Discover Director of Operational Excellence opportunities on Ladders, where professionals can explore vetted jobs paying $100,000 or more. These senior leaders help organizations improve performance, streamline processes, and build a culture of continuous improvement. Roles span industries and may focus on enterprise transformation, quality, supply chain, manufacturing, healthcare, technology, or business operations.
A Director of Operational Excellence develops and leads initiatives that make an organization more effective, resilient, and customer-focused. Responsibilities often include identifying process gaps, setting improvement priorities, establishing performance measures, and partnering with executives and operational teams to deliver sustainable results. Depending on the employer, the role may oversee Lean, Six Sigma, change management, process design, or operational transformation programs.
Employers commonly look for strategic leadership, analytical problem-solving, change management, and the ability to influence across departments. Experience with continuous improvement methods such as Lean or Six Sigma, along with data analysis, project portfolio management, and KPI development, can be valuable. Many positions require a bachelor’s degree and substantial relevant experience; some prefer an advanced degree or professional certification.
Director of Operational Excellence roles are available in sectors where reliable, efficient processes are critical, including manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, logistics, retail, and technology. The scope varies: some directors lead improvement teams at a single site, while others shape operating models and transformation efforts across multiple business units or global organizations. Career paths may lead to vice president of operations, chief operating officer, or enterprise transformation leadership.
Use Ladders to explore vetted senior-level opportunities with salaries of $100,000 or more. Compare roles by industry, location, and scope, and look for positions that match your experience in operational strategy, process improvement, and executive leadership.
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Optimize team performance by leading agile practices, fostering collaboration, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. Support stakeholders in product backlog management while ensuring effecti...
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Design and optimize AI-ready networking infrastructures to support high-performance computing and data-intensive workloads. Collaborate with customers to assess, plan, and implement scalable solutions...
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$180K - $220K *
Transform organizational change by leading enterprise-wide initiatives that enhance workforce capabilities and drive AI adoption. Collaborate with senior leaders to design impactful training programs...
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Elevate your career by providing strategic leadership and operational oversight across diverse client accounts. Drive excellence in service delivery, client retention, and financial performance while...
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Lead the charge in advancing product safety by developing robust safety frameworks and engaging with partners and regulators. Leverage a multi-disciplinary team to manage the path towards safe and com...
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Make your mark at the forefront of innovation as a Senior Technical Project Manager, overseeing proposal development, facilitating cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring successful project execu...
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Director, Claims Systems and Electronic Data Interchange
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Lead the development and maintenance of critical healthcare claims and EDI systems. Oversee operational performance, drive system improvements, and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure technology s...
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Principal Technical Product Manager
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Elevate your career by leading complex product initiatives across technical domains. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive strategic direction into actionable plans, ensuring measurable out...
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Transform cloud infrastructure for higher education products by designing, building, and operating AWS and Azure environments. Collaborate with teams to enhance reliability, automate processes, and me...
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Contribute to the evolution of data-driven healthcare products, shaping strategy and execution. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver AI-enabled solutions that enhance clinical outcomes a...
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Senior Manager - APR DRG Concept Development Analyst
$100K - $125K *
Transform healthcare analytics by leading the development of APR-DRG audit criteria. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance payment integrity through data-driven insights and innovative so...
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Director of Technology & Product
$115K - $135K *
Innovate technology strategy and operations, leading a team to enhance product lifecycle and client solutions. Collaborate with executives to implement AI tools and ensure effective vendor management...
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Program Manager, Materials Planning
$137K - $185K *
Elevate procurement strategies by analyzing supplier performance and collaborating cross-functionally to ensure material availability and operational efficiency, driving continuous improvement in supp...
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$90K - $110K *
Drive enterprise-wide compliance projects to secure sustainability certifications. Lead cross-functional teams, manage schedules, and ensure audit readiness in mission-critical environments, deliverin...
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Project Manager - Digital Health
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Lead the charge in transforming healthcare by managing large-scale digital initiatives. Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to ensure project success, focusing on adoption and integration of technol...
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Head of Data Platform Engineering
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Senior Director, Compensation - Global Supply Chain
$145K - $259K *
Take ownership of global compensation strategies for supply chain operations, ensuring competitive positioning and talent retention. Lead program design, administration, and analytics while collaborat...
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Consulting Director - Healthcare Revenue Cycle
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3 weeks ago
What does a Director of Operational Excellence do?
A Director of Operational Excellence leads initiatives to improve organizational performance, processes, quality, and efficiency. The role often includes setting improvement strategy, tracking KPIs, guiding transformation projects, and helping teams adopt sustainable ways of working.
What qualifications are commonly required for Director of Operational Excellence jobs?
Employers often seek a bachelor’s degree, extensive experience in operations or continuous improvement, and a record of leading cross-functional change. Lean or Six Sigma expertise, data analysis skills, and an advanced degree or relevant certification may be preferred.
How much do Director of Operational Excellence jobs pay?
Compensation varies by industry, location, company size, and role scope. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, including senior operational excellence opportunities.
Which industries hire Directors of Operational Excellence?
Manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, financial services, retail, technology, and other industries hire these leaders to improve processes, manage transformation, and strengthen operational performance.
What career paths can follow this role?
Experienced Directors of Operational Excellence may advance to vice president of operations, chief operating officer, enterprise transformation executive, or other senior leadership positions.