Continuous Improvement & Digitalization Manager

Founded in 1994, Kervan Gıda began producing soft candy under the “Bebeto” brand in 1999. After quickly reaching consumers across Türkiye, Kervan Gıda achieved remarkable success and, as of 2022, became the largest soft candy manufacturer in Türkiye. Globally, the company has also established itself as the soft candy manufacturer offering the widest variety of products.As a testament to the quality of its products and services both locally and globally, Kervan Gıda holds internationally recognized ISO 9001, BRC, AIB, and IFS quality and food safety certifications, awarded by independent certification bodies following rigorous standards and audits. The company also holds International Halal and Vegan certifications and is proudly listed among the “Türkiye’s Top 500 Industrial Enterprises (ISO 500)” published by the Istanbul Chamber of Industry. As of 2025, Kervan Gıda ranks 4th in its category and 57th overall among the “World’s Top 100 Confectionery Companies.”While continuously increasing its production capacity and sales, Kervan Gıda remains firmly committed to sustainable development. As part of our efforts to support environmentally responsible production, we have invested in Solar Power Plants (SPP) and have begun meeting a significant portion of our energy needs through renewable energy sources. Kervan Gıda employs more than 3,300 people across all of its facilities and companies.Building on its long-standing experience, strong sense of responsibility towards all business partners, continuous investment in innovation, and production philosophy centered on respect for people and human health, Kervan Gıda is moving confidently towards its goal of becoming one of the three most successful companies in its field worldwide by 2030.QUALIFICATIONSBachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Business Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field,Minimum of 10 years of experience in Continuous Improvement, Process Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, Digital Transformation, and related practices, Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, TPM, VSM, and similar continuous improvement methodologies,Proven experience in process analysis, performance management, productivity improvement, and operational efficiency projects,Proven experience in digital transformation, process automation, and implementation of digital solutions within manufacturing or operational environments,Experience in identifying, evaluating, and managing investment and CAPEX projects, Strong knowledge of investment analysis, business case preparation, ROI/payback analysis, and project prioritization, Proficiency in data analytics, performance monitoring, reporting, and digital tools, Strong project management, problem-solving, analytical thinking, and decision-making skills, Advanced level of English is preferred, Experience in team leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and stakeholder management, Results-oriented mindset with the ability to lead organizational change, digital transformation, and continuous improvement initiatives. KEY RESPONSIBILITIESLead the development and implementation of the organization’s Continuous Improvement and Digitalization strategy in alignment with business objectives, Lead continuous improvement initiatives aimed at improving productivity, quality, cost efficiency, operational performance, and process effectiveness,Identify process improvement opportunities, conduct root cause and performance analyses, and develop and implement action plans, Drive the adoption and sustainability of Lean Transformation and Continuous Improvement culture throughout the organization, Identify opportunities for digitalization, automation, and technology-driven process improvements and lead their implementation, Evaluate existing processes and systems to identify opportunities for digital transformation, process automation, and efficiency gains, Lead the development, evaluation, and implementation of investment and CAPEX projects related to productivity, capacity, automation, digitalization, quality, and operational efficiency, Prepare and evaluate investment business cases, including cost-benefit, ROI, payback period, and expected operational impact, Prioritize investment projects in line with the organization’s strategic objectives, available resources, and expected business value, Coordinate with relevant departments to ensure the effective execution, monitoring, and completion of approved investment projects, Monitor operational and project performance indicators and provide regular reports and recommendations to senior management, Support the standardization, optimization, and digitalization of cross functional processes, Ensure the sustainability of continuous improvement and digitalization initiatives and track their measurable outcomes, Analyze operational risks and lead preventive, corrective, and improvement focused actions, Lead transformation, efficiency, automation, digitalization, and investment projects in line with the organization’s strategic objectives, Establish and monitor KPIs to measure the impact and effectiveness of continuous improvement, digitalization, and investment initiatives, Promote a data-driven decision-making culture by utilizing operational data, analytics, and digital performance management tools, Lead change management initiatives to ensure successful adoption and sustainability of new processes, technologies, and ways of working.