Position Summary

Ice River Sustainable Solutions is seeking a forward-thinking Innovation Analyst to drive product and process innovation at our Dundalk, Ontario facility. This role is responsible for identifying, designing, and implementing impactful improvements to both product development and manufacturing operations.

The Innovation Analyst blends analytical rigor with creative thinking translating ideas into engineered roadmaps, financially sound business cases, and scalable production solutions. This position plays a critical role in advancing efficiency, sustainability, profitability, and continuous improvement across the plant.

Key Responsibilities

Product & Process Innovation

• Ideate and brainstorm product and process innovations that enhance product quality, operational efficiency, sustainability, and profitability.
• Design and engineer structured roadmaps for product innovation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, and Finance to evaluate feasibility and implementation strategy.
• Develop and test prototypes, conduct pilot trials, and refine processes prior to commercialization.

Engineering & Process Optimization

• Oversee process design projects to ensure safe, efficient, and scalable production systems.
• Design and configure manufacturing systems and equipment to reduce cost, improve sustainability, boost productivity, and enhance quality.
• Evaluate existing processes and recommend data-driven improvements aligned with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles.
• Ensure all innovation initiatives meet safety standards, regulatory compliance requirements, and internal quality benchmarks.

Financial & Risk Analysis

• Partner with Finance to conduct cost-benefit analyses and risk assessments for proposed innovations.
• Develop ROI models to support capital investment and operational improvement decisions.
• Assist in preparing departmental budgets and manage research and development expenditures within approved limits.
• Support capital planning and project scheduling to ensure initiatives are delivered on time and within budget.

Metrics & Performance Tracking

• Establish and monitor KPIs related to product innovation and process improvement.
• Track productivity gains, cost savings, waste reduction, quality improvements, and sustainability metrics.
• Provide structured reporting and recommendations to plant leadership and senior management.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 3–7 years of experience in manufacturing innovation, process engineering, continuous improvement, or product development (preferably within plastics, packaging, food & beverage, or recycling environments).
• Demonstrated experience in ROI modeling, financial justification, and cross-functional project leadership.
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing, process optimization, and production system design.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and Microsoft Excel (advanced level preferred).
• Experience managing prototypes, pilot runs, and commercialization projects is an asset.

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical capability
• Innovative and solutions-oriented mindset
• Financial acumen and business case development skills
• Project management and execution discipline
• Strong collaboration and communication skills
• High attention to detail and safety orientation
• Continuous improvement mindset

Salary: $120-130K/year to start

Please let Ice River Sustainable Solutions know if you require accommodation during the hiring and selection process and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements. Ice River Sustainable Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, we welcome applications from women, racially visible individuals, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and LGBTQ2S+ persons.

Note to Recruiting Agencies:
Ice River Sustainable Solutions does not respond to unsolicited emails from third party recruiters acting on behalf of job seekers. All candidates are encouraged to create their own online profile, allowing us to reference resumes effectively and advise when opportunities match your knowledge and skills. Any profiles created by recruiters on behalf of job seeking candidates will be deleted. This practice threatens future interactions between third party recruiters and Ice River Sustainable Solutions recruitment.