Lead Process Manager - Supply Chain Operations (Sortation Centers)

Target • Minneapolis, MN

3d

About The Position

The Lead Process Manager in Supply Chain Operations – Sortation Centers is a performance and process improvement leader responsible for identifying operational losses, determining the conditions that cause them, and designing, testing, and scaling improvements that deliver measurable, sustained business results. The role combines operational knowledge, quantitative analysis, direct observation, structured root-cause problem solving, process improvement, and experimentation to turn performance gaps into validated changes to work methods, flow, staffing, standard work, and operating routines.

A key focus is reducing operating costs, eliminating waste, and improving productivity while maintaining balance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Productivity, and Capacity. The role uses Continuous Improvement methods and operational observations—including time studies, process observations, waste identification, root-cause analysis, Value Stream Mapping, Standardized Work, Engineered Labor Standards and productivity insights, and field leader insights—to assess performance, identify process gaps and non-value-added activity, quantify opportunities, and develop sustainable solutions.

In partnership with building leaders and HQ business partners, the Lead Process Manager uses performance data, operational observation, process segmentation, and loss analysis to identify and prioritize performance losses across process paths, sites, shifts, and operating conditions. The role develops and tests causal hypotheses, designs controlled experiments and pilots, establishes baselines and success criteria, implements countermeasures, and validates and sustains results. The role also mentors, influences, teaches, and trains leaders and business partners in deploying and sustaining Standard Work, and translates field insights into scalable solutions and broader process design and Continuous Improvement strategies.

The position requires being within commuting distance of select Target Sortation Centers in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Austin, Denver, or Minneapolis. Travel is approximately 40–50% of the time and/or the role may be based in a Sortation Center office up to four days per week. The position may be considered for Remote or Hybrid (Flex for Your Day) arrangements based on Target's needs. Remote work is full-time from home or another non-Target location, with travel to HQ up to four times a year. Hybrid work may be performed remotely or onsite depending on the role, team, and daily tasks. Work duties must be performed within the country of the primary work location unless otherwise prescribed by Target.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• At least 3 years of experience in Parcel, Last Mile, and/or Sortation Center operations; direct field operations experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience using process observation, elemental time analysis, work sampling, cycle-time data, and related techniques to understand current-state performance and quantify process loss.
• Ability to decompose performance gaps into measurable drivers and isolate where they occur.
• Ability to develop and validate causal hypotheses using quantitative analysis and direct observation.
• Proficiency in structured problem-solving and Continuous Improvement tools, including 8-step problem solving, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Standardized Work, Visual Management, root-cause analysis, and waste identification.
• Experience designing and executing process experiments or pilots with measurable success criteria.
• Ability to analyze process performance and variation using descriptive statistics, segmentation, Pareto analysis, distributions, trend analysis, correlation where appropriate, and before-and-after comparisons.
• Experience with performance metrics and process improvement, balancing Safety, Quality, Delivery, Productivity, Capacity, and Cost.
• Project management skills, including scoping, problem statements, goal definition, benefit identification, implementation planning, and timeline management.
• Ability to collaborate and build strong relationships across teams and in cross-functional settings.
• Ability to influence others and advocate for change.
• Strong interpersonal communication, time management, presentation, and organizational skills; ability to handle changing priorities and use good judgment in stressful situations.
• Ability to access all areas of the Distribution Center and Sortation Center, including mezzanine platforms.
• Enjoys detailed work and communicating updates to leaders at various levels.
• Must be within commuting distance of select Target Sortation Centers in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Austin, Denver, or Minneapolis.
• Ability to travel approximately 40–50% of the time and/or work in a Sortation Center office up to four days a week.

Nice To Haves

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or demonstrated equivalent capability.
• Experience with DMAIC, A3, or 8-step structured problem solving.
• Experience analyzing high-volume transactional or operational data.
• Exposure to work measurement, labor standards, or engineered labor-management systems.
• Experience scaling a proven process change across multiple facilities.
• Analytical rigor: follows evidence to the causal mechanism rather than accepting the first plausible explanation.
• Systems thinking: understands upstream and downstream consequences and avoids optimizing one metric at the expense of total-system performance.
• Experimental mindset: frames assumptions as hypotheses, defines evidence before testing, and is willing to stop or revise unsupported solutions.

Responsibilities

• Identify material operational losses, establish the conditions causing them, and develop process improvements that produce measurable and sustained business results.
• Identify opportunities to reduce operating costs, eliminate waste, and improve productivity while balancing Safety, Quality, Delivery, Productivity, and Capacity.
• Use continuous improvement tools and direct operational observation, including time studies, process observations, waste identification, root-cause analysis, Value Stream Mapping, Standardized Work, Engineered Labor Standards, productivity insights, and field leader insights.
• Partner with building leaders and HQ business partners to use performance data, operational observation, process segmentation, and loss analysis to prioritize performance losses across process paths, sites, shifts, and operating conditions.
• Develop and validate causal hypotheses using quantitative analysis, direct observation, process evidence, and structured problem-solving methods.
• Design and execute controlled process experiments and pilots with defined hypotheses, baseline conditions, success and failure criteria, data requirements, and sustainment measures.
• Establish current-state baselines, decompose performance gaps into measurable loss categories, identify and initiate countermeasures, and validate results and sustainability.
• Mentor, influence, teach, and train leaders and business partners to deploy and sustain Standard Work and balanced process execution.
• Collaborate with HQ business partners and field leaders on constraints including safety trends, productivity performance, capacity, store presentation, cost pressures, and future technology and process requirements.
• Translate operational insights into scalable solutions and use field learnings to influence broader process design and Continuous Improvement strategies.
• Manage improvement projects, including scoping, defining problem statements and goals, identifying benefits, planning implementation, and managing timelines.

Benefits

• Eligible team members and dependents may receive comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, and life insurance.
• 401(k)
• Employee discount
• Short-term disability
• Long-term disability
• Paid sick leave
• Paid national holidays
• Paid vacation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior