POSITION OVERVIEW
At Equifax, LEAN has proven to be a powerful and systematic approach to enabling operational excellence and business process innovation in every part of the organization. As we focus on delivering profitable growth despite a challenging economic environment, we are leveraging LEAN and similar problem-solving methods to unlock sources of business value throughout the value chain. Our capabilities in LEAN concepts and methodologies are being refined and deployed by a global team of change agents, which serve as thought-partners and problem-solving guides to leaders across the organization. We are seeking high-energy, action-oriented, senior-level process improvement practitioners to join the Equifax team to further drive and deepen our deployment of LEAN concepts across the enterprise.
The Process Improvement Leader is responsible for the ongoing execution and management of process and business excellence initiatives utilizing Lean, Work-Out, Six Sigma, and/or similar process improvement methodologies. Working closely with key subject matter experts and decision-makers, the incumbent will manage cross-functional project teams to evaluate business opportunities and determine the key initiatives that will provide greater productivity and enable increased growth. Furthermore, the Process Improvement Leader will personally facilitate problem-solving events (e.g., kaizen, workout) and the related follow-up activities required to deliver increased revenue generation, efficiency, quality, optimized cycle times, and/or improved customer satisfaction. Reporting formally to the Global Process Improvement COE, the incumbent will be a core member of a global team of practitioners armed with the mandate of driving measurable financial performance outcomes and culture change across Equifax.
The successful candidate must be able to quickly understand the business, along with its key operational drivers, in order to identify opportunities for improvement and recommend improved, strategic, measurable and sustainable solutions to those opportunities. Further, the candidate must have an action-oriented and collaborative mindset, with a demonstrated track record of forming productive, trust-based relationships with colleagues at all levels. As a key source of external, high-end talent, we expect that individuals holding roles in process improvement will migrate into positions of growing authority and scope after building a track record of results, a reputation of competence, and broad knowledge base related to the Equifax business model over a 2-3 year time span.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Lean/Process Improvement Deployment
Lead efforts focused on identifying, scoping, and prioritizing continuous improvement projects that align with the unit’s strategic plans.
Act as change agent to foster a customer-centric, quality-oriented culture via LEAN concepts, while driving measurable business improvements.
Project Execution/Reporting
Lead strategic, cross functional, process improvement projects targeted toward increasing revenue, optimizing cycle time, reducing defect rates, and/or improving customer satisfaction.
Recommend improved, strategic, measurable and sustainable solutions as well as identify further opportunities for improvement.
Apply project management techniques to ensure on-time, high-quality deliverables.
Utilize appropriate mechanisms to manage and track initiatives, ensuring benefits are realized.
Continued follow-up with project teams to ensure improvement activities are on track, providing coaching and direction to ensure goals are achieved.
Provide ongoing status updates and financial result reporting as required by ongoing management cadence and meeting schedules.
Coaching and Mentoring
Act as a mentor, coach, and technical leader in the deployment of Process Excellence using Lean Sigma and similar methodologies.
Provide expertise and share best practices regarding Lean Sigma tools & methodologies, project management and team leadership.
Support ongoing LEAN certification efforts, acting as a mentor/coach to candidates during their certification process
Position Requirements
A bachelor’s degree, ideally in an analytical discipline (e.g., engineering, business, applied mathematics, statistics). An advanced degree is preferred
LEAN/Six Sigma Black Belt certification, or equivalent work experience in deploying collaborative problem-solving techniques in an impactful way; Lean Sigma MBB certification a plus.
Well-developed project leadership and portfolio management capabilities, with demonstrated success leading multiple cross-functional, cross-business, and cross-cultural projects simultaneously.
Proven track record of financial savings resulting from the application of LEAN/Six Sigma methodologies and effective change management in services environments.
Ability to identify and scope process improvement opportunities through financial, statistical, and logic-based analysis.
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills; demonstrated executive presence. Track-record of working “with” and “through” colleagues at all levels.
Preferred Skills
Ability to negotiate and influence key personnel across multiple business units and geographies, while influencing positive change through awareness, understanding, acceptance and engagement.
Experience deploying LEAN and/or Six Sigma (DMAIC, DFSS) process improvement methodologies via tangible work experience
Excellent analytical skills with a strong working knowledge of problem solving, root cause analysis, and associated solution implementation.
Ability to operate independently; a self-starter who can define and manage their specific day-to-day work efforts
Works effectively with diverse, cross-functional and multicultural teams
Strong facilitation, oral communication, and written communication skills.
Strong business acumen.
PC proficiency in Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Visio)
Are capable of building relationships with the Sales Leader for the given client
Are capable of frequent travel to the clients sites (about 2 trips per month to client sites)
Are capable of building relationships with our clients process owners / operators
Enhance those relationships – work with the client to facilitate process mapping sessions
While mapping the process with the client / partnering with their process experts:
identify areas for which the client can improve their process
realize the use of current Equifax products
realize the potential for future / other Equifax products
realize the potential to design new products
Lead / mentor client resources to make improvements (productivity, etc.) to their processes
Are able to provide concise executive updates on the status of their work with the clients
Understand the current Equifax revenue with the client
Understand how their work with the client will increase Equifax’s revenue from the client
Understand how the implemented process solution will benefit the client (win – win)
Industry: Financial Services
Discipline: General Mngmnt/Strategy Consulting
Experience: Less than 5 Years
Compensation: $138K
Company: Equifax