safety, quality, reliability, productivity, and cost.

The position is responsible for turning ideas into sustainable systems, processes, tools, and standards that help teams work more effectively.

Essential Duties & Functions:

Lead Business Improvement Initiatives

• Identify and prioritize opportunities to improve plant performance
• Lead projects from concept through implementation and sustainment
• Facilitate root cause analysis and structured problem-solving activities
• Lead cross-functional teams to eliminate operational losses and improve results
• Deliver measurable improvements in productivity, quality, reliability, cost, delivery, and employee engagement

Develop Operational Systems & Solutions

• Design and implement tools, processes, and systems that improve operational visibility and decision making
• Standardize successful practices across departments
• Simplify workflows and eliminate non-value-added activities
• Improve accessibility and usability of operational data
• Support development of knowledge management and training systems

Support Digital Manufacturing Initiatives

• Leverage manufacturing and business data to drive plant performance improvements
• Develop and support reporting, analytics, and workflow solutions
• Help establish standards for data collection, visualization, and decision support
• Evaluate emerging technologies and identify practical business applications
• Support implementation of automation, AI, machine learning, and digital transformation initiatives where appropriate

Continuous Improvement & Organizational Development

• Coach plant teams in problem-solving methodologies and continuous improvement principles
• Support Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence initiatives
• Develop and deliver training and mentoring programs
• Share lessons learned and best practices across the organization
• Promote a culture of ownership, curiosity, learning, and continuous improvement

Strategic & Technical Projects

• Support capital projects and capacity improvement initiatives
• Conduct process capability, throughput, and performance analyses
• Develop systems to improve loss identification and elimination
• Support sustainability, resource utilization, and operational effectiveness projects

Demonstrate the Company’s values and winning behaviors while adhering to all company policies and practices, including safety and environmental protocols, quality standards, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

All other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering required; Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, or Manufacturing Engineering preferred.
• In lieu of a degree, relevant work experience or a combination of education and experience may be considered.

Experience

• 5+ years of manufacturing, engineering, continuous improvement, or operations experience in a food, beverage, packaging, or consumer products environment
• Demonstrated success leading improvement projects with measurable business results
• Experience solving complex operational problems
• Experience analyzing operational and business data
• Experience working in a cross-functional manufacturing environment

Required Skills

• Attention to detail & strong problem-solving skills
• Strong sense of integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality in all situations
• High sense of urgency and flexibility
• Strong customer service skills and a collaborative approach

• Requires excellent communication skills, both verbally and written, in English

Preferred Skills

• Lean Six Sigma certification
• Process improvement leadership
• Project management experience
• Power BI, ERP Systems, SQL, and Data Visualization
• MES and Historian Systems

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Work is performed largely in an office environment and on the manufacturing plant floor.
• Hours of work will generally be during regular business hours with at least 40 hours a week.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds
• Ability to stand, sit, or walk for extended periods.
• Fine motor skills for operating tools or machinery.
• Work in hot, cold, or humid environments.
• Occasional exposure to loud machinery or equipment.
• Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Bel Brands is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Bel Brands also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also Bel Brand’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

Bel Brands is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation or assistance in using the website, please call 312-462-1500.

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