Salary/Position Classification

• $65,000- $70,000+, Depending on Experience annual, Exempt
• 40 hours per week
• 100% Remote Work Availability: No
• Hybrid Work Availability (requires some time on campus): Yes

Purpose of Position

The University of North Dakota (UND), a leader in engineering, medicine, aviation, space, unmanned aircraft systems, and more, is hiring a Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist.   Reporting to the Vice President for Finance & Operations/COO, this is a new role that will be pivotal in developing, leading and executing our continuous improvement strategy and initiatives.

This is a role well suited to a proactive professional, passionate to transform the current culture into a culture of continuous improvement. This individual will apply Lean, Six Sigma or similar tools and methodologies to facilitate CI initiatives from inception to successful completion.  The successful candidate will be a change agent, a strong communicator, and a collaborative leader with a proven track record of delivering measurable, sustainable results.

Duties & Responsibilities

• This position requires in-office presence several days per week and does not support fully remote work.
• Champion and lead continuous improvement collaboration by creating and delivering presentations on business case progress and project results to senior leadership.
• Serve as the University subject matter expert in continuous improvement.
• Establish and maintain positive partnerships with project sponsors, leader(s), and team members.
• Using methodologies such as LEAN, Six Sigma or similar approaches, plan, lead, and facilitate continuous improvement initiatives from inception to successful completion, driving efficiencies and implementing best practices.  Manage multiple projects simultaneously.  
• Create metrics and visuals that clearly communicate status and support data-driven decision-making.
• Monitor and conduct data analysis on key performance indicators to identify areas of improvement and track progress against targets.
• Assist in developing process solutions to various difficult problems; write and update procedures to document changes resulting from process improvement initiatives.
• Lead continuous improvement methodology training by providing coaching, mentoring and education on process improvement principles and methods.
• Facilitate effective meetings and workshops using group processes and Lean Six Sigma problem-solving tools and techniques (Root Cause Analysis, Kaizen, DMAIC, Value Stream Mapping, etc.).

Required Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills - ability to communicate clearly, concisely, courteously, and professionally. 
• Ability to work independently, analyze complex operations, and exercise sound business judgment.
• Ability to adhere to appropriate standards of conduct and professional ethics.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Possess strong leadership skills to effectively manage teams and drive change within the organization.
• Excellent team-building, and interpersonal skills to lead cross-functional teams, influence stakeholders, and foster a collaborative working environment.
• A proactive self-starter with a strong sense of initiative and accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and motivate others while providing appropriate learning experiences to faculty and staff.
• Excellent coaching and development skills to assist team members in building their skills and abilities.
• Ability to model professional and proactive behavior to lead by example and set standards for behavior within the team.
• Deep understanding of, and proficiency in, process improvement methodologies.
• Demonstrated strong problem-solving and analytical skills to assess complex issues and develop realistic plans to address.
• Demonstrated skills in facilitation, change management, and project management.
• Proven ability to lead process improvement projects, manage cross-functional initiatives, and implement change within a complex organization.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Information Technology, Data Analytics, Organizational Leadership, or related discipline.
• Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt certification or proven experience with similar approaches to drive efficiencies and implement best practices. If candidate has proven experience with other approaches, they must obtain a green belt within six months of hire and a black belt within one year of hire. 
• 2 years of experience leading process improvement projects and workshops, demonstrating knowledge of and proficiency with lean principles and associated tools and techniques.
• Experience with process improvement initiatives, project management, business process analysis, or related experience.
• Experience Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, for data analysis, reporting, and process modeling.
• Candidate must provide examples of projects, data analysis and metrics associated with projects during interview process.
• Successful completion of criminal history background check.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Black Belt certification.
• Experience in Higher Education.
• Experience working with Power BI or equivalent.
• Experience with key performance measurements and reporting.