OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE MANAGER

Job Requisition ID: 49604
Closing Date: 09/23/2025
​Agency: Department of Central Management Services
Class Title: PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR - 37015
Skill Option: General Administration/Business Marketing/Labor/Personnel
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: $8281-$9167;monthly anticipated
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
County: Sangamon
Number of Vacancies: 1
Bargaining Unit Code: None
Merit Comp Code: Managerial Exclusion from RC063 Collective Bargaining Coverage

**************** A RESUME IS REQUIRED FOR THIS JOB POSTING ****************

Please attach a DETAILED Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV) to the MY DOCUMENTS section of your application. You WILL NOT be considered for the position if you attach a CMS100, CMS100b or any other document that is not a Resume or CV.

Posting ID # 49604

WHY WORK FOR ILLINOIS?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.

No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

POSITION SUMMARY

The CMS Office of Operational Excellence is looking for a high-performing candidate who is passionate about operational excellence and continuous improvement to join our team as an Operational Excellence Manager.

This position performs a wide variety of training, project facilitation and specialized consulting work in support of the Illinois Rapid Results initiative to all executive agencies of the State of Illinois as a representative of the Department of Central Management Services.

A successful Operational Excellence Manager will be able to serve as a spokesperson for the Department of Central Management Services on the status of the agency Rapid Results initiative and will be responsible for developing and delivering state of the art training programs, deploying Train the Trainer programs, facilitating critical process improvement projects, and developing recommendations for agency management to assist with the achievement of mission strategic goals and objectives.

This position provides a considerable degree of flexibility and autonomy in establishing daily activities. Accordingly, the ideal candidate is a highly motivated self-starter who is seeking an opportunity to work with people from around the State of Illinois government workforce to help find ways to drive more value to customers by making work easier, better, faster, and less expensive.

POSITION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serves as Operational Excellence Manager providing support to both the bureaus within CMS as well as all agencies statewide on an on-demand basis in the completion of specialized projects, assignments, and employee training on the principles of continuous improvement.
• Works in coordination with agency senior management to analyze, monitor, and assess critical processes and activities affecting policy and organizational excellence.
• Conducts research and evaluation related to the effectiveness of training initiatives and issues reports related to programs and design options.
• Plans and directs research studies to develop solutions to problems encountered in the expansion of the program.
• Provides technical advice, recommendations for program improvements, and policy development ideas while attending high level confidential meetings with agencies to discuss changes impacting an agency and its processes statewide.
• Serves as an agency representative for the Director to the Governor’s Office, agencies, and other entities relative to the Rapid Results initiative.
• Develops and implements plans to regularly review the quality and consistency of the delivery of the Rapid Results services statewide.
• Establishes channels of communication with senior leadership staff to achieve objectives of the Rapid Results program.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four years of college
• Requires prior experience equivalent to three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prefers post-graduate or on-the-job training in the subjects of operational excellence and/or continuous improvement including, but not limited to Toyota Production System, Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001, Malcolm Baldrige, or Total Quality Management
• Prefers two (2) years’ professional experience designing and delivering training on the subjects of operational excellence and/or continuous improvement
• Prefers two (2) years’ professional experience developing relationships with client agencies, vendors, and agency leadership
• Prefers two (2) years’ professional experience successfully leading large scale operational excellence and/or continuous improvement projects
• Prefers a bachelor’s degree with coursework related to continuous improvement or operational excellence
• Prefers three (3) years’ professional experience designing and delivering training programs, including train-the-trainer
• Prefers two (2) years’ professional experience researching and evaluating training initiatives

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate
• This position requires the use of agency supplied material/ equipment (i.e., mobile phone, laptop, etc.)

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

ABOUT THE AGENCY

Central Management Services (CMS) is the operational engine working behind the scenes to enable the State's more than 60 agencies, universities, boards, and commissions to deliver efficient, reliable services to all Illinois citizens. The Agency's mission is to support the State by delivering innovative, responsive, and effective services that provide the best value for Illinois State government and the people it serves. Among the services CMS provides are human resources facilitation; benefits programs for employees, retirees and local governments; property and facilities management; diversity initiatives for public contracting and State employment; joint purchasing support; vehicle fleet oversight and support; surplus property programs; print and electronic communications services; and administrative hearings coordination.

STATE OF ILLINOIS BENEFITS

CMS values employees with different backgrounds, life experiences, and talents. CMS offers a robust benefit package including:

• Monday-Friday work schedule
• Flexible work schedules in several program areas (flexible time, hybrid and remote)
• Health, life, vision, and dental insurance
• 12 Weeks Paid maternity/paternity leave
• Pension Plan
• Deferred Compensation, and other pre-tax benefit programs
• Employees earn (12) paid sick days annually; paid vacation days (10-25 days based on years of service) annually; paid (3)personal days annually.
• Paid State holidays 13-14 days annually

If this opportunity appeals to you, please apply today!

Work Hours: 8:30am-5:00pm Monday-Friday
Work Location: 300 W Jefferson St, Springfield, Illinois, 62702
Agency Contact: Cara Reiser
Email: [email protected]
Phone #: 217-836-2269
Posting Group: Leadership & Management

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]