Senior Operational Excellence Lead

gategroup; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

401k with company match

Company sponsored life insurance

Voluntary disability insurance

Voluntary life/accident/hospital plans

Employee Assistance Program

Employee discounts

Job summary

gategroup in the US seeks a Senior Regional Process Owner to drive Operational Excellence across North America, translating global strategy into regional actions and leading cross-functional standardization and performance improvements.

The role emphasizes leadership, governance, and capability building, with 5+ years in operations and Lean Six Sigma preferred; compensation includes $120,000-$125,000 base plus 10% incentive, PTO, 401k, and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in operations, supply chain, inventory, or internal logistics.
• Understanding of material flow, receiving, inventory control, or warehouse operations.
• Experience writing SOPs, process flows, or technical instructions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the regional strategy and execution of Operational Excellence initiatives aligned to global priorities and regional business objectives.
• Shape and evolve multi-process or cross-functional frameworks, driving end-to-end process optimization and standardization.
• Act as a thought leader and advisor to senior leadership on process design, performance improvement, and operational risk.
• Identify and prioritize transformational initiatives that deliver measurable business value at scale.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

SOP writing

Process optimization

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field

Job description

gategroup is the global leader in airline catering, retail-on-board, and hospitality products and services. gategroup provides passengers with superior culinary and retail experiences, leveraging innovation and advanced technology solutions. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, gategroup delivers operational excellence through the most extensive catering network in the aviation industry, serving passengers from over 200 operating units in over 60 countries/territories across all continents.

We work in an exciting industry – fast-paced and ever-changing. Industry trends and customer expectations are constantly evolving and it is critical that we are agile, innovative, and ready for change - and our people are our driving force. We offer attractive opportunities to be part of this fast-paced and truly international working environment.

For further information, please visit www.gategroup.com.

Job Summary

The Senior Regional Process Owner (RPO) serves as a strategic leader responsible for advancing Operational Excellence across the North America region. This role drives the regional translation and execution of global strategy while shaping, influencing, and continuously improving enterprise-wide process frameworks. This role is accountable for delivering measurable business outcomes through standardization, continuous improvement, and digital enablement, while fostering strong cross-functional collaboration across global, regional, and local stakeholders.

The Senior RPO plays a critical role in advancing process maturity, enabling scalable solutions, and embedding a culture of performance, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Annual Hiring Range/Hourly Rate:

• $120,000- $125,000/Per Year
• This position is eligible for incentive pay of 10% of the annual base salary, dependent upon successful attainment of company, team, and individual goals.
• Paid time off
• 401k, with company match
• Company sponsored life insurance
• Voluntary short-term/long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary life, accident, and hospital plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discounts

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Process Leadership

• Lead the regional strategy and execution of Operational Excellence initiatives aligned to global priorities and regional business objectives.
• Shape and evolve multi-process or cross-functional frameworks, driving end-to-end process optimization and standardization.
• Act as a thought leader and advisor to senior leadership on process design, performance improvement, and operational risk.
• Identify and prioritize transformational initiatives that deliver measurable business value at scale.

Standard Development, Deployment & Optimization

• Oversee the design, adaptation, and governance of regional standards based on global frameworks (SOPs, org design, staffing models, technology enablement, and KPIs).
• Drive end-to-end lifecycle ownership of standards including design, pilot, validation, rollout, and continuous improvement.
• Lead complex pilot programs and ensure scalable deployment across diverse business units and operating environments.
• Champion innovation and digital enablement, integrating automation, analytics, and technology solutions into process execution.

Program & Governance Leadership

• Establish and lead robust governance structures for assigned process areas, including compliance, audit readiness, and performance oversight.
• Drive program execution across multiple concurrent initiatives, ensuring alignment, prioritization, and effective resource utilization.
• Provide executive-level reporting and insights on program performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Oversee gateOPEX readiness, compliance frameworks, and continuous monitoring of process adherence.

Continuous Improvement & Capability Building

• Lead large-scale continuous improvement initiatives leveraging Lean, Six Sigma, and advanced methodologies.
• Build and sustain regional capabilities, including training strategies, certification programs, and knowledge management systems.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and data-driven decision making. Mentor and coach regional teams and emerging leaders in Operational Excellence practices..

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field.

Work Experience:

• 5+ years in operations, supply chain, inventory, or internal logistics.
• Understanding of material flow, receiving, inventory control, or warehouse operations.
• Experience writing SOPs, process flows, or technical instructions.

Core Competencies

• Preferred Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt).

Language and Communication Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate complex operational information clearly to senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, facilitate, and build alignment across global, regional, and local stakeholders.
• Strong presentation, training, coaching, and workshop-facilitation skills.
• Ability to listen effectively, challenge constructively, and build trusted cross-functional relationships.

Core Competencies Required

Customer Focus: Delivers prompt, courteous, and effective support to all users.

Accountability: Takes ownership of assigned tasks and follows through to resolution.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively and supports colleagues to achieve common goals.

Communication: Explains technical information clearly to non-technical users.

Adaptability: Remains flexible and calm under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

Continuous Learning: Proactively develops skills and keeps knowledge up to date.

Job Dimensions

Geographic Responsibility: US

Type of Employment: Full-time

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the job being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. gategroup reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Candidates may be required to go through a pre-employment drug screen, criminal check, and/or airport fingerprinting.

gategroup – an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to workforce diversity and actively encourage all qualified persons to seek employment with us, including, but not limited to, racial and ethnic minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities.