Scheduled Hours

37.5

Position Summary

The Operational Excellence Lead is a key role responsible for driving operational efficiency, cross-functional collaboration, and continuous improvement across the School of Public Health (SPH). This individual will work closely with central resources, including IT, Facilities, HR, and Finance, to ensure seamless operational support for the school’s strategic initiatives. The role will focus on optimizing processes, enhancing service delivery, and fostering a culture of operational excellence to support SPH’s vision and strategic objectives.

Job Description

Cross-Functional Coordination & Process Optimization

• Serve as the primary liaison between SPH and central university resources (IT, Facilities, HR, and Finance) to align operational priorities with strategic goals.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery across administrative functions.
• Develop and oversee standard operating procedures (SOPs) for critical operational areas to ensure consistency and best practices.
• Establish performance metrics and reporting mechanisms to track the effectiveness of operational functions.

Strategic Support & Implementation

• Support the Associate Dean for Administration in executing key operational initiatives tied to the school’s strategic plan.
• Lead or participate in cross-school and university-wide projects aimed at improving administrative processes and infrastructure.
• Serve as an advisor to senior leadership on operational challenges and opportunities, providing data-driven insights and recommendations.
• Collaborate with Facilities Management to optimize space utilization, ensure maintenance of physical infrastructure, and enhance the overall learning and working environment.
• Oversee emergency preparedness and business continuity planning in partnership with university facilities and risk management teams.

IT & Digital Transformation Alignment

• Partner with the IT team to ensure alignment between technology initiatives and business needs, including CRM integration and digital transformation projects.
• Support IT governance and security protocols to ensure compliance with university policies and industry best practices.
• Oversee trainings and change management efforts related to new systems and technologies.

HR & Talent Development Support

• Work closely with HR partner to the creation of a positive, high-performance work culture by aligning talent development initiatives with organizational goals and employee needs.
• Collaborate with leaders/managers to identify and implement professional development opportunities for staff.

Continuous Improvement and Evaluation

• Design and implement a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the shared services structure in collaboration with the senior program manager of evaluation and accreditation.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data regarding the key performance indicators, with a focus on operational outcomes and end-user experience.
• Regularly present findings, insights, and actionable feedback to both SPH and CFU leadership to inform strategic decision-making.
• Identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for improvement, and lead the development of implementation of data-informed recommendations to optimize processes and enhance service delivery.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement by promoting best practices, encouraging innovation, and ensuring alignment with school goals and stakeholder needs.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:
Job Location/Working Conditions

• Normal office environment

Physical Effort

• Typically sitting at a desk or table
• Repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement
• Ability to move to on and off-campus locations

Equipment

• Office equipment

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.

Certifications:

No specific certification is required for this position.

Work Experience:

Relevant Experience (5 Years)

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in higher education or public health institutions.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies, or operational excellence frameworks.
• Knowledge of enterprise systems, CRM tools, and digital transformation strategies.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Master's degree

Certifications:

No additional certification beyond what is stated in the Required Qualifications section.

Work Experience:

No additional work experience beyond what is stated in the Required Qualifications section.

Skills:

Administrative Leadership, Business Administration, Change Management, Communication, Complexity Management, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision Making, Data Visualization Tools, Higher Education Administration, Leadership, Management Reporting, Operations Management, Organizational Development (OD), Process Improvement Management, Process Streamlining, Project Management, Public Administration, Resource Optimization, Service Delivery, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Planning, Tableau (Software), Workload Automation Software

Grade

G13

Salary Range

$65,900.00 - $112,700.00 / Annually

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.

• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.

• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.

• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.

• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO/AA Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Diversity Statement

Washington University is dedicated to building a diverse community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment – fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.