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Manager Of Operational Excellence Jobs in Seattle, WA

Chick-fil-A

Director of Operations

Maple Valley, WA

$25 - $27/hr

You will lead leaders, own results, and drive operational excellence across all areas of the ... Lead, coach, and develop a team of Directors, Managers, and Team Leaders * Build a strong ...

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Manager Of Operational Excellence information

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How much do manager of operational excellence jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for manager of operational excellence in Seattle, WA is $25.30, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.42 and $27.64 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a manager of operational excellence?

A Manager of Operational Excellence is a professional responsible for improving an organization's processes, efficiency, and effectiveness. They use methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement to identify areas for enhancement and drive change initiatives. Their goal is to create a culture of ongoing improvement, reduce waste, and ensure optimal performance across operations. They often collaborate with different departments to implement best practices and measure success through key performance indicators (KPIs).

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a manager of operational excellence?

To thrive as a Manager of Operational Excellence, you need expertise in process improvement methodologies (such as Lean, Six Sigma), analytical skills, and a background in business or engineering, often supported by relevant certifications. Familiarity with tools like process mapping software, statistical analysis systems, and project management platforms is typical. Strong leadership, communication, and change management abilities are critical soft skills for driving cross-functional initiatives. These skills are essential to effectively streamline operations, foster continuous improvement, and achieve organizational goals.

How does a manager of operational excellence typically drive cross-departmental collaboration to implement process improvements?

A Manager of Operational Excellence frequently partners with teams across departments, such as production, quality, supply chain, and IT, to identify inefficiencies and implement standardized processes. They lead workshops, facilitate communication among stakeholders, and use data-driven approaches like Lean or Six Sigma to align objectives and track progress. Successful collaboration is key to gaining buy-in for changes and ensuring improvements are sustainable, often requiring strong interpersonal and project management skills.

What is the difference between Manager Of Operational Excellence vs Process Improvement Manager?

AspectManager Of Operational ExcellenceProcess Improvement Manager
CredentialsTypically requires Six Sigma, Lean certifications, or similarOften holds Six Sigma, Lean, or project management certifications
Work EnvironmentWorks across departments to optimize overall operationsFocuses on specific processes or departments for efficiency
Industry UsageCommon in manufacturing, healthcare, and large corporationsUsed in manufacturing, logistics, and service industries
Search & Comparison IntentInterested in broad operational strategies and enterprise improvementsFocused on specific process enhancements and project outcomes

The Manager Of Operational Excellence oversees comprehensive operational strategies, often involving multiple processes and departments, while the Process Improvement Manager concentrates on optimizing specific workflows. Both roles require similar certifications and are prevalent in manufacturing and large organizations, but their scope and focus differ.

How to become a manager of operational excellence?

To become a manager of operational excellence, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or a related field, along with experience in process improvement methodologies such as Lean or Six Sigma. Developing strong leadership, analytical skills, and proficiency with data analysis tools are essential, and obtaining certifications like Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt can enhance qualifications.

What are the most commonly searched types of Of Operational Excellence jobs in Seattle, WA?

The most popular types of Of Operational Excellence jobs in Seattle, WA are:

Manager Of Operational Excellence jobs near you
Infographic showing various Manager Of Operational Excellence job openings in Seattle, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $52,632 per year, or $25.3 per hour.

Vice President, Data Center Operational Excellence

Ares Operations LLC

Bellevue, WA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 24 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Define, implement, and improve the global operating model for data center operations.

  • Own and evolve the global operations governance framework, standards, policies, and processes.

  • Lead operational excellence initiatives, continuous improvement efforts, and drive operational performance across regions.

Job description

Over the last 20 years, Ares' success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values - Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy - and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.

Job Description

About Ada Infrastructure

Ada Infrastructure is part of the digital infrastructure platform Areas Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES), a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across credit, real estate, private equity, and infrastructure asset classes.

We are a global data center business grounded in sustainability, safety, and security. With a world-class team of industry leaders and the resources of Ares Management, Ada Infrastructure is executing on our mission to lead the world in safe, sustainable digital infrastructure that drives customer success and social benefit.

Summary

TheVice President, Data Center Operational Excellenceis responsible fordefining, implementing, and continuously improving the global operating model that enables Ada's data center portfolio tooperatesafely, reliably, efficiently, and at scale.

This role serves as the strategic owner of operations governance, standards, processes, systems, operational readiness, and continuous improvement across the global operations organization. They willpartnerclosely with regional operations leaders,security,engineering, delivery,product,finance, and executive leadership teams toestablishthe operational framework that supports long-term growth and operational excellence.

The successful candidate is a proven leader with deep experience in mission-critical operations, organizational scaling, process design, governance, operational excellence, and change management.This individual will drive consistency across regions while enabling operational flexibility needed to support local market requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Global Operations Strategy & Governance

  • Own and continuously evolve the global operations governance framework.

  • Develop the operating standards, management systems, policies, and processes that enable scalable global data center operations.

  • Establish andmaintainglobal operational performance metrics, scorecards, reporting structures, and executive review processes.

  • Partner with regional leaders to drive alignment, standardization, and adoption of operational best practices.

  • Lead governance forums that support operational decision making, risk management, resource planning, and performance management.

Operations Process Ownership

  • Serve as executive owner for operational processes including maintenance management, incident management, change management, asset management, operational readiness, and vendor governance.

  • Establish global standards for SOPs, MOPs, EOPs, playbooks, escalation procedures, and operational controls.

  • Ensure operational processes support business growth, customer commitments, regulatory requirements, and reliabilityobjectives.

  • Drive process harmonization across regions while accounting for local requirements.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

  • Lead global operational excellence initiatives focused on safety, reliability, efficiency, scalability, quality, and cost optimization.

  • Establish continuous improvement frameworks and maturity roadmaps.

  • Use operational data and performance indicators toidentifytrends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.

  • Sponsor major transformation efforts that improve operational effectiveness and organizational capability.

  • Develop business cases and strategic recommendations for operational investments.

Operations Systems & Data Strategy

  • SupportCMMS, DCIM, asset management, maintenance management, workflow, and reporting platforms.

  • Establish global data governance standards and operational reporting requirements.

  • Drive improved visibility into operational performance through dashboards, analytics, and executive reporting.

  • Partner with technology and systems teams to ensure platforms effectively support operationalobjectives.

Incident, Risk & Readiness Management

  • Establish governance processes for incident management, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and organizational learning.

  • Lead operational risk reviews and mitigation planning.

  • Ensure readiness frameworks are in place for new facility turnover and operational onboarding.

  • Drive continuous improvements based on lessons learned, audits, assessments, and operational reviews.

Vendor & Partner Management

  • Establish governance models and performance management frameworks for third-party operators and critical service providers.

  • Drive accountability against service levels, operational standards, and contractual commitments.

  • Partner with regional teams to ensure consistent vendor management practices globally.

Leadership & Organizational Development

  • Mentor and develop operations professionals while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

  • Influence senior leaders across multiple functions and regions to drive alignment on strategic priorities.

  • Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on operational performance, risk, readiness, and scalability.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Facilities Management, ora relateddiscipline.

  • 12+ years of experience in data center operations, mission-critical facilities, engineering operations, infrastructure operations, or related environments.

  • 5+ years of leadership experience with responsibility for global programs, operational governance, or operational excellence functions.

  • Demonstrated success scaling operational processes across multiple regions, sites, or business units.

  • Significant experiencewith operational governance, process design, organizational transformation, and change management.

  • Experience working with executive leadership teams and influencing decisions across complex organizations.

  • Strong analytical, financial, program management, and strategic planning capabilities.

  • Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and executive presentation skills.

Preferred

  • Experience in hyperscale, colocation, cloud, or large-scale mission-critical environments.

  • Experience with CMMS, DCIM, asset management, maintenance management, or enterprise operational systems.

  • Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, ITIL, ISO, Quality Management Systems, or similar operational excellence methodologies.

  • PMP, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL, CDCP, CFM, or other relevant professional certifications.

  • Experience leading globally distributed teams and supporting rapidly growing organizations.

Success Profile

  • Create scalable operational frameworks that support global business growth.

  • Drive consistency without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

  • Build strong partnerships across operations, engineering, delivery, andproduct and financial organizations.

  • Translate strategy into repeatable operational execution.

  • Use data to drive accountability and continuous improvement.

  • Build organizational capability that enables best-in-class data center operations globally.

Reporting Relationships

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.

$220,000.00 - $240,000.00

The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit.

Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more.

There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.

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