Operational Excellence Specialist

This position is based on site in Aarhus and requires daily on-site presence.

About the role

As the Local Operational Excellence Specialist, you will drive the local execution and day-to-day embedding of AAK's Operational Excellence program at our Aarhus site. Reporting directly to the Plant Manager, with a strong functional link to the Regional Operational Excellence Lead, you will work hands-on with operators, supervisors, and functional teams to turn global and regional standards into measurable and sustainable site performance improvements.

You will be the local driver of AAK's Our Way of Working (OWOW) and Our World of Zero (OWOZ) frameworks, strengthening operational discipline, Daily Management Systems, structured problem solving, and continuous improvement across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement.

Responsibilities

• Execute and sustain AAK's Operational Excellence roadmap at site level, embedding global and regional standards, governance routines, and ways of working in daily operations.
• Drive the implementation and sustainability of Daily Management Systems, including Tier meetings, escalation routines, visual management, KPI reviews, and standard work.
• Lead hands-on problem solving and loss elimination using Lean, TPM, A3, Root Cause Analysis, 5 Why, and Kaizen methodologies.
• Deliver site improvement initiatives that produce measurable gains in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, waste, OEE, changeovers, and cost competitiveness.
• Coach and train operators, supervisors, and frontline teams, building capability in problem solving, continuous improvement, standard work, and Operational Excellence behaviors.
• Partner with Production and Maintenance to strengthen TPM and asset care, improve equipment reliability, reduce downtime, and reinforce operational discipline.
• Maintain and improve performance management systems, ensuring accurate KPIs, visible performance, and effective use of performance boards; conduct maturity assessments and track improvement actions.
• Collaborate across Production, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, Engineering, and supporting functions to identify and eliminate operational losses and inefficiencies.
• Standardize and sustain SOPs, center lining, best practices, and operational standards so that improvements remain embedded over time.
• Act as the local link to the Regional Operational Excellence Lead, sharing progress, escalating barriers, and supporting knowledge sharing and best-practice replication across the network.
• Promote a culture of ownership, accountability, servant leadership, and continuous improvement throughout the site organization.

About you

• A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Maintenance, Food Technology, or a related technical field.
• 3-7 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, maintenance, engineering, supply chain, or an Operational Excellence or Continuous Improvement environment.
• Hands-on manufacturing experience, with a sound understanding of shop-floor operations, production processes, operational KPIs, and performance drivers.
• Practical experience with Lean, TPM, Daily Management Systems, and structured Continuous Improvement, including methods such as A3, Root Cause Analysis, 5 Why, Kaizen, or PDCA.
• A track record of supporting performance improvements in areas such as productivity, quality, OEE, waste, downtime, changeovers, and cost optimization.
• Strong coaching and facilitation skills, with the ability to train and engage operators, supervisors, and frontline teams.
• Good analytical and data interpretation skills, with the ability to turn operational data into practical actions and measurable improvements.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, enabling you to build engagement and ownership across functions without formal authority.
• A hands-on, resilient, and execution-focused mindset, with the confidence to work daily in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and on the shop floor.
• Certification in Lean, TPM, Six Sigma, or a similar methodology is an advantage.
• Fluency in English and Danish.
• Occasional regional travel may be required for benchmarking, training, or Operational Excellence community events.

In return AAK offers

• Join a pioneering company in specialty oils and fats, driving innovation and sustainability.
• In AAK you can work across 25+ countries, gaining international exposure and collaborating with a diverse team.
• AAK invests in your development with training, mentorship, and clear career paths.
• You will contribute to a greener world with AAK's sustainability-focused approach.
• Join a diverse and inclusive workplace that values every individual's perspective and talents.

About AAK

Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen™. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable.

At the heart of AAK’s offer is Customer Co-Development, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer, with the unique flexibility of our production assets, and deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate and confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care.

Our 4,000 employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers, and the support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen™ for more than 150 years.

AAK prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the access to, admission, or treatment of students in its programs and activities, or employment and application for employment.

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Location

Aarhus