1

Operational Excellence Project Manager Jobs in Colorado

Senior Operational Excellence Engineer

Boulder, CO · On-site

$108K - $148K/yr

Project management skills with good time management, conflict resolution, training facilitation, and administrative skills. * Preferred background in manufacturing, operations, or other process ...

Senior Operational Excellence Engineer

Boulder, CO · On-site

$108K - $148K/yr

Project management skills with good time management, conflict resolution, training facilitation, and administrative skills. * Preferred background in manufacturing, operations, or other process ...

Senior Operational Excellence Engineer

Parker, CO · On-site

$107K - $148K/yr

Project management skills with good time management, conflict resolution, training facilitation, and administrative skills. * Preferred background in manufacturing, operations, or other process ...

Senior Operational Excellence Engineer

Boulder, CO · On-site

$108K - $148K/yr

Project management skills with good time management, conflict resolution, training facilitation, and administrative skills. * Preferred background in manufacturing, operations, or other process ...

Senior Operational Excellence Engineer

Parker, CO · On-site

$107K - $148K/yr

Project management skills with good time management, conflict resolution, training facilitation, and administrative skills. * Preferred background in manufacturing, operations, or other process ...

... operational excellence across both company-owned and franchise locations through comprehensive ... Overall, this manager is integral to enhancing guest experience, operational efficiency, and ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Operational Excellence Project Manager information

See Colorado salary details

$41K

$100.7K

$161.4K

How much do operational excellence project manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for operational excellence project manager in Colorado is $100,688.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,900.00 and $114,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an operational excellence project manager do?

An Operational Excellence Project Manager is responsible for leading initiatives that improve efficiency, productivity, and quality within an organization. They use methodologies like Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen to identify areas for improvement and implement process changes. Their role often involves analyzing data, managing cross-functional teams, and ensuring that projects align with the company’s strategic goals. They help create a culture of continuous improvement and drive sustainable results across various departments.

How does an operational excellence project manager typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement process improvements?

Operational Excellence Project Managers regularly work with stakeholders from various departments such as operations, finance, IT, and quality assurance to identify inefficiencies and drive process improvements. This collaboration often involves facilitating workshops, leading Kaizen events, and aligning team members around common goals using methodologies like Lean or Six Sigma. Successful project managers build strong communication channels, ensure clear documentation, and foster a culture of continuous improvement so that all team members are engaged and accountable throughout the change process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an operational excellence project manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Operational Excellence Project Manager, you need strong project management expertise, process improvement knowledge (such as Lean or Six Sigma), and a background in business or engineering. Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Asana), process mapping software, and certifications like PMP or Lean Six Sigma are often required. Exceptional communication, analytical thinking, and leadership skills help drive change and engage cross-functional teams. These competencies are critical for successfully executing initiatives that boost efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure sustainable organizational improvements.

What is the difference between Operational Excellence Project Manager vs Continuous Improvement Specialist?

AspectOperational Excellence Project ManagerContinuous Improvement Specialist
CertificationsLean, Six Sigma, PMPLean, Six Sigma, Kaizen
Work EnvironmentProject teams, cross-functional departmentsOperational teams, process improvement groups
Industry UsageManufacturing, healthcare, financeManufacturing, service industries, logistics

The Operational Excellence Project Manager oversees large-scale projects to improve efficiency and processes across departments, often managing multiple initiatives. The Continuous Improvement Specialist focuses on ongoing process enhancements within specific teams or areas, emphasizing incremental improvements. Both roles require Lean and Six Sigma certifications and work in similar industries, but their scope and responsibilities differ in scale and focus.

What cities in Colorado are hiring for Operational Excellence Project Manager jobs?

Cities in Colorado with the most Operational Excellence Project Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Operational Excellence Project Manager job openings in Colorado as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $100,688 per year, or $48.4 per hour.

Sr. Operational Excellence Specialist

Boulder, CO • On-site

$135K - $155K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 27 days ago


Job description

CordenPharma is a leading full-service Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), excipients, drug products (DPs), and packaging. With around 3,000 employees worldwide, we help pharmaceutical and biotech companies manufacture medicines with the ultimate goal of improving people’s lives.

Our network, spanning Europe and the U.S., provides flexible and specialized solutions across six technology platforms: Peptides, Lipids & Carbohydrates, Injectables, Highly Potent & Oncology, Small Molecules, and Oligonucleotides. We strive for excellence in supporting this network and are committed to delivering the highest quality products for patient well-being.

 

Our People Vision

We strive for excellence. We share our passion. Together, we make a difference in patients' lives.

 SUMMARY

The Sr. Operational Excellence Specialist is responsible for working with the Associate Director of Operational Excellence and the Operational Excellence Team to drive the success of the overall Operational Excellence Program. 


The individual is accountable for identifying Operational Excellence projects, prioritizing opportunities based on business impact, and making decisions for upcoming projects and improvement areas. The Sr. OE Specialist monitors project performance through business impact and reports on progress as well as potential roadblocks and issues. 


This role is responsible for adopting the appropriate Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies and application of strong change management, and influence skills to meet defined business objectives. The position is also accountable for supporting ongoing projects as well as execution of site-wide projects. 


ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

  • Lead large-scale, cross-functional, and value stream-level Operational Excellence initiatives that deliver substantial and sustainable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and customer satisfaction
  • Partner with value stream leadership and site leaders to identify, prioritize, and develop improvement roadmaps aligned with operational objectives and strategic goals
  • Maintain a customer-focused mindset and identify innovative improvement opportunities while ensuring compliance with safety, quality, regulatory, and business requirements
  • Translate business challenges into improvement portfolios, business cases, and execution plans, ensuring resources and efforts are focused on the highest-value opportunities
  • Drive performance management systems by establishing, analyzing, and improving leading, lagging, process, and key performance indicators that support sustainable business results.
  • Validate and communicate operational and financial benefits of improvement initiatives, partnering with business leaders to ensure realization and sustainability of results
  • Measure and track project benefits, including productivity, cycle time, quality, capacity, and cost savings, and support validation of results
  • Facilitate Kaizen events, process mapping workshops, root cause analyses, and other continuous improvement activities within departments or functional areas
  • Direct and continuously improve site Operational Excellence programs including 6S, OEE, Lean Labs, Visual Factory, and Daily Management Systems to drive site-wide adoption and maturity
  • Lead and coach Green Belt and Black Belt projects across Manufacturing, Development, Quality, Supply Chain, and supporting functions
  • Serve as a site Subject Matter Expert in Lean Six Sigma methodologies, advanced problem-solving, value stream optimization, and continuous improvement best practices
  • Mentor leaders, managers, and Operational Excellence practitioners to strengthen organizational capability, accountability, and continuous improvement of culture
  • Influence decision-making at all levels of the organization by using project results, operational data, business priorities, and OE Program insights to recommend strategic improvement priorities to site leadership
  • Act as a change agent by promoting Operational Excellence principles, sharing success stories, and driving engagement in improvement initiatives

LEADERSHIP & BUDGET RESPONSIBILITIES

Indirect supervision through leadership and project management of site initiatives. 


SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Every individual is personally responsible for the safety and environmental aspects of their activities in the workplace. Each employee is expected to perform their job duties in a safe manner utilizing all their knowledge, training, ability, and experience.


QUALITY RESPONSIBILITIES

Corden Pharma Colorado (CPC) is a manufacturer of a variety of pharmaceutical products. In following Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), Corden Pharma Colorado manufactures in accordance with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), International Council for Harmonisation Q7 (ICH), and other global regulations as applicable. This is critical as it is our mission to not place patients at risk due to inadequate safety, quality, or efficacy. CPC’s Quality Management System, which incorporates cGMP, is designed to deliver this quality objective. Attainment is produced through the requisite participation and commitment of all staff across departments and at all levels within the company. 


cGMP is the part of Quality Management System ensuring products are consistently produced to accurate quality standards. Adherence to clearly defined procedures, in compliance with the principles of cGMP, is required when performing operations across Corden Pharma Colorado.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE 

Bachelor’s Degree in a Science or Engineering field; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Ten years’ total professional experience in manufacturing, operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, laboratory operations, or pharmaceuticals. Five years of direct Operational Excellence, Lean, Six Sigma or Continuous Improvement Leadership experience. Black Belt certification and experience with statistical analysis is preferred. Knowledge and experience with financial analysis is preferred. GMP experience preferred and CDMO experience is a plus. 


LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write reports and correspondence. Ability to lead or contribute to meetings and work effectively with others.


MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs. Ability to handle advanced data analysis and statistics.


REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in complex situations.


CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Black Belt certification preferred. 


PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


While performing the duties of this job, the employee must have the ability to lift 25 lbs. occasionally and the ability to effectively utilize computer equipment. 


The employee is required to physically inspect and oversee facilities/operations that may require use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and exposure to hazardous materials (hard hat, safety glasses, safety boots, and uniform). Required to wear full PPE (i.e., respiratory protection, chemical resistant garments, etc.) as necessary. 


The employee is required to regularly climb stairs or ladders, to stand; walk; work with hands; climb or balance; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee frequently is required to reach above shoulder height. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.


WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to an office, laboratory, and manufacturing floor (working with potential potent APIs and intermediates, hazardous compounds, and solvents).


The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; high, precarious places; uncomfortable extremes of temperature; fumes or airborne particles; low levels of toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions; and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.


CORE COMPETENCIES

These are the specific areas of knowledge, skill, and ability that are important for successful job performance. They must be job related and consistent with business necessity.

  • Strategic Continuous Improvement Leadership: Identifies, prioritizes, and leads value stream improvement initiatives that drive sustainable business performance
  • Continuous Improvement Execution: Applies Lean Six Sigma tools, structured problem-solving methodologies, as well as project and stakeholder management techniques to deliver measurable operational improvements
  • Coaching & Capability Development: Develops leaders, Green Belts, and teams by building continuous improvement skills, accountability, and problem-solving capabilities
  • Change Leadership & Development: Drives organizational adoption of improvement initiatives and influences leaders at all levels to achieve desired outcomes
  • Business and Financial Acumen: Links operational improvements to business priorities, financial impact, capacity, productivity, and customer outcomes
  • Knowledge of Six Sigma and Lean Methodology 
  • Advanced Microsoft Office Suite skills. Manipulation of Excel for data analysis
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills; including facilitating and presenting, and driving decision making & organizational change
  • Working experience in Project Management including project team oversight, resource identification, budgets, scheduling, and planning required

 

SALARY

Actual pay will be based on your skills and experience.

 

BENEFITS

  • 401(k) matching - Corden Pharma will contribute 100% of the first 6% - 100% vested after 2 years of service 
  • Accident Plan
  • Critical Illness Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Health Insurance PPO/HSA
  • Hospital Indemnity Plan
  • ID Theft Protection
  • Life Insurance
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Wellness Program
  • Vacation – Three Weeks 1st Year
  • Vision Insurance