Continuous Improvement Specialist

Job Description

SUMMARY

Identify, prioritize, and take action to address business optimization opportunities including eliminating waste, reducing errors, reducing costs, improving speed, or simplifying complexity. Facilitate the capture, design, formalization, updating and continuous improvement of critical business processes and practices.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Includes the following:

• Collaborates with Cherokee Nation Businesses (CNB) leadership to identify, understand, dynamically prioritize, and respond to improvement opportunities.
• Ensures CNB stakeholders are fully aware of the status and results of current and closed improvement efforts.
• Escalates to leadership as needs, issues, and risks arise requiring executive intervention, support, or clarity.
• Facilitates capture and documentation of critical processes.
• Facilitates design and improvement of priority processes.
• Updates and maintains process documentation.
• Assists in monitoring process performance and improvements and in sharing insights which can assist leadership in guiding continuous improvement.
• Seeks opportunities to eliminate waste, reduce errors, reduce costs, improve speed, or simplify complexity across the organization.
• Acts as an advisor to project managers as process improvements are implemented.
• Captures and shares lessons learned across the organization to strengthen CNB overall.
• Participates in "community of practice" activities by coaching others for better results.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY/MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

No supervisory/management authority.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's Degree in a related field and at least 5 years of business process improvement or consulting experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Certified, in pursuit of certification, or recorded training in process improvement, continuous improvement, business analysis, lean techniques or six sigma preferred. Experience presenting and interacting with senior leadership required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Working knowledge of Lean and Agile processes and philosophy.
• Advanced knowledge of multiple "ways of working" including traditional project management, Agile, Kanban, etc.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office products including Visio and web-based process mapping and ideation tools.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to leverage diverse lean and continuous improvement techniques.
• Ability to confidently facilitate meetings and workshops.
• Ability to build consensus and navigate conflicting drivers and priorities.
• Ability to adapt to a rapidly growing environment and to work autonomously.
• Ability to develop and conduct effective presentations.
• Ability to assess and analyze problems with multiple lenses, from multiple angles without getting stuck in "analysis paralysis."
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate within multiple teams.
• Ability to lead, influence and coach others to the best possible levels of performance.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is primarily performed in a climate-controlled office setting. Work may require travel, including overnight stays.