Vice President of Operational Excellence

Role overview

The Vice President of Operational Excellence will lead the company’s end-to-end approach to operational improvement. This executive role owns the strategy for operational excellence, business process reengineering, lean management, and enterprise-wide efficiency gains. The goal is to build standardized, digital, and continuously improving systems that lower costs, improve quality, and strengthen long-term competitiveness and sustainable growth.

Operational excellence strategy

• Develop the organization’s operational excellence vision and a medium-to-long-term improvement plan.
• Guide the shift from an experience-based operating model to one that is standardized, process-led, and driven by data.
• Ensure the operational excellence agenda supports overall business objectives.

Process improvement and lean execution

• Oversee the redesign and optimization of core business processes.
• Lead the rollout of continuous improvement approaches such as Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen.
• Remove inefficiencies, reduce waste, and improve speed, quality, and delivery performance.

Cost management and efficiency

• Create a company-wide mechanism for controlling and optimizing costs.
• Improve resource allocation and overall operational productivity.
• Lower operating expenses while improving profit margins and asset utilization.

Quality systems and standardization

• Build consistent operating standards and quality management frameworks.
• Promote SOP adoption and the replication of proven best practices.
• Improve customer satisfaction and make delivery more reliable and stable.

Digital operations and analytics

• Lead adoption of digital operating tools such as ERP, MES, and BI platforms.
• Define key operational KPIs and analytical routines for business review.
• Use data insights to support management decisions and ongoing improvement efforts.

Cross-functional leadership and change management

• Coordinate optimization work across Production, Supply Chain, Sales, Finance, and HR.
• Set up an enterprise Operational PMO or Operational Excellence Office.
• Drive major transformation programs and strategic operational initiatives.

Team development and culture

• Build and lead a strong operational excellence team.
• Develop internal talent in lean management and continuous improvement methods.
• Encourage a company-wide culture focused on operational excellence and participation.

Education and experience

A bachelor’s degree or higher in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline is required. An MBA and Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt certification are preferred. The role calls for more than 20 years of experience in operations management, process optimization, or continuous improvement, including at least 15 years in senior leadership positions. Candidates should have a demonstrated history of building operational excellence systems in large organizations.

Preferred background

Experience in manufacturing, supply chain, or large-scale service businesses is preferred. Additional value will come from exposure to global or multi-regional operations, digital transformation or smart manufacturing work, and leadership of an enterprise PMO or operations transformation office.

Core competencies

The ideal candidate brings strength in operational system design, process optimization, lean methods, cost control, cross-functional leadership, change management, executive influence, and organizational improvement.