Industrial Graduate - Performance Specialist

About the Role:

Join Ferrero’s Industrial Graduate Program and kickstart your career in Manufacturing Excellence and Continuous Improvement.

As an Industrial Performance Graduate, you will be part of a high-impact team supporting the deployment of FOX (Ferrero Operational Excellence) and contributing to the continuous improvement of our production systems. This program is designed to develop future leaders by providing hands-on experience across manufacturing, data driven decisions, and process optimization.

Over the course of the program, you will gain exposure to cross-functional teams, participate in strategic improvement initiatives, and build the foundational skills needed to drive operational excellence in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

This is a 4-year structured development program, including:

• 2 years in Brantford, Canada
• 2 years in a U.S. Ferrero plant

This cross-border experience is designed to broaden your perspective, accelerate your development, and prepare you for future leadership opportunities within Ferrero.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Structured 4-year development journey

• International experience (Canada & U.S.)
• Hands-on exposure to FOX / TPM / continuous improvement methodologies
• Cross-functional experience across Production, Quality, and Maintenance
• Strong pipeline into future Performance Manager / Continuous Improvement roles

Main Responsibilities:

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Support the deployment of FOX (Ferrero Operational Excellence) initiatives across departments within Operations.
• Participate in improvement projects using tools such as 5S, Root Cause Analysis, SMED, Autonomous Maintenance, and Kaizen
• Build a proactive manufacturing loss‑prevention system by establishing a robust operational standards culture and empowering operators with ownership, accountability, and autonomy.
• Assist in identifying inefficiencies and opportunities to improve plant performance

Data Analysis & Performance Monitoring

• Support analysis of key performance indicators (e.g., OAE, OEE, productivity, quality trends)
• Assist in tracking and reporting improvement initiatives and their impact
• Contribute to data-driven decision-making using tools such as Excel and Power BI

Project Support & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborating with Production, Quality, and Maintenance teams on improvement initiatives
• Support the execution of plant projects aligned with Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Motivation, and Environment (SQCDME)
• Participate in workshops, meetings, and continuous improvement activities

Process & Systems Learning

• Develop a strong understanding of Ferrero’s production systems, processes, and technologies
• Support implementation and use of digital tools and Smart Factory applications
• Contribute to standardization and sharing of best practices across teams

Learning & Development

• Participate in structured training and on-the-job learning
• Build knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies (TPM, WCM, Lean, FOX)
• Develop problem-solving, analytical, and stakeholder management skills

About You:

• Recent graduate (Bachelor’s or Master’s) in Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or related field
• Strong interest in manufacturing, continuous improvement, or operational excellence
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and identify trends
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Proactive, curious, and eager to learn in a fast-paced environment
• Comfortable using Microsoft Excel; knowledge of Power BI or data tools is an asset
• Exposure to Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, or continuous improvement concepts is a plus
• Willingness and ability to relocate to the United States as part of the program

Our Benefits & Perks:

Careers with caring built in - discover our benefits here.

The base salary range for this position is $59,000 - $78,000 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors permitted by law. This range represents the anticipated salary for this position at this time.

In addition to base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other benefits.

About Ferrero:

Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with many iconic brands sold in countries all over the world. Find out more about Ferrero at ferrero.com.

DE&I at Ferrero:

Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative, and highly rewarding.
Find out more here.

Ferrero is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable human rights laws. Ferrero will recruit, hire, train, and promote all persons without regard to race, creed, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity), religion, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, or history of disability (except where physical or mental abilities are a bona fide occupational requirement and the individual is not able to perform the essential functions of the position even with reasonable accommodations), citizenship, or any other protected characteristic.

Ferrero will accommodate the needs of applicants with disabilities throughout all stages of the selection process. If you need accommodation during the recruitment process, please advise the People & Organization (HR) Representative. Information relating to the need for accommodation and accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.