Process Improvement Manager

Ashley•Arcadia, WI

About The Position

At Ashley, we're driven by a Massively Transformative Purpose : to inspire the love of home and enrich the lives of those around us by being the most innovative and competitive furniture company on the planet. We're committed to being the best home furnishings company through continuous improvement, innovation, and a relentless focus on excellence. Our mission is simple yet powerful: Improve Quality, Reduce Costs, Do More Business, Be Profitable, and Stay in Business. We achieve this through our core values of Honesty & Integrity, Passion, Drive & Discipline, Continuous Improvement , and our Dirty Fingernail philosophy—you get what you inspect, not what you expect. The Opportunity We're seeking a Process Improvement Manager who embodies our commitment to Continuous Improvement and Growth Focus . This role is critical to maintaining Ashley's #1 position in the furniture industry by driving innovation, efficiency, and excellence across our Global Trade Management operations. As our Process Improvement Manager, you'll lead transformative projects that streamline processes, eliminate errors, reduce costs, and enhance our global supply chain capabilities. You'll be at the forefront of implementing cutting-edge technologies including Artificial Intelligence and Power BI to keep our department ahead of the industry.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field (or equivalent work experience)
5+ years of experience in process improvement and/or business environment
Strong understanding of international supply chain systems and system integration
Advanced knowledge of process improvement methods and evaluation techniques
Experience with Continuous Improvement tools and methodologies
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Power BI, and emerging AI technologies
Ability to interpret statistics through charting and standard deviation
Strong project management capabilities
Passion, Drive & Discipline: Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities with meticulous attention to detail
Honesty & Integrity: Outstanding communication skills with ability to build trust across diverse audiences
Dirty Fingernail Approach: Hands-on troubleshooting mindset; you inspect what you expect
Continuous Learning: Commitment to staying ahead of industry trends and technologies
Customer Focus: Empathy, understanding, and patience with employees and external customers
Decision Making: Ability to make strategic recommendations balancing multiple stakeholder needs
Positive, professional attitude that motivates others and promotes enthusiasm
Strong leadership presence with ability to facilitate change and build talent
Excellent time management and organizational skills
Flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining composure
Works effectively both independently and collaboratively

Responsibilities

Lead Transformative Change
Create, develop, and manage projects from conception to completion, incorporating innovative solutions that increase efficiencies, eliminate risk, and reduce costs
Lead testing and implementation of system changes, working closely with IT and cross-functional teams
Champion the adoption of Artificial Intelligence, Power BI, and other continuous improvement tools to maintain our competitive edge
Drive Process Excellence
Monitor and optimize processes across all Ashley locations, ensuring operational excellence
Analyze and manage process revisions, providing strategic recommendations to senior management
Develop comprehensive project documentation and establish tracking mechanisms to measure success
Troubleshoot system issues and collaborate across departments for timely resolution
Build Partnerships & Lead Teams
Represent Global Trade Management at steering committee meetings, influencing project priorities
Collaborate with international trading partners and third-party vendors to drive system enhancements
Work boundarylessly across departments for the greater good of the organization
Provide guidance, coaching, and support to process improvement stakeholders
Deliver Customer-Centric Solutions
Ensure all improvements align with our Customer Centric value—delivering on what is promised
Develop and conduct training sessions to ensure seamless system transitions
Create and update standard operating procedures that support team success
Analyze daily, weekly, and monthly reports to optimize customer satisfaction
Demonstrate Leadership at Every Level
Make strategic decisions by analyzing information and evaluating results
Identify improvement opportunities and contribute to short and long-term business objectives
Maintain compliance with U.S. Customs requirements for international correspondence
Lead by example, embodying our Culture of Leadership principle