Operations Excellence Manager - D365

Title: Operations Excellence Manager
Duration: Direct-hire/Permanent
Location: Hybrid in Wauconda, IL 
Compensation: $130-150k yearly base salary 
Industry: Manufacturing 

Responsibilities:

• Process Analysis & Improvement: Work closely with operations teams to understand current business processes, identify inefficiencies, and propose technology/process-driven improvements.

• System Implementation & Support: Lead and support the implementation and enhancement of manufacturing-related systems, including ERP, MES, SCM, and PLM solutions. Ensure systems are aligned with business needs and improve overall operations.

• Requirements Gathering: Collaborate with stakeholders to elicit and document business requirements for new systems or changes to existing ones. Translate these requirements into functional and technical specifications.

• Data Analysis & Reporting: Work with manufacturing data, performing detailed analysis to support decision-making processes. Develop reports and dashboards that provide actionable insights into production performance, inventory, and supply chain metrics.

• Project Management: Lead and manage small to medium-sized IT projects related to manufacturing operations. Develop project plans, track progress, and ensure timely delivery of key milestones.

• User Training & Support: Provide training and technical support to end-users on manufacturing systems. Assist in troubleshooting issues, ensuring smooth daily operations, and minimizing downtime.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Liaise between IT, manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain teams to ensure alignment on systems and processes that support operational goals.

• Compliance & Documentation: Ensure that systems and processes adhere to regulatory requirements, quality standards, and company policies. Maintain proper documentation of system configurations, business processes, and training materials.

Skills and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, or related field of study

• 5+ years of relevant Manufacturing Operations experience

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience as a Business Systems Analyst or in a similar role supporting manufacturing operations using Microsoft D365 systems

• Experience with ERP (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) and MES systems is essential.

• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, supply chain, inventory management, and production planning.

• Proficiency in SQL, data analysis tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau), and ERP/MES systems.

• Experience with process mapping and documentation tools (e.g., Visio, Lucidchart).

• Familiarity with scripting or automation tools is a plus.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical users.

• Detail-oriented, with strong organizational and multitasking abilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies.

• Familiarity with Industry 4.0 concepts, IoT, and smart factory technologies.

• Project management certification (e.g., PMP, Prince2) or business analysis certification (e.g., CBAP).