Sr. Manager, Operations Excellence and PMO

Insight Global; DeKalb (IL); On-site; USD 200,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Engineering background

PMP/Lean Six Sigma cert

SCPro / APICS certs

Transportation optimization exposure

Job summary

Insight Global is seeking a Senior Manager, Operations Excellence and PMO to drive the distribution network transformation from onsite DeKalb, IL. This high-visibility role oversees a team of 5–6 project managers and directs multimillion-dollar programs focused on improving operational performance, automation, and PMO governance.

You will drive DC automation, network optimization, and Lean Six Sigma initiatives, partnering with Planning, Transportation, and Commercial teams, and presenting to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field.
• 10+ years in supply chain, distribution, or operations excellence; 5+ years in project leadership.
• Demonstrated people management experience (required - not a stretch role for a strong individual contributor).
• Hands-on experience opening/closing distribution centers and driving DC automation.
• Strong Lean Six Sigma / operations excellence background with a track record of driving transformation.
• Experience in a large, matrixed enterprise (candidates from big, structured organizations tend to succeed; small-company or startup backgrounds may struggle with the scale and complexity).
• Ability to lead cross-functional projects and manage Capex budgets.

Responsibilities

• Automating Distribution Centers: Drive automation and AI/robotics initiatives to modernize manual DCs, managing Capex projects through the full engineering and approval process.
• Network Optimization: Lead the opening, closing, and reconfiguration of buildings - coordinating cross-functionally across Planning, Transportation, DCs, and Commercial.
• Operations Excellence: Run Kaizen events, Lean Six Sigma and quality projects, and DC improvement initiatives; coach supervisors and managers on best practices and maintain an already well-established PMO.
• Secondary: Support transportation optimization (load factor, packaging) as capacity allows.
• Partner cross-functionally with Automation, Network Optimization, Planning, Transportation, and Commercial teams, and present effectively to SVP-level leadership.

Skills

Project leadership

People management

Lean Six Sigma

DC Automation

Cross-functional collaboration

Capex management

Operations excellence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field

Job description

Title: Sr. Manager, Operations Excellence and PMO

Location: Onsite in DeKalb, IL

Employment Type: Direct-Hire, FTE

Salary: $200,000 - $220,000 + Eligibility for 13% Bonus

Job Summary & Day-to-Day Responsibilities

A Senior Manager role leading operations excellence and project management across the distribution network. This is a high-visibility seat in a major supply chain transformation, and it's positioned to grow over time. It's a project leadership and operations excellence role (not a technical one) leading a team of 5–6 in-house and contingent project managers (including some managers of PMs). Depending on scale, this person will directly run multimillion-dollar projects while overseeing smaller portfolios managed by their team. Day-to-day, the work falls into three buckets:

• Automating Distribution Centers: Drive automation and AI/robotics initiatives to modernize largely manual DCs, managing Capex projects through the full engineering and approval process.
• Network Optimization: Lead the opening, closing, and reconfiguration of buildings - coordinating cross-functionally across Planning, Transportation, DCs, and Commercial.
• Operations Excellence: Run Kaizen events, Lean Six Sigma and quality projects, and DC improvement initiatives; coach supervisors and managers on best practices and maintain an already well-established PMO.
• Secondary: Support transportation optimization (load factor, packaging) as capacity allows.
• Partner cross-functionally with Automation, Network Optimization, Planning, Transportation, and Commercial teams, and present effectively to SVP-level leadership.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field.
• 10+ years in supply chain, distribution, or operations excellence; 5+ years in project leadership.
• Demonstrated people management experience (required - not a stretch role for a strong individual contributor).
• Hands-on experience opening/closing distribution centers and driving DC automation.
• Strong Lean Six Sigma / operations excellence background with a track record of driving transformation.
• Experience in a large, matrixed enterprise (candidates from big, structured organizations tend to succeed; small-company or startup backgrounds may struggle with the scale and complexity).
• Ability to lead cross-functional projects and manage Capex budgets.

Bonus Skills & Experience

• Engineering background (a major plus given the Capex and engineering process work).
• PMP or Lean Six Sigma project management certification.
• CSCP, CLTD, SC Pro, or APICS certifications.
• Transportation optimization exposure (load factor, packaging improvement).