Manager, Process Improvement

Job Description

The Process Improvement Manager will lead efforts to optimize the store development process, targeting 300 new store openings annually across the US.

This role will drive cross-functional process improvement initiatives, coordinating with departments such as Research, Real Estate, Legal, Design, Owner Furnished Items, Construction, and Finance to eliminate bottlenecks, reduce costs, and accelerate store openings.

The Process Improvement Manager will leverage advanced Microsoft Excel skills to quickly learn Excel-based tools prevalent across store development teams.

Additionally, this role will supervise the Process Improvement Analyst to ensure new processes are effectively designed and adopted.

By combining project management expertise, leadership, and Excel proficiency, this role will ensure initiatives align with the company's growth objectives.

Responsibilities

• Project Planning and Execution: Develop and manage project plans for process improvement initiatives, such as streamlining permitting workflows, optimizing site selection handoffs, or standardizing procurement processes.

Define scope, objectives, timelines, and deliverables with the Process Improvement Director and team members (e.g., Data Scientists, GIS Specialists, Finance/Excel Experts).
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Facilitate collaboration among departments (e.g., Real Estate, Legal, Design, Construction) to ensure seamless handoffs and alignment on process changes, using templates and dashboards to share updates and resolve issues, ensuring compatibility with tools used across store development teams.
• Supervision and Process Implementation: Manage the Process Improvement Analyst, guiding the design, piloting, and adoption of new processes (e.g., standardized contract templates or automated procurement workflows).

Set performance goals, provide feedback, and review training materials and adoption metrics, using tools to track progress and ensure clarity for end-users across departments.
• Timeline and Resource Management: Track milestones and deadlines across multiple initiatives, ensuring effective resource allocation.

Use project management tools (e.g., Asana, Monday.com, Smartsheet) alongside advanced Excel models to monitor progress and provide real-time stakeholder updates.
• Performance Monitoring: Collaborate with Data Scientists and Finance/Excel Experts to define and track key performance indicators (KPIs), such as time from site selection to store opening, cost per store, or permitting approval rates.

Use advanced Excel skills to develop dashboards, analyze data, and report outcomes to the Process Improvement Director.
• Risk Management: Identify risks to project success (e.g., delays in contract approvals or regional permitting challenges) and develop mitigation strategies, using Excel to model scenarios and track plans.

Escalate critical issues to the Process Improvement Director as needed.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build rel...