Operational Excellence Lead

gategroup is the global leader in airline catering, retail-on-board, and hospitality products and services. gategroup provides passengers with superior culinary and retail experiences, leveraging innovation and advanced technology solutions. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, gategroup delivers operational excellence through the most extensive catering network in the aviation industry, serving passengers from over 200 operating units in over 60 countries/territories across all continents.

We work in an exciting industry – fast-paced and ever-changing. Industry trends and customer expectations are constantly evolving and it is critical that we are agile, innovative, and ready for change - and our people are our driving force. We offer attractive opportunities to be part of this fast-paced and truly international working environment.

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The Senior Regional Process Owner (RPO) serves as a strategic leader responsible for advancing Operational Excellence across the North America region. This role drives the regional translation and execution of global strategy while shaping, influencing, and continuously improving enterprise-wide process frameworks. This role is accountable for delivering measurable business outcomes through standardization, continuous improvement, and digital enablement, while fostering strong cross-functional collaboration across global, regional, and local stakeholders.

The Senior RPO plays a critical role in advancing process maturity, enabling scalable solutions, and embedding a culture of performance, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• $120,000- $125,000/Per Year
• This position is eligible for incentive pay of 10% of the annual base salary, dependent upon successful attainment of company, team, and individual goals.
• Paid time off
• 401k, with company match
• Company sponsored life insurance
• Voluntary short-term/long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary life, accident, and hospital plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discounts

• Lead the regional strategy and execution of Operational Excellence initiatives aligned to global priorities and regional business objectives.
• Shape and evolve multi-process or cross-functional frameworks, driving end-to-end process optimization and standardization.
• Act as a thought leader and advisor to senior leadership on process design, performance improvement, and operational risk.
• Identify and prioritize transformational initiatives that deliver measurable business value at scale.

• Oversee the design, adaptation, and governance of regional standards based on global frameworks (SOPs, org design, staffing models, technology enablement, and KPIs).
• Drive end-to-end lifecycle ownership of standards including design, pilot, validation, rollout, and continuous improvement.
• Lead complex pilot programs and ensure scalable deployment across diverse business units and operating environments.
• Champion innovation and digital enablement, integrating automation, analytics, and technology solutions into process execution.

• Establish and lead robust governance structures for assigned process areas, including compliance, audit readiness, and performance oversight.
• Drive program execution across multiple concurrent initiatives, ensuring alignment, prioritization, and effective resource utilization.
• Provide executive-level reporting and insights on program performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Oversee gateOPEX readiness, compliance frameworks, and continuous monitoring of process adherence.

• Lead large-scale continuous improvement initiatives leveraging Lean, Six Sigma, and advanced methodologies.
• Build and sustain regional capabilities, including training strategies, certification programs, and knowledge management systems.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and data-driven decision making.
• Mentor and coach regional teams and emerging leaders in Operational Excellence practices.

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field required. Master’s degree or MBA preferred. Lean Six Sigma certification strongly preferred.

• At least 5 years of experience leading complex process improvement or transformation initiatives across multiple sites, business units, or functions.
• Demonstrated experience designing, standardizing, piloting, deploying, and governing end-to-end operational processes.
• Experience developing and implementing SOPs, operating models, staffing standards, KPIs, audit controls, and performance-management frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional programs and influence regional, global, and local stakeholders without direct authority.
• Experience using Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement…