Process Excellence Specialist

Avista•Spokane, WA

18h•Hybrid

About The Position

In this role, you will provide technical and strategic leadership in developing, monitoring, and administering the organization’s operational excellence processes with business units. Implements continuous process improvement methods, tools, and templates across the enterprise that focus on delivering exceptional customer value and improving internal operational efficiencies. Utilizes Lean and Six Sigma methods to analyze improvement opportunities and lead the improvement processes, focusing on innovation and operational excellence efficiency strategies and tools, such as automation. Uses effective project management, leadership and facilitation skills to lead and facilitate improvement projects with all levels and all functions of the organization. You will lead efforts and play a vital role in optimizing business processes through innovative design, cross-functional collaboration, and a commitment to continuous improvement across the organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university in business, management, communications, technical, or related field required
Demonstrated effective use of project management, facilitation, and leadership skills
Effective and flexible written and verbal communication skills, including presentation and public speaking required
Process Excellence Specialist: Minimum four (4) years progressively increasing leadership responsibility in areas such as process improvement, Lean Office, and/or Six Sigma positions or related project experience required
Sr. Process Excellence Specialist: Minimum seven (7) years progressively increasing leadership responsibility in areas such as process improvement, Lean Office, and/or Six Sigma positions or related project experience required
Other combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Nice To Haves

Lean, Six Sigma (Black Belt/Master Black Belt) or Project Management certification (or equivalents) preferred
Sr. Process Excellence Specialist: Lean, Six Sigma (Black Belt/Master Black Belt) or Project Management certification (or equivalent) preferred or willing to obtain within one year in role

Responsibilities

Works with team on assigned process improvement requests, leading projects as assigned. Facilitates work groups to develop problem statement, scope, risk, feasibility, and expected benefits of potential opportunities.
Lead formal departmental operational/process excellence initiatives using program methodology and tools.
Facilitates, educates, and supports cross-functional teams, advocates, champions, and stakeholders in operational excellence and process improvement methods and tools.
Provides regular reports and metrics to department leadership and client groups as required.
Establish, implement, maintain, and facilitate continuous improvement for Avista’s process excellence program.
Coach, train and mentor leaders, advocates, cross-functional team members, and other employees and stakeholders in the operational excellence and process improvement methods and tools.
Provides informal leadership, support, and mentoring to immediate team, advocates, champions, and stakeholders.
Manage internal and external opportunities while collaborating with all internal and external stakeholders. Lead the effort to follow through on process improvement requests. Identify and prioritize process improvement opportunities by working with business units to develop problem statement, scope, risk, feasibility, and expected benefits of potential opportunities.
Lead formal enterprise wide and/or departmental operational excellence initiatives using program methodology and tools.
Facilitate the development, assessment, and implementation of key operational excellence performance program indicators (KPIs) to identify areas for improvement efforts and track results. Ensure specific process improvement efforts identify and track KPI’s. Develops dashboards and/or reporting tools on process excellence activities.