Continuous Improvement Specialist

The posting

Welcome to a workplace where everyone passionately believes in one purpose!

Our company's commitment extends beyond tasks; it's about infusing every action with purpose. We are dedicated to bringing unparalleled passion and customer focus to every facet of our business, creating an environment where your contribution truly matters.

With 70 years of experience, we are the leading strategic partner, providing specialized solutions for airlines, airports, and enterprises across 21 countries throughout The Caribbean and Latin America.

At GCG, we believe the secret recipe for a perfect team blends talent, focus, and discipline. We seek these qualities in candidates eager to thrive in a diverse and multicultural environment.

Our comprehensive solutions include Sky Dining, Airport Dining, Aviation Support, and Culinary. With a team of over 5,500 highly skilled experts dedicated to excellence, we uphold the highest standards of quality and service. We are committed to elevating travel & culinary experiences for all our customer's journeys, becoming the top choice in the region.

JOB PURPOSE

The Continuous Improvement Specialist is accountable for delivering assigned improvement initiatives, from process diagnosis and solution development through implementation, results verification, and operational handover.

The role applies Lean and structured problem-solving methods to improve productivity, efficiency, and service performance, while developing local improvement capabilities. It provides functional guidance to the local continuous improvement network, requires adherence to agreed methods and commitments, and verifies that improvements are adopted and sustained by process owners.

Duties & Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Continuous Improvement & Lean

· Apply Lean and structured problem-solving methodologies to identify waste, analyze process performance, and develop practical improvements.

· Lead process observations, improvement workshops, and root cause analysis with station teams and process owners.

· Require adequate analysis and evidence before recommending solutions, and challenge proposals that do not address the identified causes.

· Identify opportunities to improve corporate CI methodologies and submit proposed changes to the Operational Excellence Manager.

Improvement Project Delivery

· Lead assigned improvement initiatives with defined objectives, scope, accountable owners, milestones, and expected benefits.

· Develop implementation plans with process owners and confirm the resources and operational participation required for delivery.

· Track commitments, require corrective or recovery actions when implementation deviates from the agreed plan, and escalate unresolved barriers to the Operational Excellence Manager.

· Maintain clear records of project decisions, results, outstanding actions, and handover requirements.

Operational Performance & Benefits

· Establish project baselines and performance measures with process owners and the Operational Excellence Analyst.

· Verify the quality and comparability of data used to diagnose problems and measure improvement.

· Evaluate results against agreed baselines and targets, distinguishing implemented activities from demonstrated benefits.

· Prepare evidence of operational and financial benefits for validation by the Operational Excellence Manager, Operations, and Finance, as applicable.

· Identify benefits that are unsupported or not sustained and require further analysis or recovery actions before recommending project closure.

Operational Standardization

· Develop and improve operational work methods with process owners, incorporating applicable QHSE requirements.

· Test proposed methods under relevant operating conditions and verify their practicality and effectiveness.

· Prepare process maps, standard work instructions, visual controls, and other materials needed to sustain improvements.

· Submit new or revised standards through the established technical review, approval, and document control process.

· Identify deviations from approved methods and require corrective action within the scope of assigned initiatives.

Deployment & Adoption

· Lead the implementation of assigned process improvements, tools, and work methods with station teams.

· Establish implementation and adoption criteria with process owners, including training, operational controls, and evidence requirements.

· Verify that new methods are applied in daily operations and that local teams can sustain them.

· Require action on adoption gaps and escalate resource or execution constraints that cannot be resolved within the project.

· Recommend operational handover and project closure only when agreed criteria are supported by evidence.

Operational Integration

· Execute assigned process analysis, standardization, and readiness activities for new operations, station openings, and significant operational changes.

· Identify process gaps, dependencies, and implementation risks within the assigned workstream.

· Coordinate actions with local teams, corporate functions, and technical specialists, escalating unresolved readiness issues.

· Verify that assigned operational methods and controls are implemented before recommending workstream handover.

Capability Development

· Train and coach local teams in Lean, process analysis, visual management, and structured problem-solving.

· Develop practical learning materials and exercises aligned with corporate improvement methodologies.

