Director of Process Improvement

About Neighborhood House

Neighborhood House is a longstanding organization in St. Paul dedicated to supporting families through essential services such as food assistance, housing support, education, and community opportunities. Serving over 30,000 individuals annually across six neighborhoods, the organization is committed to fostering a thriving and inclusive community.

Position Overview

The Director of Process Improvement leads strategic and operational initiatives to enhance workflow efficiency throughout Neighborhood House. This leadership role involves designing, prioritizing, and implementing process improvements across both program and administrative sectors. Key responsibilities include process mapping, identifying inefficiencies, clarifying decision-making roles, documenting processes, and guiding staff through change adoption.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership aligning process improvement with organizational mission, values, and strategic goals.
• Collaborate with executive leaders and managers to identify, prioritize, and plan improvement projects.
• Maintain an improvement roadmap that balances priorities, resources, and risk considerations.
• Advise leadership on process-related risks and recommend actions based on organizational needs.
• Define clear project objectives, deliverables, timelines, and success metrics from broad organizational challenges.
• Lead cross-functional teams with clear roles, decision-making authority, and accountability to ensure project completion.
• Manage project budgets, resources, and external partnerships under delegated authority.
• Conduct process reviews, workshops, and facilitate collaborative improvement discussions.
• Map current workflows and design future-state processes that are efficient, equitable, and realistic.
• Develop and maintain consistent documentation standards including SOPs, templates, job aids, and training materials.
• Plan and implement change management strategies including communication, training, and adoption support.
• Monitor project implementation, identifying barriers and making adjustments for continuous improvement.
• Utilize data and feedback to evaluate process performance and impact, sharing regular updates with leadership.
• Ensure compliance with controls, confidentiality, accessibility, and risk management across processes.
• Promote a culture emphasizing continuous learning, equity, accountability, and welcoming practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, nonprofit management, organizational development, or related area; or equivalent experience.
• Minimum five years of increasing responsibility in process improvement, management, organizational development, or similar roles.
• Proven ability to lead complex, cross-departmental projects from assessment through implementation and evaluation.
• Skilled in translating complex challenges into defined project plans with clear goals and accountability.
• Experience in detailed workflow mapping and creation of practical process documentation.
• Strong facilitation skills to guide diverse groups toward consensus and action.
• Expertise in change management strategies supporting staff and organizational adaptation.
• Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative data to drive decision-making and improvement.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to engage diverse stakeholders including executives.
• Commitment to integrating equity, accessibility, and cultural responsiveness in all processes.
• Effective organizational skills to manage multiple priorities and escalate issues appropriately.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and aptitude for project management, process mapping, collaboration, and data analysis tools.
• Experience working with diverse populations and commitment to inclusivity.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Advanced degree in relevant fields such as business or nonprofit management.
• Certifications in Lean, Six Sigma, PMP, Prosci, CCMP, or similar process and project management methodologies.
• Background in nonprofit, public sector, or community-based organizations with multi-site operations.
• Experience supporting organization-wide technology and systems integrations.
• Knowledge of internal controls, risk management, compliance, and funding regulations.
• Experience managing vendors, consultants, and project budgets.
• Coaching or mentoring experience in project leadership and continuous improvement.
• Multilingual capabilities, especially in Spanish, Karen, Hmong, or Somali, are a plus.

Work Location and Schedule

This full-time position is based on-site in St. Paul, Minnesota. The work setting is primarily office-based with regular engagement at multiple Neighborhood House locations and occasional external meetings. Local travel requiring reliable transportation is expected, with mileage reimbursement available. Typical working hours are Monday through Friday during standard business hours, with occasional evening or weekend requirements.

Additional Information

Neighborhood House completes background checks for all final candidates due to the nature of work with youth and families. Past incidents do not automatically disqualify an applicant. The organization is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in workforce and service delivery. Candidates who do not meet all qualifications but are interested in the role are encouraged to apply.