Manager, Operational Excellence

Socket.dev; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Puffer-Sweiven seeks an experienced Operational Excellence Leader to drive value through structured problem solving and data-driven improvements across process control, safety, and reliability services.

You will partner with leaders to map current and future-state processes, develop measurable roadmaps, and coach cross-functional teams in Lean methodologies to deliver tangible benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Quality, or a related field.
• Seven+ years of progressive experience in operational excellence, industrial or service operations, manufacturing, quality, or business improvement.
• Experience leading cross-functional improvement initiatives from diagnosis to implementation.
• Knowledge of Lean methods, structured problem solving, and change leadership.
• Strong analytical, project-management, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leaders to identify and prioritize operational improvement opportunities.
• Conduct current-state assessments, value-stream mapping, and root-cause analysis.
• Analyze data to define performance gaps and quantify impact.
• Develop findings, business cases, and improvement roadmaps for decisions.
• Create implementation plans with owners, milestones, and measures.

Skills

Lean methods

Structured problem solving

Facilitation

Communication skills

Project governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Operational dashboards

Job description

Company Description:

For over 80 years, Puffer-Sweiven has set the standard in equipment and services for process control, automation, safety, and reliability. We help process-intensive facilities run more efficiently and safely by delivering quality products, technical support, and knowledgeable staff to implement the needed process solutions — with the goal of exceeding customer expectations. Our dedication brings the most advanced products and services to our customers throughout the Central and Gulf Coast regions of Texas.

Specialties:

As a local Impact Partner of Emerson, we offer a broad base of superior solutions including the top product lines for a given application. Our specialties at Puffer-Sweiven include:

• Process Control & Safety Systems
• Control Valves & Regulators
• Isolation Valves & Actuation
• Oil & Gas Automation
• Reliability Solutions & Services
• Pressure Management
• Specialty Pumps & Rotating Equipment
• Instrumentation
• Maintenance & Repair Services

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Improvement and Analysis

• Partner with leaders to identify, evaluate, and prioritize operational improvement opportunities aligned with business priorities.
• Conduct current-state assessments, value-stream reviews, process mapping, and structured root-cause analysis.
• Analyze operational, quality, customer, and financial data to define performance gaps and quantify business impact.
• Develop clear findings, recommendations, business cases, and prioritized improvement roadmaps for management decision.
• Maintain visibility of the improvement portfolio, including scope, status, expected benefits, risks, dependencies, and ownership.

Future-State Design and Recommendations

• Facilitate the design of future-state processes, operating models, standard work, controls, governance, and escalation routines.
• Define recommended measures, baselines, targets, data ownership, management-review cadence, and response requirements.
• Create practical accountability frameworks that identify the accountable business owner and responsible operational roles.
• Identify people, process, technology, data, equipment, and capability requirements associated with proposed improvements.
• Present recommendations and alternatives clearly to business leaders and obtain decisions on scope, priority, resources, and ownership.

Implementation Enablement and Transition

• Convert approved recommendations into structured, business-owned implementation plans with actions, owners, milestones, measures, risks, and decision points.
• Facilitate workshops, Kaizen events, problem-solving sessions, pilot reviews, and implementation governance meetings.
• Coach designated business implementation leaders and cross-functional teams in structured problem solving, process control, and benefits management.
• Monitor implementation progress, identify risks, challenge delays, and elevate unresolved barriers through the agreed governance process.
• Provide time-bound transition support and verify that ownership, controls, capability, measures, and management routines are in place before handoff.
• Avoid assuming permanent responsibility for operating the improved process or executing actions assigned to the business.

Capability Development and Sustainment

• Develop Operational Excellence capability through coaching, training, and hands-on application of Lean and structured problem-solving methods.
• Coach leaders, managers, supervisors, project leads, and internal improvement champions.
• Partner with business leaders to define competency requirements and appropriate development plans.
• Conduct post-implementation reviews and control-effectiveness checks to identify regression risks and recommend corrective action.
• Confirm benefit measures with Finance and provide independent visibility of benefit realization and sustainment.

Quality and Continuous Improvement

• Partner with Corporate Quality to integrate quality assurance and continuous improvement into operating processes.
• Support significant root-cause investigations, corrective-action systems, process audits, and Quality Committee activities.
• Promote quality at source, defect prevention, reliable handoffs, and prevention of incomplete work moving downstream.
• Ensure improvement recommendations align with applicable quality-system, customer, regulatory, and business requirements.

Team Leadership and Process Improvement Facilitation

• Provide day-to-day direction, coaching, workload prioritization, and performance management for assigned Process Improvement Specialists.
• Deploy Process Improvement Specialists as internal facilitators to support assessments, process mapping, root-cause analysis, Kaizen events, implementation planning, and sustainment reviews.
• Set clear project objectives, deliverables, decision rights, and boundaries for each assignment while maintaining accountability with the appropriate business owner.
• Develop the team's capability in Lean methods, structured problem solving, facilitation, change leadership, data analysis, and benefits verification.
• Review the quality and consistency of team outputs and ensure improvement work follows the Operational Excellence governance approach.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Knowledge/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Quality, or a related field.
• At least seven years of progressive experience in operational excellence, industrial or service operations, manufacturing, quality, or business improvement.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional improvement initiatives from diagnosis and recommendation through business-led implementation and transition.
• Working knowledge of Lean methods, structured problem solving, root-cause analysis, process management, and change leadership.
• Strong analytical, project-management, facilitation, stakeholder-management, financial, and communication skills.
• Ability to interpret operating and financial data and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Demonstrated experience supervising, coaching, or developing improvement professionals or project facilitators.
• Ability to travel to company operating locations as business needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or comparable Operational Excellence qualification.
• ASQ, Project Management Professional, or comparable quality or project leadership certification.
• Experience in industrial service, manufacturing, valve and automation, rotating equipment, reliability, or energy markets.
• Experience with ERP-enabled workflows, operational dashboards, and cross-functional business improvement.
• Familiarity with many Lean concepts and training vehicles like Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED), Cause and Effect Diagrams with the Addition of Cards (CEDAC) and One Piece Flow.

COMPETENCIES

• Business and operational analysis
• Structured problem solving and systems thinking
• Facilitation and influence without direct authority
• Clear written and executive communication
• Project governance and benefits discipline
• Coaching and capability development
• People leadership, delegation, and team development
• Accountability, judgment, and disciplined follow-through