Operational Excellence Project Manager

Operational Excellence Project Manager

Location: Gurnee, IL – Onsite

Contract Role: 12-month duration

Automated Systems, Inc. is seeking an Operational Excellence Project Manager to support a 12-month contract role reporting directly to the SVP of Supply Chain & Warehousing. This contract role is a purpose built to build the operational foundation the business currently lacks; documented processes, system-native workflows, reporting infrastructure, trained process owners, and the accountability structures required to support scalable growth.

The role spans process design, systems adoption, workforce training, and operational discipline across eight key areas: Order-to-Cash, Procure-to-Pay, RACI accountability frameworks, 6S workplace organization, Environmental Health & Safety, KPI and root cause analysis infrastructure, WMS/ERP/TMS adoption and exception reporting, and organizational capability transfer. The individual in this role will not only build each program, they will train the internal owners who sustain them.

Key Responsibilities

Order-to-Cash (O2C) Process Mapping & Documentation:

• Conducts a current-state assessment of the end-to-end O2C process, documenting actual workflow across all functions and identifying where system-native steps have been replaced by manual workarounds.
• Develops detailed swim-lane process maps for each O2C stage; order entry, order management, pick-pack-ship, carrier handoff, invoicing, and collections using standardized mapping conventions.
• Identifies and prioritizes gaps, handoff failures, redundancies, and non-value-added steps, with specific attention to activities that should be executed within the WMS, ERP, or TMS.

Procure-to-Pay (P2P) Process Mapping & Documentation:

• Conducts a current-state assessment of the end-to-end P2P process from requisition through vendor payment, documenting all points where manual processes or spreadsheets have displaced system-native workflows.
• Develops detailed swim-lane process maps covering requisition, PO issuance, goods receipt, invoice matching, and payment, with clear illustration of roles, decision points, and system touchpoints.

RACI Framework Development & Accountability Architecture

• Develops a comprehensive RACI framework across all critical Supply Chain and Warehousing processes O2C, P2P, warehouse operations, inventory management, carrier management, and systems administration.
• Facilitates cross-functional working sessions to assign, validate, and align on RACI designations, including system-specific responsibilities within the WMS, ERP, and TMS.
• Resolves accountability gaps, ownership conflicts, and decision authority ambiguities, escalating unresolved issues to the SVP with recommended paths forward.

Workplace Organization Program Implementation

• Conducts a scored, photographic current-state assessment of all warehouse and operational areas against 6S principles (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain, Safety).
• Develops and executes a phased 6S implementation plan, leading hands-on kaizen events and establishing visual standards, floor markings, shadow boards, and labeling conventions.
• Builds a 6S audit program with standardized checklists, scoring methodology, and corrective action tracking to sustain gains beyond initial implementation.

Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Program Development

• Conducts a comprehensive EH&S current-state assessment, evaluating safety practices, incident history, hazard identification processes, regulatory compliance posture, and documentation gaps.
• Develops a formal, written EH&S program meeting applicable OSHA requirements, including Safety Policy, Emergency Action Plan, Hazard Communication Program, PPE Assessment, and JHA documentation for high-risk tasks.
• Implements a safety incident reporting, investigation, and corrective action process ensuring all incidents and near-misses are documented, root-caused, and resolved with tracked permanent corrective actions.

Infrastructure, Root Cause Analysis & Corrective Action

• Conducts a KPI discovery process to identify existing metrics, available data sources, and measurement gaps across O2C, P2P, warehousing, systems adoption, and safety.
• Designs and implements a comprehensive KPI framework defining measures, targets, data sources, reporting frequency, and accountable owners across operational, financial, quality, safety, and systems dimensions.
• Builds the data infrastructure required to support reporting and defining ERP/WMS/TMS data tables and structures that eliminate dependence on manually maintained spreadsheets as the primary reporting mechanism.

