Director - Program Excellence

Cielo; Wauwatosa (WI); Remote; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Cielo, the world’s leading Talent Acquisition Partner, is seeking a Director - Program Excellence to drive operational excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement across client programs from a remote US-based role. You’ll align people, processes, and technology to deliver scalable, high-impact talent solutions and superior client outcomes.

As a member of the leadership team, you will lead cross-functional initiatives, optimize service delivery, and champion best practices.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience in talent solutions or project management.
• 5+ years in talent solutions, operations, or program management.
• Proven track record of leading large-scale operational initiatives.
• Experience with recruitment technologies (e.g., ATS, CRM) and data analytics tools.
• Strong background in Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement scalable operating models for growth and efficiency.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across client programs using data.
• Prioritize and execute strategic initiatives with senior leaders.
• Oversee capacity planning and resource allocation across delivery teams.
• Develop and track KPIs and SLAs for operational excellence.
• Guide change management for new processes and tools.
• Provide insights as a strategic advisor based on data analysis.
• Lead and mentor a team of operations and program managers.
• Act as escalation point for operational challenges.
• Collaborate to craft and implement custom recruitment solutions.
• Promote standardization of processes and service delivery across accounts.
• Represent operations in cross-functional leadership forums.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Talent solutions

Project management

Operations

Program management

Recruitment tech

ATS

CRM

Data analytics

Lean

Six Sigma

Tools

ATS

CRM

Microsoft Office

Job description

• Position Type: Regular Full-Time (40 hours per week)

Company Description

Are you ready to accelerate your career? Join Cielo as aDirector - Program Excellence!A career at Cielo will give you the opportunity to work with the industry’s smartest people and to take ownership of your success!

Cielo is a brand that reflects our big idea – that talent is rising – and with it our opportunity to rise above. We create careers for ambitious people by moving beyond traditional assumptions of what it means to work in talent acquisition.
Cielo is the world's leading Talent Acquisition Partner. We deliver a better talent experience for everyone through Talent Acquisition, Search, Consulting, and Digital Accelerators™. With our fresh approach – we design and build comprehensive, proven solutions inspired by technology to find and keep the unique talent that elevates our clients above the competition.

Cielo is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, or any other status protected by state or local law for an individual who falls within the jurisdiction of such law. Applicants who require an accommodation throughout the application and interview process should request this in advance by contacting Cielo Talent Acquisition at [e-mail]

Job Description

The Director - Program Excellence is a strategic leader responsible for driving operational excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement across client programs. This role ensures the delivery of scalable, efficient, and high-impact talent acquisition solutions by aligning people, processes, and technology. As a key member of the Cielo leadership team, the Director – Program Excellence will lead cross-functional initiatives, optimize service delivery, and champion best practices to enhance client satisfaction and business outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and implementation of scalable operating models that support growth and operational efficiency.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across client programs, leveraging data and analytics to inform strategy and execution.
• Partner with senior business leaders to prioritize and execute strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Oversee capacity planning, resource allocation, and performance optimization across delivery teams.
• Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure operational excellence.
• Guide change management efforts, ensuring smooth adoption of new processes, tools, and technologies.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to internal and external stakeholders, providing insights and recommendations based on structured data analysis.
• Lead and mentor a team of operations and program managers, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and high performance.
• Act as an escalation point for operational challenges, ensuring timely resolution and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Collaborate with solution design and client services to craft and implement custom recruitment solutions.
• Promote standardization and consistency in processes, documentation, and service delivery across accounts.
• Represent the voice of operations in cross-functional leadership forums and contribute to enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

The Director – Program Excellence may lead a team of Managers and/or individual contributors, providing guidance, conducting performance reviews, and supporting professional growth.

Qualifications

Position Requirements:

Education:

Experience:

• +5 years’ experience in talent solutions or project management, required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in talent solutions, operations, or program management.
• Proven track record of leading large-scale operational initiatives and managing cross-functional teams.
• Experience with recruitment technologies (e.g., ATS, CRM) and data analytics tools.
• Strong background in continuous process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma).

Exposure:

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Visio).

This is a remote role for candidates in the US only.

Additional Information

Cielo is the world’s leading strategic Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) partner. The industry has verified Cielo’s reputation for executing innovative solutions that provide business impact through numerous awards and recognitions, including its annual leadership position on the HRO Today RPO Baker’s Dozen listing, Peak Matrix Leader placement by Everest Group and Industry Leader designation by NelsonHall.

Cielo is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, or any other status protected by state or local law for an individual who falls within the jurisdiction of such law. Applicants who require an accommodation throughout the application and interview process should request this in advance by contacting Cielo Talent Acquisition at [e-mail]