Director of Operational Excellence Jobs

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.

What Does a Director of Operational Excellence Do?

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.

Skills and Qualifications Employers Seek

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.

Industries and Career Opportunities

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.

Find Director of Operational Excellence Jobs on Ladders

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.

Remote
caret down
Compensation
caret down
Position Level
caret down
Time Posted
caret down
Industries
caret down
Locations
caret down
More
1
caret down

$167K - $250K *

Lead the charge in developing and executing service operations strategies, ensuring alignment with business priorities while driving performance improvements and operational excellence across diverse...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$167K - $250K *

Manage and enhance service operations strategy, ensuring alignment with business goals. Drive performance improvements, oversee installation processes, and optimize workforce capacity to deliver excep...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$90K - $110K *

Champion operational excellence by leading non-clinical departments, ensuring compliance, and fostering a patient-centered culture. Collaborate with clinical teams to enhance care delivery and maintai...

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Hospitals & Medical Centers

$80K - $150K *

Know where the hours go on all four lines. Run time, stops, changeovers, rejects, by line and by shift. Start from what the leads already record and build it into one picture, in a form that holds up...

1 week ago

by Kathleen Finley  •     Staffing

$146K - $215K *

Empower supplier development by leading a team to enhance manufacturing capabilities, drive performance improvements, and ensure operational readiness for special processes and mechanical assembly, su...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$146K - $215K *

Lead a team to enhance supplier capabilities in manufacturing and assembly. Drive performance improvements through strategic initiatives, ensuring operational readiness and alignment with business gro...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$146K - $215K *

Lead a dynamic team to enhance supplier capabilities and drive operational excellence. Collaborate across functions to ensure quality, cost, and delivery objectives are met while fostering continuous...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$146K - $215K *

Elevate your career by leading supplier development initiatives, enhancing manufacturing capabilities, and driving operational excellence. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure supplier readiness a...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$146K - $215K *

Elevate supplier performance by leading a team focused on manufacturing excellence, capacity readiness, and operational maturity. Drive strategic initiatives to enhance supplier capabilities and suppo...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$100K - $120K *

Drive customer success by managing complex onboarding projects, ensuring alignment across teams, and delivering high-quality implementations. This role is pivotal in creating structured processes in a...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$58K - $117K *

Join us to develop and optimize manufacturing processes for cutting-edge industrial inkjet technology. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve product performance, quality, and efficiency i...

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$220K - $260K *

Join a dynamic team to shape the future of engineering operations and strategy, driving high-impact decisions and managing a multi-million dollar budget while fostering collaboration and innovation in...

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$135K - $175K *

Lead transformative supply chain initiatives to enhance efficiency and customer loyalty. Drive cross-functional programs that elevate operational performance and NPS, ensuring a seamless experience fr...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$135K - $175K *

Elevate your career by leading transformative supply chain initiatives that enhance efficiency and customer loyalty. Drive cross-functional programs to achieve best-in-class NPS in grocery, leveraging...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$85K - $95K *

Lead the charge in optimizing branch operations, ensuring timely delivery of medical equipment and services. Collaborate with healthcare partners to enhance patient care while managing logistics, inve...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$85K - $95K *

Drive operational excellence by leading branch activities, ensuring timely delivery of medical supplies and services, and enhancing patient care through collaboration with healthcare partners and comp...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$75K - $90K *

Champion operational excellence by leading branch activities, ensuring timely delivery of medical equipment and services, and enhancing patient care through collaboration with healthcare partners and...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$75K - $90K *

Lead the future of patient care by overseeing branch operations, ensuring timely delivery of medical equipment and services. Collaborate with healthcare partners to enhance patient experiences while m...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $130K *

Pioneer project management excellence! Lead teams to ensure successful project delivery from ideation to completion while aligning processes with corporate objectives, optimizing stakeholder engagemen...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$80K - $100K *

Drive your career with a leadership role overseeing operations of convenience stores and travel plazas. Lead teams, develop business plans, and implement strategies to maximize sales while ensuring co...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$150K - $180K *

Optimize quality operations for large-scale data pipelines, ensuring high standards and consistency across diverse datasets. Lead a team to enhance efficiency and reliability in audio data processing...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Strategize technology solutions to enhance supply chain operations, driving efficiency and innovation across manufacturing and distribution. Lead transformation initiatives while fostering collaborati...

6 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $176K *

Drive operational excellence by managing daily transportation services, optimizing performance, ensuring safety, and leading a dynamic team focused on customer satisfaction and regulatory compliance...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

$110K - $130K *

Reimagine project management excellence by establishing a centralized PMO that enhances delivery, governance, and transparency across the organization, while fostering a culture of continuous improvem...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$165K - $190K *

Drive operational excellence by leading continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing sites. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance safety, quality, and productivity while foster...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Director of Operational Excellence do?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    Experienced Directors of Operational Excellence may advance to vice president of operations, chief operating officer, enterprise transformation executive, or other senior leadership positions.