Operational Excellence Lead: COPQ & Process Transformation

Simpson Booth Ltd; Burnley; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Simpson Booth Ltd. is seeking a Process Improvement Manager to lead and support operational excellence initiatives focused on reducing COPQ, improving process capability, and delivering measurable financial and operational benefits.

You will partner with site leadership and cross-functional teams to review processes, eliminate waste, and strengthen performance metrics while driving continuous improvement across oil & gas, energy, utilities and infrastructure projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related discipline.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt; excellent leadership, analytical, and communication skills with the ability to influence at all organisational levels across diverse functions, cultures, and leadership levels.
• Change Management certification.
• Experience in Process Improvement, Operational Excellence, Quality, Continuous Improvement, or Business Transformation roles.
• Experience within service delivery environments supporting industrial sectors such as Oil & Gas, Energy, Utilities, and Critical Infrastructure.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional improvement programmes across multiple locations, regions, or business units.
• Proven experience implementing and managing Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) improvement programmes.
• Strong experience in root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead process improvement initiatives aligned with business priorities.
• Analyse end-to-end operational processes to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities.
• Design and implement sustainable process improvements using continuous improvement methodologies.
• Facilitate process mapping, value stream mapping, and root cause analysis workshops.
• Support digital transformation and AI initiatives where appropriate.
• Partner with site leadership teams to identify, quantify, and prioritise COPQ reduction opportunities.
• Lead cross-functional improvement initiatives focused on reducing downtime, rework, waste, customer complaints, non-conformance, and other quality-related costs.
• Ensure improvement projects are linked to measurable COPQ reduction targets and financial benefits.
• Drive standardisation of best practices and preventive quality controls across operations.
• Collaborate with Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Finance teams to embed COPQ reduction into operational performance management.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication

Problem solving

Change Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Operations/Engineering/Supply Chain

Job description

Simpson Booth Ltd. is seeking a Process Improvement Manager to lead and support operational excellence initiatives focused on reducing COPQ, improving process capability, and delivering measurable financial and operational benefits.

You will partner with site leadership and cross-functional teams to review processes, eliminate waste, and strengthen performance metrics while driving continuous improvement across oil & gas, energy, utilities and infrastructure projects.