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Director of Operational Excellence

United States · Hybrid

Professional Servicescontinuous_improvement$160k – $270k
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Axial Search builds long-term talent networks for AI, data, and transformation leaders across the United States, and applying for this role indicates your interest in positions like this one as your next move. This particular position isn't tied to a specific client today, but we actively place people with your background — apply and we'll be in touch when a matching role opens with one of our clients. In the meantime, please make use of our free tools to help with your job search, including our live job market dashboard with salary, skills, and hiring-trend data from thousands of AI transformation roles.

Job market data

Operational excellence hiring remains consistently strong, particularly across manufacturing, healthcare, and financial services. We track thousands of OpEx-focused postings annually, and Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen credentials show up in more than half of the listings. Director-level compensation generally lands in a $160K–$230K range, and the strongest directors we place are increasingly integrating AI and automation into the continuous improvement playbook — not just running classical Lean projects.

Key responsibilities

  • Own the enterprise operational excellence agenda across functions and business units

  • Lead a team of OpEx practitioners, Black Belts, and continuous improvement specialists

  • Partner with operations, finance, and business-line leadership on priority projects

  • Drive measurable improvement in cost, quality, lead time, and customer outcomes

  • Develop and mentor the OpEx talent pipeline

  • Increasingly integrate AI and automation into the continuous improvement playbook

  • Set the operating rhythm — reviews, metrics, and reporting — that keeps improvement on track

  • Coach senior leaders on the OpEx mindset and methods

Candidate requirements

  • 10+ years in operational excellence, continuous improvement, or Lean Six Sigma leadership

  • Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt or equivalent senior credential

  • Proven track record delivering significant P&L impact across multi-site or multi-function programs

  • Strong team leadership and talent development skills

  • Fluent across modern OpEx tooling — Minitab, Power BI, and increasingly AI and automation

  • Excellent executive communication