Business Operations Improvement Lead

Veolia | North America; Oakville; On-site; CAD 91,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

Veolia’s Water Tech NA seeks a Business Operations Improvement Lead to drive wing-to-wing process optimization across engineering and procurement projects, delivering operational excellence and sustainable profitability.

As an internal consultant, you will lead cross-functional teams, establish roadmaps, apply LEAN and Six Sigma, and translate complex challenges into actionable actions with data storytelling for senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.
• 5+ years of Project Management, management consulting, or strategic advisory experience.
• 5+ years of process optimization, operations, change management or business management experience.
• Knowledge of improvement methodologies (LEAN, Six Sigma) and tools (e.g., process mapping, workflow diagrams, PDSA cycles).
• Proven experience with communicating and facilitating workshops with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proactive, strategic, and creative problem solver with demonstrated analytical skills and a structured approach to problem-solving (e.g., MECE frameworks).
• A charismatic communicator with strong executive presence, interpersonal, and influencing skills, with the ability to build relationships and advise at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to take initiative, multi-task, rapidly onboard to new business contexts, and manage through ambiguity.
• High level of attention to detail, process, and organization.

Responsibilities

• Identify, own, and implement initiatives that improve operational processes and realize sustained benefits.
• Act as an internal consultant to business leaders, translating complex challenges into structured problem statements and solutions.
• Work with stakeholders to establish business cases, roadmaps and action plans.
• Facilitate cross-functional teams to conceptualize and implement process/tool improvements.
• Drive operational excellence leveraging LEAN and agile delivery models.
• Manage improvement initiatives with stakeholder alignment, planning, data analysis and communication.
• Apply best practices in implementation and change management to ensure adoption of improvements.
• Ensure proper documentation and training on improvements and related procedures.
• Provide project status updates and executive-level reporting with data storytelling.

Skills

LEAN

Six Sigma

Process mapping

Data analysis

Tableau

Power BI

Excel

Stakeholder mgmt

Facilitation

Executive presence

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Company Description

Veolia Group is a global leader in environmental services, operating across all five continents with nearly 218,000 employees. Specializing in water, energy, and waste management, Veolia Group designs and implements innovative solutions for decarbonization, depollution, and resource regeneration, supporting communities and industries in their ecological transformation.

Within this framework, Veolia's Water Tech Business brings together a dedicated team of experienced professionals committed to tackling the world’s most complex challenges related to water scarcity, quality, productivity, and energy. Together, we pursue a shared mission to create a more sustainable future.

Job Description

Are you a proactive professional with a passion for leading change, eager to drive operational excellence and sustainable profit? As the global water technology experts, Veolia's Water Tech business delivers on both performance and sustainability by providing innovative products, customized treatment systems, and integrated services that tackle today's environmental challenges.

We are seeking a highly motivated Business Operations Improvement Lead for our North American Engineering and Procurement Projects business. Acting as an internal consultant and trusted advisor, this role is critical for leading cross-functional process improvement initiatives that align with our market strategy. As a member of the Project Operations team, you will focus on wing-to-wing business operations improvement with a lens towards operational excellence, sustainable profit, and delivering ultimate value to our customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, own, and implement initiatives that improve operational processes all the way through sustained benefits realization, to increase quality and value.


• Act as an internal consultant to business leaders, synthesizing complex operational challenges into structured, actionable problem statements and solutions.


• Work with business and technical stakeholders to establish business cases, project roadmaps and action plans.


• Facilitate cross-functional, cross-business teams to conceptualize and implement process/tool improvements.


• Drive operational excellence leveraging LEAN principles and agile delivery models.


• Management of improvement initiatives – ensuring good alignment with all stakeholders as well as an emphasis on planning, data analysis, positive team relationships & communication.


• Apply best practices in implementation and change management to ensure adoption of improvements with a focus on impactful results.


• Ensure proper documentation and training on implemented improvements with a focus on development & maintenance of relevant procedures and controls.


• Provide project status updates, feedback and appropriate reporting to stakeholders, Senior and Executive Leadership, utilizing compelling data storytelling and executive-level presentations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.


• 5+ years of Project Management, management consulting, or strategic advisory experience.


• 5+ years of process optimization, operations, change management or business management experience.


• Knowledge of and experience with improvement methodologies (LEAN, Six Sigma) and tools (e.g., process mapping, workflow diagrams, PDSA cycles).


• Proven experience with communicating and facilitating workshops with multi-disciplinary teams.


• Proactive, strategic, and creative problem solver with demonstrated analytical skills and a structured approach to problem-solving (e.g., MECE frameworks).


• A charismatic communicator with strong executive presence, interpersonal, and influencing skills, with the ability to build relationships and advise at all levels of the organization.


• Ability to take initiative, multi-task, rapidly onboard to new business contexts, and manage through ambiguity.


• High level of attention to detail, process, and organization.

Preferred Attributes

• Prior experience in a management consulting firm (or an internal strategic advisory role) is highly desirable to bring structured problem-solving and executive-level advisory skills to the team.


• Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Excel)


• Experience with stakeholder engagement strategies, conflict resolution, and managing competing priorities across multiple cross-functional teams and business units.


• Experience in change management methodologies (e.g., ADKAR, Prosci, or equivalent) to effectively lead the adoption of improvements and ensure sustained organizational change.


• Continuous learning mindset; the willingness to seek new knowledge and opportunities to learn and grow - including staying on top of industry trends, methodologies, and tools.

Additional Information

At Veolia, we realize diverse teams make smarter decisions, deliver better results, and build stronger communities. We’re an organization that champions diversity and inclusion at every rung of the ladder and are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We offer challenging and meaningful careers, with competitive benefits and flexible work arrangements.

Compensation

The compensation range is tied to the market for similarly benchmarked roles. The range is not an absolute, but a guide, and offers will be based on the individual candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, and market conditions, as well as internal peer equity. Depending upon all the preceding considerations for the final selected individual candidate, the offer may be lower or higher than the stated range: CAD $91,000.00 - $102,000.00.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Disclosure

We do not use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select applicants for this position.

Vacancy Status

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

Application Eligibility

• Applicants are required to be eligible to lawfully work in Canada. immediately; employer will not sponsor applicants for Canadian work authorization (e.g. closed work permit) for this opportunity****

Veolia does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiting firms. All vendors must have a current and fully executed MSA on file before submitting candidates. Any unsolicited resumes and candidate profiles will be deemed the property of the company, and no fee will be due.

Inclusive Company Statement

As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.