Description & Requirements
On behalf of Network Rail, we are looking for a Process Excellence / Continuous Improvement Lead (Inside IR35) for a 12 month contract based up to 3 days per week in the London.
Job Purpose
The purpose of the Process Excellence Lead role is to provide hands-on operational and professional leadership for process excellence across the rail industry. As the lead subject matter expert in process excellence, the postholder will lead enterprise process transformation activities, establish process standards, develop process improvement methodologies and ensure that identified automation opportunities are prioritised and designed on the foundation of well-understood and properly documented processes; leveraging lean methodology, business process management, business value mapping, target operating models, etc., and embed process excellence as a central enabler for automation delivery across the industry. Working closely with other technical leads and delivery pods, the postholder will provide and help develop the capability that enables the rail industry to identify and prioritise the right automation opportunities, design better enterprise processes and operating models, and continuously improve the value created through automation.
As Process Excellence Lead, your main responsibilities will be:
Lead process excellence activities within the GBRX industry automation function and support the development of process excellence as a strategic capability embedded across the rail industry
Establish and maintain process excellence frameworks, process improvement methodologies, opportunity assessment approaches, process standards, process architecture and continuous improvement practices
Lead the delivery of process excellence products and services across the industry, including process discovery, process mapping, process analysis, process redesign, value stream analysis, operational diagnostics, waste identification, opportunity assessments, process governance reviews, creation of target operating models and benefits models, etc.
Provide leadership for process specialists supporting automation delivery pods and embed process excellence throughout the automation delivery lifecycle
Strengthen industry capability by identifying, improving, standardising and governing business processes that create the greatest opportunity for automation, operational improvement and organisational transformation across the rail industry
Support federating organisations across the railway by sharing proven improvement methodologies, providing reusable process assets, supporting opportunity identification and discovery, facilitating ideation, improvement and discovery workshops, capturing and sharing lessons learned, promoting standard approaches and developing sustainable improvement capability
Promote systems thinking and evidence-based improvement. Develop, coach and mentor process practitioners within GBRX and the wider rail industry
Manage process excellence resources effectively, prioritise improvement activity based on strategic value, oversee efficient utilisation of specialist capability and support investment decisions through robust business cases and opportunity assessments
Prioritise successful delivery of process improvement initiatives, increased pipeline of high-quality automation opportunities, improved operational efficiency, growth in reusable process assets, successful scaling of proven improvement approaches and increased adoption of process excellence methodologies across federating rail organisations
Inspire positive stakeholder confidence and build credibility through professional excellence and subject matter expertise
Essential:
Proven experience leading process excellence, operational excellence or continuous improvement teams in delivering complex business transformation initiatives
Strong understanding of Lean, Six Sigma, Business Process Management or equivalent improvement methodologies
Experience supporting automation and/or digital transformation programmes
Experience developing enterprise process and business architectures
Experience identifying and developing transformation opportunities
Experience working across multidisciplinary delivery environments
Experience developing process standards and governance
Excellent stakeholder engagement and workshop facilitation skills
Ability to combine strategic leadership with practical delivery
Excellent problem-solving abilities, innovative thinking and a collaborative mindset
Desirable:
Experience within rail, transport or major infrastructure sectors
A degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant discipline
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent
Membership of relevant professional institutions
Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.