Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence

Continuous Improvement (CI) focuses on systematically improving operational processes to increase efficiency, reduce waste and enhance performance. In FMCG and consumer goods businesses, this often includes manufacturing optimisation, supply chain efficiency, cost-to-serve reduction, service level improvement and process standardisation across multiple sites or partners.

CI plays a critical role in protecting margin and supporting scalable growth, particularly in high-volume, low-margin environments.

Continuous Improvement typically refers to ongoing, incremental process improvements using structured methodologies such as Lean or Six Sigma.

Operational Excellence is broader and often more strategic, encompassing end-to-end transformation initiatives, performance frameworks, governance structures and long-term efficiency programmes across supply chain and operations.

In larger or investor-backed organisations, Operational Excellence functions may sit at board or executive level, reporting directly to a COO or Supply Chain Director.

Typical UK salary ranges are:

Continuous Improvement Manager: £50,000–£75,000 + bonus
Senior CI / Operational Excellence Lead: £70,000–£95,000 + bonus
Head of Operational Excellence / Transformation Director: £100,000–£140,000 + bonus + LTIP

Compensation varies depending on site complexity, manufacturing footprint, international exposure, transformation scope and team responsibility. To provide an accurate market benchmark, it’s important to understand the scale of the operational environment and strategic remit of the role.

Lime Talent also provides tailored FMCG salary benchmarking support to help businesses structure competitive and performance-aligned reward packages.

Employers typically look for:

Lean, Six Sigma or equivalent process improvement methodologies
Experience within manufacturing, supply chain or logistics environments
Data-driven performance analysis and KPI management
Cost reduction and efficiency programme delivery
Change management and stakeholder engagement capability
ERP and systems optimisation exposure

At more senior levels, leadership of multi-site transformation programmes and cultural change initiatives becomes critical.

Common triggers include:

Rapid growth creating operational inefficiencies
Margin pressure requiring cost optimisation
Multi-site or multi-3PL complexity
ERP or system implementation
Preparation for investor scrutiny or exit
Operational restructuring or integration following acquisition

As businesses scale, informal process improvements are no longer sufficient. Structured Operational Excellence frameworks provide resilience, consistency and measurable performance gains.

In smaller organisations, process improvement may sit within operations or supply chain management. As complexity increases, dedicated CI Managers are appointed to drive structured improvement programmes.

In larger or PE-backed environments, this often evolves into Head of Operational Excellence or Transformation Director roles, responsible for cross-functional performance, governance and long-term efficiency strategy aligned to EBITDA improvement.

Lime Talent specialises in FMCG and consumer brand recruitment across supply chain and operations. Our approach includes targeted market mapping, methodology capability assessment (Lean, Six Sigma, transformation experience) and structured evaluation of change leadership capability.

We focus on identifying candidates who can deliver measurable operational impact while embedding sustainable performance cultures.

As consumer brands scale, operational inefficiencies become more visible to investors and board-level stakeholders. Structured improvement programmes can unlock margin expansion, improve service levels and strengthen cash flow.

Appointing experienced Operational Excellence leadership enables businesses to move from reactive firefighting to proactive performance optimisation.

Most searches take 4–8 weeks depending on seniority, site complexity and transformation scope. Senior transformation or multi-site leadership roles may require a longer search to ensure strategic and cultural alignment.

Yes. We regularly place interim CI Managers and Transformation Leads, particularly during ERP implementations, post-acquisition integration, restructuring programmes or accelerated cost reduction initiatives.

We work with:

VC and PE-backed consumer brands
Founder-led scale-ups
Mid-size FMCG manufacturers
International businesses expanding operational footprint

Global consumer goods organisations