Operational Excellence Specialist

MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network is seeking an Operational Excellence Specialist to join its consulting team in Northeast Ohio. You will support delivery of operational improvement initiatives, with a focus on productivity, workflow optimization, and material movement across client environments.

The role emphasizes hands-on execution, data collection, and facilitating workshops while applying Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies to achieve measurable

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, Manufacturing Technology, or related field strongly preferred.
• 2–5 years of experience within manufacturing, distribution, logistics, warehousing, supply chain, or industrial operations environments.
• Foundational understanding of Lean, Continuous Improvement, Six Sigma, or operational excellence methodologies.
• Experience supporting operational improvement, process improvement, workflow optimization, or implementation-focused activities.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Support execution of operational excellence consulting engagements within client environments.
• Support implementation of operational improvement initiatives focused on productivity, workflow optimization, process improvement, operational flow, and material movement.
• Support Lean, Continuous Improvement, and Six Sigma initiatives including process improvement, visual management, workplace organization, and root cause analysis.
• Conduct process observations, operational studies, workflow analysis, and operational data collection activities within industrial and operational environments.
• Support operational assessments, process mapping, KPI analysis, workflow documentation, and implementation planning activities.
• Support client-facing workshops, Kaizen events, operational reviews, implementation meetings, and facilitation support activities.
• Develop implementation support documentation including process maps, workflow diagrams, implementation trackers, reports, and presentation materials.
• Support implementation tracking, action follow-up, milestone updates, documentation support, and execution support activities within assigned engagements.
• Collaborate with internal consulting teams, subcontractors, and client stakeholders to support successful implementation execution and measurable operational improvement.

Skills

Lean / CI / Six Sigma understanding

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Title: Operational Excellence Specialist

Reports To: Operational Excellence Consultant / Senior Operational Excellence Consultant

Department: Operational Excellence Consulting Practice

FLSA Status: Exempt

Compensation Range: $60,000 to $85,000

Travel Requirements: Regional travel within Northeast Ohio and surrounding areas expected

Work Environment: Hybrid / Client Onsite

Create The Future

MAGNET is driving Northeast Ohio manufacturing growth by supporting small and mid-sized manufacturers, industrial organizations, and startups. Our Operational Excellence practice is focused on helping organizations improve operational performance, strengthen execution capability, increase productivity, improve flow, develop scalable operational systems, and support long-term growth.

MAGNET’s consulting model is implementation-focused, collaborative, and built around practical operational improvement that creates measurable business impact for clients across manufacturing, distribution, logistics, warehousing, supply chain, and industrial operating environments.

The Role

The Operational Excellence Specialist supports delivery of operational improvement and transformation consulting engagements across MAGNET’s client base. This role works directly with client organizations and internal consulting teams to support measurable operational improvement initiatives focused on productivity, process improvement, operational flow, quality, material movement, project execution, and operational performance improvement.

While manufacturing remains a primary focus area, MAGNET supports organizations across a broad range of industrial, distribution, supply chain, logistics, warehousing, and operational environments in both private and public sectors.

The position is highly hands-on and execution-oriented, supporting implementation activities, operational analysis, workflow observation, implementation support activities, and implementation execution support within client environments. The Operational Excellence Specialist participates in assessments, workshops, process observations, data collection, implementation activities, and continuous improvement initiatives while developing broader operational consulting, facilitation, and implementation leadership capabilities.

This role is part of MAGNET’s Operational Excellence delivery team and works under the guidance of Operational Excellence Consultants and Senior Operational Excellence Consultants while supporting client-facing consulting engagements and implementation activities.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support execution of operational excellence consulting engagements within client environments
• Support implementation of operational improvement initiatives focused on productivity, workflow optimization, process improvement, operational flow, and material movement
• Support Lean, Continuous Improvement, and Six Sigma initiatives including process improvement, visual management, workplace organization, and root cause analysis
• Conduct process observations, operational studies, workflow analysis, and operational data collection activities within industrial and operational environments
• Support operational assessments, process mapping, KPI analysis, workflow documentation, and implementation planning activities
• Support client-facing workshops, Kaizen events, operational reviews, implementation meetings, and facilitation support activities
• Develop implementation support documentation including process maps, workflow diagrams, implementation trackers, reports, and presentation materials
• Support implementation tracking, action follow-up, milestone updates, documentation support, and execution support activities within assigned engagements
• Collaborate with internal consulting teams, subcontractors, and client stakeholders to support successful implementation execution and measurable operational improvement

Required Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, Manufacturing Technology, or related field strongly preferred
• 2–5 years of experience within manufacturing, distribution, logistics, warehousing, supply chain, or industrial operations environments
• Foundational understanding of Lean, Continuous Improvement, Six Sigma, or operational excellence methodologies
• Experience supporting operational improvement, process improvement, workflow optimization, or implementation-focused activities
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications

Desired Experience & Qualifications

• Exposure to operational consulting, implementation-focused projects, or continuous improvement initiatives
• Experience with process mapping, workflow analysis, KPI development, operational assessments, or root cause analysis activities
• Exposure to Lean manufacturing, Kaizen, Six Sigma, visual management, or value stream mapping methodologies
• Implementation support or operational execution support experience within industrial or operational environments
• Experience working within cross-functional or client-facing operational environments

Preferred Certifications

• Lean certifications
• Six Sigma certifications (Yellow Belt, Green Belt, or Black Belt)
• CAPM, PMP, Agile, or related project management training/certifications
• Continuous Improvement certifications

Key Success Characteristics

• Hands-on and execution-oriented
• Strong observational and analytical skills
• Comfortable working in operational and industrial environments
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Practical problem-solving mindset
• Strong implementation follow-through and execution discipline
• Adaptable and collaborative