Aramark

Operational Excellence Director I

Aramark • $100K — $130K *
Philadelphia, PA 19120In-Person
Business Services
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Project Management, or related field.
  • 7-10 years of experience in project management, business implementation, or operations leadership.
  • Experience leading complex cross-functional projects with multiple stakeholders in fast-paced settings.
  • Strong project management skills in planning, execution, and risk management.
  • Proven ability to influence results without direct authority.
  • Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making abilities.
  • Strong communication skills, including experience presenting to senior leaders.

Responsibilities

  • Lead end-to-end mobilization efforts for new business wins and transitions.
  • Develop mobilization plans to ensure operational readiness and service excellence.
  • Establish objectives and success metrics with operational leaders.
  • Facilitate project governance and provide status updates to leadership.
  • Influence cross-functional teams to drive critical implementation milestones.
  • Coordinate resources across multiple departments for successful mobilizations.
  • Monitor project performance and manage risks to client satisfaction.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance package.
  • Generous paid time off and holiday policy.
  • Professional development opportunities and training.
  • Flexible work arrangements available.
  • 401(k) retirement plan options with company contributions.
Full Job Description
Job Description

The Senior Manager, Mobilization is a critical leadership role responsible for driving the successful onboarding, transition, and implementation of new business across the Refreshments portfolio. This position leads complex mobilization initiatives, partnering closely with Sales, Operations, National Account Services, Supply Chain, Finance, Human Resources, Technology, and other cross-functional stakeholders to ensure seamless client launches and operational readiness.

The Senior Manager, Mobilization serves as a subject matter expert in implementation strategy, project governance, and change management, ensuring new accounts are onboarded efficiently, consistently, and in alignment with organizational standards. This role requires strong project leadership, exceptional stakeholder management, strategic thinking, operational acumen, and a continuous improvement mindset.

Job Responsibilities

Mobilization Leadership & Execution
  • Lead end-to-end mobilization efforts for new business wins, account transitions, acquisitions, and strategic growth initiatives across multiple regions and business segments.
  • Develop and execute comprehensive mobilization plans that ensure operational readiness, service excellence, and successful client launches.
  • Partner with operational leaders to establish clear account-opening objectives, timelines, responsibilities, and success metrics.
  • Facilitate structured project governance and provide regular status updates to senior leadership and key stakeholders throughout the mobilization lifecycle.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Lead and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority to drive alignment, accountability, and execution of critical implementation milestones.
  • Coordinate resources across Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, Human Resources, Finance, Procurement, Technology, Customer Service, and other support functions to ensure successful mobilizations.
  • Serve as the primary liaison between internal stakeholders and client leadership during implementation and transition periods.
  • Foster strong working relationships that promote collaboration, transparency, and efficient issue resolution.

Project Management & Risk Mitigation
  • Identify, assess, and proactively manage project risks that may impact operational readiness, client satisfaction, or financial performance.
  • Develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans while escalating critical issues appropriately.
  • Monitor project performance, ensure adherence to timelines, and drive execution against key deliverables.
  • Utilize project management tools and methodologies to improve visibility, accountability, and consistency across mobilization initiatives.

Process Improvement & Standardization
  • Champion continuous improvement initiatives that enhance mobilization effectiveness, scalability, and operational efficiency.
  • Evaluate existing implementation processes and identify opportunities to streamline workflows, improve stakeholder experiences, and reduce implementation risks.
  • Support the development and adoption of standardized mobilization tools, templates, best practices, and governance frameworks.
  • Leverage lessons learned and post-launch assessments to drive ongoing process enhancements.

Operational Transition & Client Experience
  • Ensure successful transition of newly mobilized accounts into ongoing operational management and support structures.
  • Partner with account leadership to establish sustainable operating rhythms, reporting processes, and performance measurement standards.
  • Support client onboarding efforts and ensure commitments made during the sales process are effectively translated into operational execution.
  • Drive a culture of customer focus and operational excellence, ensuring mobilizations consistently exceed client expectations.

Leadership & Influence
  • Provide guidance, coaching, and project leadership to mobilization team members and cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Act as a trusted advisor to operational leaders regarding implementation strategy, organizational readiness, and change adoption.
  • Influence decision-making through data, business acumen, and collaborative leadership.
  • Demonstrate strong executive presence while presenting project updates, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership.


Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Project Management, or a related field.
  • Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive experience in project management, business implementation, operations leadership, account management, or large-scale business transitions.
  • Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional projects with multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
  • Strong project management capabilities, including planning, execution, risk management, governance, and stakeholder communication.
  • Proven ability to influence and drive results across organizations without direct reporting authority.
  • Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills with the ability to manage ambiguity and competing priorities.
  • Strong communication and presentation skills, including experience presenting to senior leaders and clients.
  • Experience leading change management initiatives and driving organizational adoption of new processes.
  • Results-oriented leader who demonstrates initiative, accountability, adaptability, and a strong sense of urgency.
  • Proficiency with project management methodologies, tools, and reporting practices.
  • Ability to travel up to 25% within North America.

Preferred Qualifications
  • PMP, Lean Six Sigma, or related project management/process improvement certification preferred.
  • Experience in hospitality, refreshment services, facilities management, food service, retail services, or other multi-site operational environments preferred.
  • Experience supporting national account implementations and/or large-scale client transitions preferred.


Education

About Aramark

Aramark provides food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. ARAMARK’s position as a world leader in facility services stems from decades of experience and superior service in the diversified outsourcing industry. From their humble beginnings in 1936 at the helm of Davre Davidson and his peanut vending machines to our place — for the sixth time in nine years — at the top of Fortune magazine’s list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies,” ARAMARK has maintained an unwavering focus on providing world-class experiences, environments, and outcomes for their clients. At ARAMARK, they take care of buildings and infrastructure so that their customers can take care of their core business. They are proud to provide exceptional facility management services for 1,600 companies in 16,000 facilities — about 1.8 billion square feet worldwide. ARAMARK provides comprehensive facility service solutions that enable its clients to maximize safety, productivity, and reliability. Their success is the result of their steadfast commitment to service excellence. They pride themselves on delivering customizable, sustainable solutions in a wide range of facilities by working closely with their clients to achieve mutual goals. Self-performed services, ongoing client communication, performance metrics, and an environment of team learning and development enable us to perform beyond expectations in virtually every client engagement. Whatever the company’s facility needs, ARAMARK is here to consistently exceed the expectations for service excellence with the best people, the most innovative processes, and the latest technologies.

Aramark Careers

Join Aramark's vibrant team today and be part of a company that values innovation, leadership, and diversity. As a global leader in food, facilities, and uniform services, Aramark offers unparalleled job opportunities designed to enhance your professional growth and development. Work You’ll Do At Aramark, we are committed to fostering a culture of growth and innovation. Our team members are at the heart of our operations, providing essential services across various industries. By joining our team, you will collaborate with skilled professionals dedicated to making a meaningful impact every day. Aramark offers a wide range of employment opportunities, from frontline positions to executive roles, each contributing to our mission of delivering experiences that enrich and nourish lives. Whether you are looking for a full-time position or an internship, Aramark provides a path that will advance your career and expand your skills. Leadership and Development Step into a role that challenges you to be your best. Aramark’s leadership is committed to nurturing talents through robust training programs and diversity initiatives that ensure all team members are valued and have the opportunity to succeed. Our leadership training equips you with the tools necessary to lead with confidence and integrity. Innovation at Work Innovation is at the core of Aramark, where we continuously seek cutting-edge solutions to improve our services and operations. Engage in work that pushes the boundaries and leads to transformative outcomes, not just for our company but for the industries we serve. Join Our Team Explore the multitude of job opportunities at Aramark, where your career aspirations can take flight. We are actively hiring creative, curious, and motivated individuals who are ready to contribute to a team that celebrates diversity and is driven by excellence. Internship Programs Kickstart your career with an Aramark internship, where you can apply your classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios. Our internships provide a foundation for learning and development, plus the opportunity to build professional networks that can be pivotal in your career journey. Benefits and Culture Aramark is dedicated to supporting our employees with a comprehensive benefits package that promotes a healthy, fulfilling life both inside and outside of work. Our culture thrives on teamwork, respect, and inclusivity, creating an environment where every employee can thrive. Stay Connected Search open positions that match your skills and interests on the Aramark Jobs portal. We look for passionate, solution-driven team players who are eager to make a difference. Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work at Aramark. Job Alert Emails Personalize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await at Aramark. Join Aramark today and be part of a team that is dedicated to excellence and innovation in everything we do. Your future starts here!
Learn more about Aramark
Size
248,300 employees
Market Cap
$10.6 billion
Industry
Hospitality & Recreation
Net Income
-$688.5 million
Founded
1936
5 Year Trend
+2.3%
Revenue
$11.3 billion
NASDAQ
ARMK
* Ladders Estimates

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