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Director Operations Excellence Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Elanco

Director-Manufacturing

Fort Dodge, IA

Director - Operations As Director - Operations , you will lead biologics manufacturing operations ... Drive operational excellence initiatives, including LEAN and continuous improvement programs to ...

Chick-fil-A

Director of Operations

Cedar Rapids, IA

$24 - $26/hr

Director of Operations | Chick-fil-A Westdale The Mission: Brighten Someone's Day At Chick-fil-A ... Operational Excellence: Drive speed, accuracy, and quality by optimizing systems and coaching your ...

Chick-fil-A

Director of Operations

Cedar Rapids, IA · On-site

$24 - $26/hr

Director of Operations | Chick-fil-A Westdale The Mission: Brighten Someone's Day At Chick-fil-A ... Operational Excellence: Drive speed, accuracy, and quality by optimizing systems and coaching your ...

Workiva, Inc.

Data Operations Lead

Ames, IA

If you are energized by solving complex data problems at scale and want your work to have a direct impact every day, join us on this transformative journey. What You'll Do Operational Excellence and ...

Weitz

Prefabrication Director

Des Moines, IA · On-site

This position provides enterprise-level leadership with direct influence on operational excellence, innovation, and long-term growth. EPI Power, LLC ("EPI") is a licensed electrical contractor and ...

Syngenta Group

Operations Manager

Slater, IA · On-site

Direct the execution of end-to-end operations at the Slater, IA site, ensuring alignment with North America Seeds Development objectives and business goals. * Operational Excellence: Drive cross ...

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Director Operations Excellence information

See Iowa salary details

$26.4K

$103.6K

$161.5K

How much do director operations excellence jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for director operations excellence in Iowa is $103,612.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $75,523.00 and $129,208.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Operations Excellence, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Operations Excellence, you need expertise in process improvement, project management, and strategic planning, usually supported by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business, engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, ERP systems, and certifications like PMP or Six Sigma Black Belt are commonly required. Exceptional leadership, communication, and change management skills help drive cross-functional initiatives and foster a culture of continuous improvement. These skills and qualifications are vital for optimizing organizational efficiency, ensuring sustainable growth, and delivering operational results.

How does a Director of Operations Excellence typically drive cross-functional collaboration to improve organizational processes?

A Director of Operations Excellence often leads initiatives that require close collaboration with departments such as supply chain, finance, IT, and quality assurance. They facilitate workshops, set up process improvement teams, and establish clear communication channels to ensure alignment on goals and timelines. By leveraging data-driven insights and best practices, they help teams identify inefficiencies, implement standardized processes, and measure outcomes. This collaborative approach not only accelerates improvement efforts but also fosters a culture of continuous innovation across the organization.

What does a Director of Operations Excellence do?

A Director of Operations Excellence is responsible for overseeing and improving organizational processes to enhance efficiency, productivity, and quality across various departments. They develop and implement strategies, best practices, and continuous improvement initiatives such as Lean or Six Sigma methodologies. This role involves analyzing performance metrics, identifying areas for operational improvement, and leading cross-functional teams to achieve business goals. Directors of Operations Excellence also ensure compliance with industry standards and help drive a culture of excellence within the organization.

What is the difference between Director Operations Excellence vs Operations Manager?

AspectDirector Operations ExcellenceOperations Manager
ResponsibilitiesStrategic process improvement, cross-departmental initiatives, long-term efficiency goalsDay-to-day operations management, team supervision, short-term problem solving
Required CredentialsTypically bachelor's degree, certifications in Lean, Six Sigma, or process improvementUsually bachelor's degree, experience in operations, certifications may be beneficial
Work EnvironmentStrategic planning sessions, corporate offices, cross-functional teamsOperational sites, team management, direct interaction with staff

The main difference is that the Director Operations Excellence focuses on strategic, organization-wide process improvements and long-term efficiency initiatives, while the Operations Manager handles daily operational activities and team supervision. Both roles often require similar certifications like Lean or Six Sigma but differ in scope and focus.

What are popular job titles related to Director Operations Excellence jobs in Iowa? For Director Operations Excellence jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Operations Excellence jobs in Iowa look for? The top searched job categories for Director Operations Excellence jobs in Iowa are:
What cities in Iowa are hiring for Director Operations Excellence jobs? Cities in Iowa with the most Director Operations Excellence job openings:
Director Operations Excellence jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Operations Excellence job openings in Iowa as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 74% Full Time, 23% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,612 per year, or $49.8 per hour.
Director-Manufacturing

Director-Manufacturing

Elanco

Fort Dodge, IA

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago

Elanco rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 25 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

39th of 70 rated pharmaceutical

Job description

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) - it all starts with animals!

As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose - all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.

At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you'll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.

Making animals' lives better makes life better - join our team today!

Your Role: Director - Operations

As Director - Operations, you will lead biologics manufacturing operations at Elanco's Fort Dodge, Iowa site-one of the company's key production facilities supporting its global animal health portfolio. In this role, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for biologics production, overseeing large manufacturing teams while driving safety, quality, and operational excellence in a highly regulated environment.

You will partner across manufacturing, quality, engineering, and process development to ensure reliable product supply, continuous improvement of manufacturing processes, and successful commercialization of new products.

Your Responsibilities

Lead biologics manufacturing operations to ensure the safe, compliant, and efficient production of high-quality biological products.
Develop and lead a large production organization, coaching frontline leaders and building high-performing teams.
Drive operational excellence initiatives, including LEAN and continuous improvement programs to improve efficiency, reliability, and cost performance.
Partner with Process Development and technical teams to support new product introduction, technology transfer, and validation activities.
Manage operational planning including departmental budgets, capital investments, and strategic initiatives to support site and business objectives.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications)

Education: Bachelor's Degree in a scientific, engineering, or related discipline
Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in biologics manufacturing, production operations, or regulated pharmaceutical/biotechnology manufacturing
Top Skills: Operational leadership of manufacturing teams and expertise in regulated biologics or pharmaceutical production environments

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (preferred qualifications)

Experience in animal health, biologics, vaccine, pharmaceutical, or biotechnology manufacturing
Demonstrated experience leading large teams in regulated environments (cGMP, USDA, FDA, or similar)
Experience implementing LEAN manufacturing, operational excellence, or continuous improvement initiatives
Strong experience with biologics production processes, fermentation, purification, or vaccine manufacturing
Experience managing significant operational budgets and capital investment projects

Additional Information

Travel: Up to 10% annually
Location: Fort Dodge, IA - Onsite

Physical RequirementsOccasionally (1-33%)

Sitting, reclining, reaching (extended hands/arms), reaching across midline, handling, feeling, crouching/squatting, crawling, balancing, stooping, kneeling, jumping, stairs, ramp, ladder, lifting/lowering, carrying, pushing/pulling.

Frequently (34-66%)

Standing, walking, fingering (pinch/pick).

Constantly (67-100%)

Change of position.

Light Work (Level 2): Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently.

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status

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