Manager, Process Excellence & Project Management

Success Academy Charter Schools; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

403(b) retirement plan with employer 3

Paid time off

Job summary

Success Academy Charter Schools in New York is seeking a high-energy Manager, Process Excellence & Project Management to lead enterprise-wide continuous improvement initiatives. You will drive strategic operational changes, apply Lean Six Sigma, and manage critical projects with senior visibility.

Reporting to the Head of Process Excellence, you will shape process redesigns, mentor teams, and embed PE tools across the network, with hybrid work in NYC and future growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• 6-7 years hands-on experience in process improvement, operational excellence, lean systems, or technical project management.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field.
• Lean Six Sigma proficiency with DMAIC, VSM, Kaizen, Standard Work, 5S, Daily Management; Green/Black Belt preferred.
• Strong project management: timelines, KPIs, stakeholder comms, and drive for execution.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage end-to-end execution of cross-functional process improvement projects aligned with the PE roadmap.
• Map current-state workflows, diagnose impediments, identify waste, and design future-state processes.
• Lead Kaizen events and PSP sessions to drive rapid improvements and cross-functional alignment.
• Embed PE tools—Standard Work, PSP, Daily Management—into daily operations across departments.
• Assist with Policy Deployment goals and Daily Management tracking systems.
• Support PE training and upskill employees in Lean tools and fundamentals.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Project Management

Data analytics

Communication

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Manager, Process Excellence & Project Management

New York

Thanks for your interest in Success Academy! Running a large, fast-growing, and high-performing network of public charter schools takes a village - families, children, teachers, staff and faculty, advocates, and supporters alike. We are growing fast in New York and expanding to Florida, and we would love to welcome you to our community! We work tirelessly every day to ensure children have access to a fun, rigorous, whole-child education regardless of zip code or economic status. When you join SA, you play a part in giving every student who walks through our doors a fair shot at reaching his or her potential.

About the Role

Success Academy is seeking a high-energy, high-potential Manager, Process Excellence (PE) & Project Management (internal title is Lead, Process Excellence & Project Management) to join our enterprise-wide continuous improvement team. Reporting directly to the Head of Process Excellence, you will act as the "boots on the ground" driver of strategic operational improvements, change management, and project execution across the organization.

This is not a purely advisory role; you will actively manage critical projects while utilizing Lean, Six Sigma, and project management frameworks to eliminate waste and optimize workflows. This role is ideal for a practitioner who possesses strong analytical skills, a collaborative spirit, and can deliver massive organizational impact. This role offers a distinct vista across Success Academy’s entire operational footprint and high visibility to senior leadership. We are looking for a practitioner who wants to master their craft and has the ambition to grow into a future leader within our organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Project & Initiative Execution: Own and manage the end-to-end execution of cross-functional process improvement projects aligned with the enterprise PE roadmap. Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and achieve measurable performance targets.
• Problem Diagnosis & Mapping: Partner with business and functional teams to map current-state workflows, diagnose impediments, identify waste, and leverage data analytics to design streamlined, future-state processes.
• Facilitation of Kaizens & PSP: Lead focused Problem Solving Process (PSP) sessions and Kaizen events to drive rapid process improvement, cross-functional alignment, and immediate operational lifts.
• Driving a PE Mindset: Act as an ambassador for continuous improvement. Promote and embed foundational PE tools—including Standard Work, Transactional Process Improvement (TPI), Problem Solving Process (PSP), and Daily Management—into daily operations across various departments.
• Policy Deployment & Daily Management Support: Assist the Head of PE and business leadership in implementing Policy Deployment (Hoshin Kanri) goals and maintaining robust Daily Management tracking systems.
• Training & Capability Building: Support the delivery and improvement of the internal PE training program. Coach and upskill employees in PE Fundamentals and Lean tools, helping to cultivate an organization-wide culture of problem-solving.

Qualifications

• Experience: 6-7 years of demonstrated hands-on experience in process improvement, operational excellence, lean business systems, or technical project management.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field.
• Lean Six Sigma Proficiency (Required): Hands-on experience applying Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodologies and core process excellence tools (e.g., DMAIC, VSM, Kaizen, Standard Work, 5S, and Daily Management) to deliver tangible, measurable results. (LSS Green Belt or Black Belt certification strongly preferred).
• Project Management Skills: Proven track record of managing project timelines, tracking KPIs, managing stakeholder communications, and driving execution without losing momentum.
• Experimentation & Growth Mindset: A self-starter who thrives on experimentation, is comfortable with ambiguity, and can help operational teams manage risk and learn from iterative testing.
• Communication & Influence: Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to clearly articulate data-driven insights and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.

At Success Academy, we invest boldly in our Network team with a comprehensive package designed to support your health, financial future, and overall well-being:

• Day-One Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, and vision coverage starting your first day (SA covers 82% of our core medical plan), plus a free One Medical membership and confidential mental health support via EAP/Talkspace.
• Financial Security: 403(b) retirement plan with a 3% employer match, up to $2,400/year in employer HSA contributions, employer-paid life/disability insurance, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility.
• Time to Recharge: Generous paid time off, paid holidays, and paid parental leave.
• Perks & Stipends: A $50/month cellphone stipend ($600/year), pre-tax commuter benefits, backup family care, and performance-based earning incentives.

This is a hybrid position based in our NYC Financial District office, requiring on-site work Tuesday through Thursday and remote work on Monday and Friday.

Exact compensation may vary based on skills and experience. This position is not bonus eligible.

Compensation Range

$140,000 - $160,000 USD

Success Academy Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. Success Academy offers a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.

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We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We actively seek applications from people of all backgrounds to strengthen our community and the perspectives needed to flourish in a multicultural world. Success Academy offers a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.

Success Academy Charter Schools does not offer employment-based immigration sponsorship.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Success Academy Charter Schools’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.