WMS, ERP & TMS Adoption, Discipline & Systems Transformation

• Conducts a current-state assessment of WMS, ERP, and TMS utilization; documenting adoption gaps, shadow processes, and the extent to which spreadsheets or manual methods are being used in place of system-native capabilities.
• Defines future-state utilization standards for each system by role, establishing clear expectations for how the WMS, ERP, and TMS are to be used as the primary tools of record across warehouse, procurement, order management, and carrier operations.
• Leads WMS adoption activities, driving disciplined execution of receiving, picking, packing, shipping, and cycle count processes within the system and retiring manual alternatives.

Organizational Training, Capability Transfer & Sustainment

• Develops a Training & Capability Transfer Plan at engagement outset, mapping all programs and processes to designated internal owners, training approaches, and readiness timelines.
• Designs and delivers role-specific training curricula across all program areas: O2C, P2P, RACI, 6S, EH&S, KPI/RCA, and systems adoption — in formats repeatable by internal owners, including facilitator guides, participant materials, and job aids.
• Conducts skills gap assessments for designated program owners and superusers, tailoring training content and coaching support to each individual’s current capability level.

Process Governance, Data Infrastructure & Scalability

• Develops and implements a process governance model defining how processes are documented, version-controlled, communicated, trained, and updated as the organization evolves.
• Creates a centralized process documentation repository encompassing all process maps, SOPs, RACI matrices, training materials, and program documentation organized for long-term use by internal owners.

Education, Experience and Skill Requirements:

Required Competencies

• Operational Excellence & Lean / Continuous Improvement Methodology
• Process Mapping, Documentation & Workflow Design
• Project Management & Multi-Workstream Execution in Ambiguous Environments
• Building Accountability Frameworks (RACI, Governance, Ownership Design)
• EH&S Program Development & Regulatory Compliance (OSHA)
• Workplace Organization & 6S / 5S Program Implementation
• KPI Design, Data Infrastructure & Exception-Based Reporting
• Root Cause Analysis & Corrective Action Facilitation
• WMS, ERP & TMS Adoption, Discipline & Systems Transformation
• Change Management & Organizational Resistance Navigation
• Training Design, Delivery & Organizational Capability Transfer
• Cross-Functional Stakeholder Facilitation & Influence Without Authority
• Executive Communication — Clarity, Impact & Forward Orientation
• Adaptability & Comfort Operating in Build-From-Scratch Environments

Knowledge & Skills

• 8–12 years of progressive experience in Operational Excellence, Supply Chain, or Warehousing, with demonstrated success building programs from scratch in environments without existing infrastructure.
• Proven experience mapping Order-to-Cash and Procure-to-Pay workflows end-to-end, including facilitation, current-state documentation, future-state design, and SOP development.
• Hands-on experience leading 6S or 5S implementation in warehouse or distribution environments, including kaizen facilitation, visual standard development, and audit program design.
• Demonstrated experience building formal EH&S programs in warehouse settings, including OSHA compliance documentation, incident investigation, safety training, and safety KPI development.
• Proven experience leading WMS implementation or adoption, driving system-native warehouse execution and retiring manual or spreadsheet-based workarounds.
• Experience enforcing ERP and TMS adoption across supply chain and warehouse functions, including shadow process identification, system-of-record discipline, and change management.
• Strong proficiency in exception-based reporting design and KPI dashboard development. Experience with Power BI or equivalent tools strongly preferred.
• Formal proficiency in root cause analysis methodologies (5 Why, Fishbone/Ishikawa, 8D) and structured corrective action, including facilitation and closure tracking experience.
• Demonstrated training design and delivery experience including curriculum development, job aids, competency assessment, and capability transfer to internal owners.
• Lean / Six Sigma certification strongly preferred (Green Belt or Black Belt). PMP or CAPM a meaningful differentiator.
• Exceptional facilitation, change management, and communication skills, with a track record of driving behavioral change in environments where legacy habits are entrenched.
• Demonstrated sense of urgency, ownership, and accountability with consistent focus on durable results over activity-based outputs.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related field required.
• Master’s degree (MBA, MS in Supply Chain, or MS in Industrial Engineering) preferred and considered a meaningful differentiator.