· Verify competence through application to operational problems and demonstrated results.

· Identify successful operational practices, document supporting evidence, and assess the conditions required for replication.

· Coordinate validation and transfer of best practices with the Operational Excellence Manager, relevant specialists, and participating stations.

Systemic Problem Resolution

· Lead the analysis and process improvement components of assigned complex or recurring operational problems.

· Require process owners to substantiate root causes and define actions that address the underlying process weaknesses.

· Validate proposed process improvements within delegated authority, consulting QHSE when technical controls may be affected.

· Verify implementation and sustained effectiveness, and escalate overdue actions, ineffective solutions, or recurring failures.

· Provide evidence and technical input to EA when actions relate to corporate audit findings; formal finding closure remains with EA.

Local Team Coordination

· Provide functional guidance to the local continuous improvement network on methodologies, assigned initiatives, implementation commitments, and results verification.

· Coordinate improvement activities with designated process or system owners in stations without dedicated CI representatives.

· Review progress with local teams, challenge unsupported results, and require recovery actions within agreed project commitments.

· Coordinate participation and priorities with station leadership and local OPEX Managers, where present.

· Escalate unresolved delivery or resource constraints to the Operational Excellence Manager and provide feedback on local CI capability and performance.

Documentation & Knowledge Transfer

· Maintain complete and traceable records of assigned projects, including baselines, analyses, decisions, implementation evidence, and verified results.

· Prepare and update operational documentation resulting from improvement initiatives.

· Submit documents to the designated owners for approval and to the Document Controller for controlled publication.

· Ensure that project handover includes approved work methods, relevant training materials, performance measures, and sustainment responsibilities.

Participation in Assessments

· Conduct process reviews, improvement visits, and deployment checks within the assigned scope.

· Participate in integrated visits, inspections, and corporate audits according to competence and the assignment coordinated by the responsible pillar.

· Document objective evidence and communicate identified deficiencies to the appropriate process owner or technical specialist.

· Avoid independently evaluating work personally implemented or directly owned.

· Translate assessment results into improvement opportunities and contribute to the verification of OPEX-related corrective actions.

Qualifications & Skills

Education and qualifications

· Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, another relevant engineering discipline, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.

· Formal training in Lean, Six Sigma, or an equivalent structured improvement methodology.

. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification or equivalent demonstrated project experience is preferred.

Skills/Competencies

• Practical proficiency in Lean, process mapping, root cause analysis, standard work, and visual management.
• Ability to lead improvement initiatives from diagnosis through implementation and results verification.
• Strong analytical skills to establish baselines, evaluate process performance, and substantiate benefits.
• Ability to facilitate workshops, coach operational teams, and influence stakeholders without direct hierarchical authority.
• Ability to challenge insufficient analysis, require evidence, and address implementation gaps constructively.
• Effective project planning, action tracking, and escalation skills.
• Ability to develop clear operational instructions and training materials.
• Understanding of how process changes interact with safety, food safety, quality, and other technical requirements.
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication in English and Spanish.

Experience

• At least five years of experience in Continuous Improvement, Industrial Engineering, Operational Excellence, or operational process improvement.
• Demonstrated experience leading improvement projects with measurable results and sustained operational adoption.
• Hands-on experience applying Lean and structured problem-solving in operational environments.
• Experience developing standard work, facilitating workshops, and coaching process owners or local improvement teams.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional implementation activities and addressing delivery or adoption gaps.
• Experience in multi-site operations, catering, food production, logistics, or comparable operational environments is preferred.

Work Environment

• A combination of corporate office work and frequent activity in operational environments.
• Regular interaction with station management, process owners, local CI representatives, and corporate specialists.
• Active participation in process observations, workshops, implementation activities, training, and operational assessments.
• Compliance with applicable site safety, food safety, and security requirements during operational visits.

Travel requirements

Up to 75% domestic and international travel, according to project assignments, station needs, and deployment priorities.

Embark on a journey with us, where every day brings new opportunities for growth and success. If you thrive in a dynamic environment and want to be part of a team that celebrates achievements, come, be a part of our story. Your career adventure starts here!