Program Operations Strategist

The Program Operations Strategist is a strategic thought-leader who will be responsible for driving program optimization to increase operational scale and deliver maximum outcomes, resulting in greater effectiveness and efficiency, insights on future platforms, and a holistic set of solutions. This role will provide informal leadership in the team while also influencing and collaborating with stakeholders at all levels of the broader organization.

The Program Operations Strategist will be expected to partner closely with IT and other stakeholders to drive process improvements. This role is expected to have an expert level understanding of current processes, to use competitive intelligence / industry information to understand emerging tools and capabilities, and to use practices such as LEAN, Six Sigma, and Kaizen to identify and drive new approaches to maximize value to our clients and our business.

This role is responsible for initiating, cultivating, and maintaining productive working relationships on behalf of cross-functional leadership efforts specific to overall operations of offerings including supply chain, procurement, servicing, and continuous improvement. A mix of operations expertise, strategic development and planning, data analysis and technology and relationship management are requirements for the Program Operations Strategist role, in addition to serving as the primary point of contact for critical and complex escalations and service-related issues. Qualified candidate should be results driven, detailed-oriented, and proficient in long range strategic planning and one who thrives in a team based, dynamic and evolving environment.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leads efforts using extensive experience in Lean Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement methodologies to improve and evolve product portfolio while managing both strategic tasks initiatives and daily business operations. Monitors emerging industry and business trends in order to implement opportunities to improve participant experience, improve program results, reduce cost, or improve turn-around time.
• Initiates, implements, and manages complex corporate, divisional or department initiatives and product solution(s) within designated business area leading to positive business results. Translates voice of customer into product evolutions to be incredibly responsive to client needs and to improve operational impacts on client experience, client satisfaction, as well as other business outcomes such as client growth and retention.
• Responsible for complex modeling and forecasting for program portfolio; including development and monitoring of budgets ranging from $$25-$100M Responsible for thought leadership on defining product portfolio targets - through supply chain management and human centered design interventions. Gathers and analyzes data from diverse systems to forecast future program demand, share program progress towards goals, and to identify program trends and effectiveness of operations.
• Explores and evaluates environmentally and socially responsible sourcing and fulfillment and evaluates our performance to develop a strategy with goals and targets for improvement where applicable.
• Demonstrates expert data analysis as well as building and maintaining dashboards to track key operational indicators, pulling insights from the data to help develop and drive future goals for operational enhancements that improve program competitiveness, client experience and/or business outcomes. Liaise with strategic and internal and external partners, senior level leaders, and core team members by sharing data, reporting, and insights to ensure efficient operations.
• Oversees the exploration and planning necessary to continuously improve program offerings through software and technologies that underly program operations and client experiences.
• Drives strategic intelligence, leveraging external competitive analysis and trends in supply chain and fulfillment to inform program strategies and priorities to continuously improve upon results.
• Develops trusted relationships by leveraging strong relationship building skills to influence and partner thoughtfully and strategically with vendors and internal partners. Builds and manages shared goals and metrics to work together to accomplish enhancements and operational excellence that will improve client experience and business outcomes.
• Advocates and serves as liaison between business units, IT, and product areas in the prioritization of work and resourcing needs to provide coordinated and timely service to business partners and users.
• Models Thrivent's leadership competencies - Model the Way, Rally the Team, and Deliver Outcomes.
• Supports and/or develops an environment in which Thrivent employees and colleagues are focused on continuous improvement, exceptional employee engagement, and an unwavering commitment to our clients. Shapes and/or supports a culture that represents the Thrivent purpose, promise and values, ensuring that Thrivent's trust and reputation remain strong with its clients.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

Required:

• 7+ years' experience in Operations or Supply Chain Management or Program Operations Analysis.
• BS/BA Degree in Operational or Supply Chain Management or related field.
• Ability to lead end-to-end process improvement (i.e. strategic development and planning), exhibit smart risk taking and build stakeholder confidence.
• Experience building highly efficient, high functioning processes supporting complex products and systems, including identifying emerging trends and strategic issues.
• Demonstrated organizational and interpersonal skills to facilitate execution on implementation, manage competing priorities and advocate new ideas/concepts/processes; demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment on time-sensitive issues and work collaboratively across the organization.
• Analytical, data analysis and demand forecasting skills required, prior experience within a business analyst role required.
• Functional experience and knowledge with Warehousing & Fulfillment Operations and Systems.
• Supply Chain or other Operational or Continuous Improvement Certifications preferred such as Green or Black Belt.
• Demonstrated commitment to continual learning.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, both verbal and written, and to logically analyze, synthesize, and evaluate multiple sources of information.
• Demonstrates strong project management skills, experience, or proficiency in Agile or Kanban methodologies a plus. Accountable and transparent and demonstrates excellence in project handoffs.
• Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, ability to engage and motivate others, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Skilled in understanding and quickly learning new software and technologies, leveraging functional experience and knowledge with Warehousing & Fulfillment Operations and Systems.
• Flexible working leader with the ability to dig into details and tactics in a variety of areas of program management and innovation. Demonstrated team player, collaborating, and completing work where and when it's needed to drive business results.
• Some travel required (10%)

Preferred:

• Experience working in a Product Operating Model framework.

Thrivent provides Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, marital status, citizenship status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable local, state, or federal law. This policy applies to all employees and job applicants.

Thrivent is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please let us know by sending an email to [email protected] or call 800-847-4836 and request Human Resources.