Director of Operational Excellence

Summary/Objective

The Director of Operations Excellence role is responsible for shaping and executing the organization’s strategy to deliver world-class quality, efficient processes, and consistently superior customer experience. This role leads cross-functional transformation initiatives to strengthen operational performance, eliminate waste, enhance compliance, and build a culture of continuous improvement that supports long-term organizational competitiveness.

The role partners with senior leadership, site and regional operations, quality management, and customer-facing teams to ensure operational excellence principles drive measurable business outcomes.

Essential Functions

Operational Excellence Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and lead the enterprise Operational Excellence strategy encompassing quality improvement, process optimization, and operational efficiency.
• Translate organizational goals into executable improvement roadmaps, priorities, and performance targets.
• Advise senior leadership on opportunities that increase competitiveness, strengthen operational capabilities, and elevate the customer experience.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, data-driven decision making, and operational discipline at all levels of the organization.
  
  

Quality Systems & Performance

• Oversee development, deployment, and continual improvement of quality management systems and standards.
• Monitor quality performance metrics and lead initiatives that reduce defects, rework, variation, and customer-impacting issues.
• Partner with operations, engineering, and customer teams to improve product / service quality, reliability, and consistency.
• Ensure quality frameworks, audits, corrective actions, and risk mitigation strategies comply with relevant standards and certifications.

Process Optimization & Efficiency

• Lead cross-functional efforts to eliminate operational waste, streamline workflows, and optimize end-to-end processes.
• Facilitate value-stream mapping, root cause analysis, Kaizen events, and Lean/Six Sigma-based projects that enhance throughput and scalability.
• Implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) and best practices to ensure repeatable, stable, and efficient processes across sites or business units.
• Drive digital enablement and automation initiatives that improve visibility, reduce manual work, and enhance reliability.

Customer Experience & Competitiveness

• Translate customer requirements, pain points, and feedback into operational improvements that enhance satisfaction and loyalty.
• Partner with commercial, service, and product teams to ensure processes are designed for the end-user and deliver a frictionless experience.
• Lead initiatives that differentiate the organization through superior service quality, responsiveness, and operational consistency.

Performance Management & Measurement

• Establish KPIs and dashboards to measure performance across quality, efficiency, throughput, and customer metrics.
• Provide transparent, data-driven insights to leadership, enabling informed decision-making and prioritization.
• Ensure accountability for results by coaching leaders and teams in operational excellence principles and tools.

Leadership & Change Management

• Mentor and develop a high-performing Continuous Improvement / Operational Excellence team.
• Build organizational capability through training, coaching, and deployment of Lean, Six Sigma, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Lead complex change initiatives using structured change-management practices to drive adoption and sustainment.

Key Competencies

• Strong attention to detail with the ability to see the “big picture”
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Ability to work independently
• Willingness to support ad hoc projects and evolving business needs
• Comfortable working cross-functionally with non-finance partners
• Proactive, process-improvement mindset
• Clear written and verbal communication skills

Competencies

• Strategic thinking and business acumen
• Operational and quality discipline
• Customer-centric problem solving
• Influential leadership and executive communication
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Ability to lead without direct authority across functions
• Data-driven decision making
• High emotional intelligence and change leadership

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has direct reports.

Work Environment

Well-lighted, heated, and/or air-conditioned indoor office

Physical Demands

Sedentary physical activity performing non-strenuous daily activities of an administrative nature. Manual dexterity sufficient to work with the fingers.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are primarily Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the office.

Travel

Ability to travel freely across freely across US, Mexico and Canada up to 20%.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations Management, Quality, or related field.
• 7–10+ years of progressive experience in quality, operations, continuous improvement, or performance excellence roles.
• Demonstrated leadership in deploying Lean, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies.
• Proven success delivering measurable improvements in quality, efficiency, and customer experience.
• Strong analytical mindset; ability to translate data into insights and action.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives in multi-site or complex operational environments.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations Management, Quality, or related field.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification.
• Experience with leading ISO certifications, or other quality certification frameworks.
• Experience in logistics, manufacturing, distribution, or multi-site operational models.

Background in process improvement, automation, or operational technology enablement.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance

Must be able to obtain TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential).

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.