RPA & Operational Excellence Lead

Grainger is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom. We achieve our purpose, We Keep the World Working®, by serving more than 4.5 million customers with a wide range of products that keep their operations running and their people safe. Grainger also delivers services and solutions, such as technical support and inventory management, to save customers time and money.

We're looking for passionate people who can move our company forward. As one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, we have a welcoming workplace where you can build a career for yourself while fulfilling our purpose to keep the world working. We embrace new ways of thinking and recognize everyone is an individual. Find your way with Grainger today.

Position Details:

The Operational Excellence team ensures that Grainger's Merchandising and Supplier Management department (MSM) understands how value is created for our customers and is persistently increasing that value while eliminating waste. As an individual contributor, the Operational Excellence Lead, will lead strategic initiatives to develop new operating models to transform how Grainger delivers value to customers and continuously improving existing operating models to deliver more value to customers and eliminate non-value-added activities. You will report to the Manager, Operational Excellence.

Opportunity to work hybrid 3 days per week in the office from either our Lake Forest, IL office or downtown Chicago office at the Merchandise Mart. Individuals based in the Chicago office may still be required to visit the Lake Forest, IL office on an occasional basis.

You Will:

• Use analytics and partnerships to quickly accumulate business acumen and learn new business processes
• Provide expertise and oversight to partners during the initiation, planning, implementation, and control phases of project work.  
• Develop baselines for metrics and assist teams in identifying goals and action plans to improve metrics.
• Work with partners, subject matter experts, and different levels of leaders across the organization to advance project goals
• Create documentation of current processes for internal and cross-departmental use, including process maps, RACI models.
• Test new and better ways to solve problems using relevant Continuous Improvement/Lean tools and principles.
• Design and operationalize a model (process, tools, and governance) rooted in continuous improvement principles by instituting project management best practices by using PDCA (Plan, Do, Check and Adjust) or relevant methodology.
• Prioritize work, guide targeted progress, anticipate and remove barriers, and communicate clear project status to multiple levels.
• Use analytics and judgment to identify, prioritize and solve complex business problems with clear and concise recommendations to leadership considering upstream and downstream impacts, risks and data.
• Identify opportunities for improvement in existing processes and automate processes using Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software; maintain automated RPA processes where they already exist.

 

You Have:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• 3+ years of experience in continuous improvement, project management, internal consulting, or related experience
• Lean Six Sigma, or equivalent, working experience.
• Experience with Robotics Automation Technology (RPA) (e.g. Automation Anywhere, BluePrism, and/or UIPath) is desired.
• Direct or indirect leadership experience
• Demonstrated continuous improvement and project management experience; especially of large-scale, cross-departmental projects

Rewards and Benefits:

With benefits starting day one, Grainger is committed to your safety, health and wellbeing. Our programs provide choice to meet our team members' individual needs. Check out some of the rewards available to you at Grainger.

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage starts day one
• Paid time off (PTO) days and 6 company holidays per year
• 6% 401(k) company contribution each pay period
• Education assistance, including financial counseling, tuition reimbursement and low-cost degree options
• Employee discounts, parental leave, and more

DEI Statement

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity