Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007
Performance Improvement Consultant - Northwest Food Processors

Innovation Productivity Center (IPC)
Performance Improvement Consultant

Send Resume's to: nwfp-ipc@comcast.net

Job Brief
The primary responsibility of the IPC Performance Improvement Consultant is to research and develop more effective ways to improve organizational performance, and to educate and guide the Oregon and NW food manufacturing industry in the adoption of those practices.

Specifically, the person in this role will:

• Conduct high-performance audits in food processing companies to establish performance baselines and focus organizational resources toward optimal strategy and planning options.
• Fine tune or facilitate the implementation of performance measurement systems in companies - systems that accurately reveal high-value cost savings / revenue producing opportunities - and that continually inform and inspire the pursuit of high-demand output with the most efficient use of resources.
• Continually craft and refine an industry model for performance measurement and continuous improvement that simplifies adoption by other organizations.
• Facilitate organizational internalization of measurement tools and techniques, to include maintenance of the measures themselves, capable analysis, informative and graphic reporting of results to key personnel, regularly updating of the overall system, teaching maintenance skills to organizational staff, etc.
• Integrate measurement systems with other improvement programs that organizations may be engaged in.
• Market the essentials of productivity measurement to diverse audiences in open- enrollment seminars, and be prepared to make presentations on measurement to professional and trade associations, conferences, etc.
• Innovate continually - Our beginning assumption is that productivity improvement systems are inadequate to the needs of 21st century management challenges. The pace of change and the forces of global competition have created a need for much more ambitious and responsive information and action systems that optimally track the critical functions of today, while maintaining a continuing focus on the emerging innovation opportunities of tomorrow - and that artfully take advantage of the best waste elimination (LEAN) and quality assuring (SIX-SIGMA) tools and techniques.
• Write skillfully - measurement communications, publishable articles, online content, training materials, and other information-rich writings will be expected regularly.
• Mentor and grow client-company personnel so that they have the capability to execute and sustain all this stuff.

Qualifications

• Bright . . . resourceful . . . intuitively and insatiably curious. Creative, highly self- motivated, good humored . . . driven to make a difference. Number savvy, analytical, inquisitive, persistent, results focused. We're lookin' for a lot.
• Fluent with data synthesis and comfortable with basic statistics. Capable at filtering mountains of data into useful information using charts and graphs and formatting techniques and other creative communication devices.
• Proven abilities in project management to include persuasive oral communication skills (speaking and listening), effective tasking, prioritizing, assigning responsibilities, following up, etc. Able to engage, coordinate, educate and otherwise provide capable leadership to client-company personnel in the design of their productivity systems.
• Experience assessing organizational needs, determining priorities, and designing measurement systems to include the identification of key indicators, establishment of baselines, ambitious target setting, priority weightings, etc.
• Stand-up presentation skills - able to train audiences on performance measurement and related topics, using creative and effective techniques appropriate to adult learners.
• Accomplished writing skills. Examples of measurement communications, or facilitation materials and other writings you have developed should be available at the time of an interview.
• Personable . . . comfortable interacting with lots of client personalities, a diverse IPC staff, and all levels of organizations in general.
• Highly desired are strong and demonstrated skills implementing and/or maintaining productivity measurement systems in organizations as described in the responsibilities above. Five or more years experience in manufacturing is desirable (though less experience and extraordinarily keen aptitudes for the job will also be considered).
• Familiarity with Lean Enterprise (waste elimination) and Six-Sigma (variation minimization) systems are desirable.
• Proficiencies in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint are needed. Familiarity with Microsoft Access and graphic applications is desirable.
• . . . life-long learner, willing to take risks, keen to explore new ideas - demonstrably able and eager to innovate . .

Send resume's to:
nwfp-ipc@comcast.net