What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manager of Operational Excellence (1419) position at BAKERRIPLEY?
BakerRipley employees impact the lives of more than half a million people every year through our community development work, which has inspired and supported our Neighbors for more than a century.
We believe our neighborhoods are bridges to opportunity, that people can transform communities, and that everyone has something to contribute.
As the Manager of Operational Excellence, you will play a critical role in driving process efficiency, compliance, and continuous improvement within the Workforce Solutions Financial Aid Payment Office (FAPO). This position ensures accurate and timely disbursement of hundreds of millions of dollars to over 2,000 vendors while maintaining operational integrity and audit readiness.
Reporting to the Payment Office Director, you will lead a team responsible for quality assurance, process optimization, automation initiatives, and organizational training programs. You will collaborate cross-functionally with business units, IT, and data teams to design, implement, and monitor workflows that leverage Lean Six Sigma principles and Agile methodologies. Your leadership will enable scalable, compliant, and efficient operations in a high-volume, multi-system environment.
Responsibilities:
Process Improvement & Operational Excellence
- Apply Lean Six Sigma methodologies to identify inefficiencies, reduce defects, and optimize workflows.
- Develop and maintain process maps, SOPs, and KPIs to ensure transparency and accountability.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives aligned with organizational goals.
Quality Assurance & Compliance
- Establish and oversee QA frameworks to ensure accuracy in vendor payments and adherence to regulatory requirements.
- Ensure compliance with state regulations and organizational policies across all payment processes.
- Conduct internal audits and risk assessments, implementing corrective actions as needed.
- Prepare for and support external audit reviews, ensuring clean audit outcomes.
Project Management & Agile Leadership
- Lead Agile-Scrum projects focused on automation, process improvement and intranet enhancements (SharePoint and related platforms).
- Manage project timelines, sprint planning, and stakeholder communication to deliver on strategic objectives.
- Coordinate with PMO and IT teams to implement technical solutions that improve operational efficiency.
Training Program Oversight
- Design and manage the organization training program, ensuring alignment with operational and contractual goals.
- Supervise and mentor the training staff, including a dedicated trainer.
- Develop training materials, e-learning modules, and workshops to support process adoption and compliance.
- Monitor training effectiveness through metrics and feedback loops, adjusting programs as needed.
- Maintain and optimize Learning Management System (LMS) and other training platforms.
Knowledge Management
- Maintain organized, user-friendly SharePoint sites for internal and external stakeholders.
- Ensure documentation and resources are accessible and up-to-date.
Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, IT, or related field preferred.
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE:
- 3–5 years in process improvement, quality assurance, or operational excellence roles.
Experience ensuring compliance with state regulations (preferred).
Experience in financial or accounting environments highly desirable.
CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher (preferred).
- Agile/Scrum certification (preferred).
Training or Instructional Design certification (preferred)