OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE MANAGER (PSA, Opt. 1)

POSITION SUMMARY

The CMS Office of Operational Excellence is looking for a high-performing candidate who is passionate about operational excellence and continuous improvement to join our team as an Operational Excellence Manager. This position performs a wide variety of training, project facilitation and specialized consulting work in support of the Illinois Rapid Results initiative to all executive agencies of the State of Illinois as a representative of the Department of Central Management Services.  A successful Operational Excellence Manager will be able to serve as a spokesperson for the Department of Central Management Services on the status of the agency Rapid Results initiative and will be responsible for developing and delivering state of the art training programs, deploying Train the Trainer programs, facilitating critical process improvement projects, and developing recommendations for agency management to assist with the achievement of mission strategic goals and objectives.

This position provides a considerable degree of flexibility and autonomy in establishing daily activities.  Accordingly, the ideal candidate is a highly motivated self-starter who is seeking an opportunity to work with people from around the State of Illinois government workforce to help find ways to drive more value to customers by making work easier, better, faster, and less expensive.

POSITION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serves as Operational Excellence Manager providing support to both the bureaus within CMS as well as all agencies statewide on an on-demand basis in the completion of specialized projects, assignments, and employee training on the principles of continuous improvement.
• Works in coordination with agency senior management to analyze, monitor, and assess critical processes and activities affecting policy and organizational excellence.
• Conducts research and evaluation related to the effectiveness of training initiatives and issues reports related to programs and design options.
• Plans and directs research studies to develop solutions to problems encountered in the expansion of the program.
• Provides technical advice, recommendations for program improvements, and policy development ideas while attending high level confidential meetings with agencies to discuss changes impacting an agency and its processes statewide.
• Serves as an agency representative for the Director to the Governor’s Office, agencies, and other entities relative to the Rapid Results initiative.
• Develops and implements plans to regularly review the quality and consistency of the delivery of the Rapid Results services statewide.
• Establishes channels of communication with senior leadership staff to achieve objectives of the Rapid Results program.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four years of college.
• Requires prior experience equivalent to three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prefers post-graduate or on-the-job training in the subjects of operational excellence and/or continuous improvement including, but not limited to Toyota Production System, Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001, Malcolm Baldrige, or Total Quality Management.
• Prefers two (2) years’ professional experience designing and delivering training on the subjects of operational excellence and/or continuous improvement.
• Prefers two (2) years’ professional experience developing relationships with client agencies, vendors, and agency leadership.
• Prefers two (2) years’ professional experience successfully leading large scale operational excellence and/or continuous improvement projects.
• Prefers a bachelor’s degree with coursework related to continuous improvement or operational excellence.
• Prefers three (3) years’ professional experience designing and delivering training programs, including train-the-trainer.
• Prefers two (2) years’ professional experience researching and evaluating training initiatives.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• This position requires the use of agency supplied material/ equipment (i.e., mobile phone, laptop, etc.).

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

ABOUT THE AGENCY

Central Management Services (CMS) is the operational engine working behind the scenes to enable the State's more than 60 agencies, universities, boards, and commissions to deliver efficient, reliable services to all Illinois citizens.  The Agency's mission is to support the State by delivering innovative, responsive, and effective services that provide the best value for Illinois State government and the people it serves.  Among the services CMS provides are human resources facilitation; benefits programs for employees, retirees and local governments; property and facilities management; diversity initiatives for public contracting and State employment; joint purchasing support; vehicle fleet oversight and support; surplus property programs; print and electronic communications services; and administrative hearings coordination. 

CMS values employees with different backgrounds, life experiences, and talents. CMS offers a robust benefit package including:

• Monday-Friday work schedule.
• Flexible work schedules in several program areas (flexible time, hybrid scheduling).
• Health, life, vision, and dental insurance.
• 12 Weeks Paid maternity/paternity leave.
• Pension Plan.
• Deferred Compensation, and other pre-tax benefit programs.
• Employees earn 12 paid sick days annually; paid vacation days (10-25 days based on years of service annually); paid personal days (3 days annually).
• Paid State holidays 13-14 days annually.

 If this opportunity appeals to you, please apply today!