Manager, Operational Excellence

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The Operational Excellence Team within the Program Office is seeking a highly motivated individual to join our team as a Manager Operational Excellence reporting to the Director, Operational Excellence. In this role, you will lead and drive Lean Continuous Improvement Deployments and initiatives across the organization. This role involves deploying Lean and Project Management methodologies to enhance operational effectiveness, reduce waste, and improve overall efficiency. The Manager will facilitate process workouts, engaging cross-functional teams to identify and facilitate coordination of process improvements. Additionally, you will teach problem-solving capabilities across the organization using various methodologies, approaches, techniques, and tools.

You will collaborate with business and functional areas to establish frameworks, develop artifacts, identify process improvement opportunities, analyze complex business processes for efficiency, and deliver expected outcomes. Additionally, you will manage stakeholders, influence initiatives, and drive continuous improvement.

Required Essential Skills

• Navigate ambiguity and be a self-starter, even during periods of uncertainly
• Exhibit exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Be self-directed with strong verbal and written communication skills, active listening, and a keen intellectual curiosity
• Work independently, with a team, and across all levels of the organization
• Lead change and provide solutions to overcome obstacles
• Demonstrate strong business acumen, decision-making ability, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Strong analytical skills to get to root causes
• Show a strong sense of accountability
• Ability to think creatively and propose innovative solutions
• Strong team player withs the ability to work effectively with diverse teams

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Facilitate process analysis workshops (Workouts/Kaizens) and Lean Training sessions
• Lead strategic Deployments and Continuous Improvement initiatives
• Partner and collaborate with functional departments to support scoping and planning
• Engage with stakeholders at all levels to gather input, gain buy-in, and ensure successful implementation of expected outcomes
• Make connections across programs, initiatives, projects to ensure efficiency across the value stream
• Facilitate change management in leading and supporting operational initiatives
• Provide training and support to employees on Lean principles and practices, ensuring widespread adoption and understanding
• Provide advisory services to the business to assist in creating a framework and roadmap that aligns to (continuous improvement environment and alignment to the) organizational goals
• Create project artifacts and determine the best approach to meet expected outcomes
• Ensure goals, objectives, and expected outcomes are commonly and transparently understood, especially in support of larger business objectives
• Manage RAID Log (risk, actions, issues, and decisions) and escalate to governance teams as appropriate
• Ensure clear communication within and between teams, encouraging self-organization and information sharing
• Extract the most value from teams in strategic thought and solution brainstorming
• Facilitate current state assessment using process maps, flowcharts, and other visual aids to illustrate complex processes and challenges
• Facilitate data collection and detailed data analysis to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for improvement
• Analyze and measure the effectiveness of existing business processes and develop data-driven, sustainable, repeatable and quantifiable business process improvements
• Present analysis and information that provides leadership with insights for thoughtful, informed decision-making and next best actions
• Manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
• Other duties as assigned

Preferred Qualifications

• 3 years qualified or certified in Lean/Continuous Improvement and experience in leading large, complex, cross-functional initiatives, programs, or deployments
• 5-7+ years of project management facilitation, stakeholder management, or other relevant transferrable experience preferred
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Finance, Business or a related discipline from an accredited college or university preferred
• Project Management Professional certification (PMP)
• Lean Certification (Master Black Belt, Black Belt, or Green Belt)
• Experience in TEAMS, SharePoint, Excel, Power BI, PowerPoint, Visio, collaboration applications or other similar tools

Additional Skills and Abilities

• Drive continuous improvement strategies, approaches, and tools across the enterprise
• Identify process improvement opportunities with an efficiency lens to complex business processes by applying Lean Principles
• Works well in a team environment, collaborator, with sound negotiation and problem-solving skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work cross-functionally with other leaders
• Anticipate and accept changes in the organization and adapt to meet new requirements
• Ability to establish and maintain a positive and professional working relationship with all individuals, listen carefully and understand various points of view and perform in a team environment

Work Conditions

• Segmentation: Hybrid (working three days in office) if a local business office is available within a reasonable distance; Remote only if an office is not an option
• Traveling to all major offices, including some regional locations, for team or stakeholder meetings, facilitation of training, or workout sessions as needed
• Work is both sedentary (desk work at a computer) and active (facilitation in person or virtual)
• Travel will be required based on business or project needs, typically for up to 3 weeks per quarter

If you reside in or intend to work remotely from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Washington D.C., Washington State or another state or locality with a pay transparency law, you may contact Careers@nrg.com for compensation information related to this position and other information as required by applicable law. Please include the job title in your request.

NRG Energy is committed to a drug and alcohol-free workplace. To the extent permitted by law and any applicable collective bargaining agreement, employees are subject to periodic random drug testing, and post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing. EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability. Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

Official description on file with Talent.