Senior Director, Operational Excellence & Projects

Job Summary: 

The Senior Director of Operational Excellence and Projects will be fully responsible for large scale Supply Chain projects, including the opening of new iHerb fulfillment centers, driving Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement at iHerb, and the primary responsibility for the administration of iHerb’s third-party logistics (3PL) network.  Candidates will be responsible for the opening and closing facilities from both a management and operational level as well as taking the initiative for strategic projects that impact the Supply Chain organization.  Scope will also include the daily management of Labor Management within the iHerb facilities and the management of the network of 3PL contracts that iHerb currently or will use.   Candidates will establish a culture of process improvement in the distribution centers and enable a strong project management foundation within the Operational teams. The Senior Director of Operational Excellence and Projects will work with his/her direct reports and the Operations teams to improve efficiency, develop, maintain, and track labor standards to reduce costs. The individual’s expertise will also be used to develop and implement regional and national projects and strategies, supporting iHerb's global fulfillment network.

Job Expectations:

Planning and Analysis

• Manage the planning, development, and deployment of supply chain projects.

• Lead supply chain planning efforts, including capacity modeling, network modeling, and capital budgeting.

• Identify capacity impacts to distribution centers associated with varying parameters within the supply chain, ensuring alignment with global inventory placement.

• Assist with transportation optimization initiatives and analyze cost reductions through process improvements.

Distribution Center Design, Automation & Implementation

• Oversee and assist with the design of distribution facilities, including new facilities, facility retrofits, conveyor changes, and other material handling equipment changes.

• Maintain relationships with key automation/material handling vendors.

• Identify and implement design changes that will improve efficiencies, capacity & throughput.

• Design and recommend department layouts and product flows in the distribution center, incorporating sustainability and energy-efficiency goals.

Continuous Improvement & Labor Management

• Develop preferred methods/standard operating procedures for the warehouse in conjunction with operational support.

• Implement and support a labor management program and software configuration.

• Develop and maintain multi-variable labor standards utilizing modern WMS (Warehouse Management System) data.

• Troubleshoot Labor Management System and interface issues(as needed).

• Lead the engineering team to identify, define, and implement process improvement opportunities.

• Introduce and adapt improvement methodologies as appropriate to drive change (ex., Lean or Six Sigma).

• Address all aspects of change, including people, processes, systems, and equipment.

Management of Team Members

• Lead direct reports, systems, and projects to achieve unit goals in accordance with company policies and practices.

• Work with cross-functional teams to drive results to complete complex operational projects.

• Create an effective work environment by developing a common vision, setting clear objectives, expecting teamwork, recognizing outstanding performance, and maintaining open communication

• Guide others in resolving complex issues in their own specialized area and solve complex problems with implication on cross-functional business processes and outcomes.

• Serve as an expert within discipline

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Projects:  Proven results in opening and closing fulfillment centers. Demonstrated experience in working closely with automation vendors, in-sourced and outsourced engineering teams, and familiarity with 3PL landscape.<