Operational Excellence Manager Jobs in Illinois

Operational Excellence Manager jobs in Illinois are active and competitive, with strong demand concentrated in manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and logistics, from early-career process improvement analysts stepping into management through seasoned directors of operational excellence. Chicago, Peoria, and Deerfield anchor most of the hiring, where established employers like Abbott, Caterpillar, and Baxter International run continuous improvement programs at scale. Lean Six Sigma deployment, supply chain optimization, and quality management systems are the most consistently sought specialties across Illinois employers. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles18
Top employerAugmentis
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring11
Work type50% Remote
Top industryManufacturing

Showing 5 of 18+ Operational Excellence Manager jobs

KONE
Area Sales & Operational Excellence Leader
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KONE
Added 3d ago
Area Sales & Operational Excellence Leader
KONE
Lisle, Illinois
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
$179k - $235k/yr
Master's degree in business administration
10,000+

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Sterigenics
Manager Operational Excellence
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Sterigenics
Added 4d ago
Manager Operational Excellence
Sterigenics
Oak Brook, Illinois
Customer Service
Healthcare Administration
Human Resources
Six Sigma Certification
1,001-5,000

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Morton Industries
Quality Technician (Operational Excellence)
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Morton Industries
Added 1w ago
Quality Technician (Operational Excellence)
Morton Industries
Morton, Illinois
Maintenance & Repair
Quality Control
Skilled Trades
$22 - $28/hr
Associate's degree in industrial technology
501-1,000

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Morton Industries
Quality Engineer (Operational Excellence)
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Morton Industries
Added 1w ago
Quality Engineer (Operational Excellence)
Morton Industries
Morton, Illinois
Manufacturing Operations
Quality Control
Skilled Trades
$70k - $105k/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
501-1,000

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Eaton
Operational Excellence Manager (OPEX)
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Eaton
Added 1w ago
Operational Excellence Manager (OPEX)
Eaton
Lincoln, Illinois
Business Strategy
Product Management
Project Management
$130k - $190k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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See All 18 Operational Excellence Manager Jobs in Illinois

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Operational Excellence Manager Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Chicago
6 jobs
Morton
2 jobs
Bolingbrook
2 jobs
Lisle
1 job
Monee
1 job
Lincoln
1 job
Lombard
1 job
Oak Brook
1 job
Carbondale
1 job

Operational Excellence Manager Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

A
Augmentis2 open roles
Morton Industries
Morton Industries2 open roles
Integrated Project Management Company
Integrated Project Management Company2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Manufacturing
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in operational excellence manager jobs across Illinois.

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or operations management required
  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification strongly preferred by Illinois employers
  • Three or more years leading process improvement or continuous improvement initiatives
  • Experience with manufacturing, healthcare, or logistics operations in Illinois industries
  • Proficiency in data analysis tools such as Minitab, Excel, or Power BI
  • Strong project management skills with demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams

Operational Excellence Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a operational excellence manager in Illinois?

The concrete path in Illinois starts with a bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or operations management, followed by hands-on experience in a process improvement or quality role. Illinois does not require a state-issued license for this position. Most hiring managers in Illinois expect a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt at minimum, with Black Belt credentials opening doors at larger manufacturers and health systems. Building experience in a Lean coordinator or quality analyst role at an Illinois company first is the most common route.

How much do operational excellence managers make in Illinois?

Operational excellence managers in Illinois earn a median of about $103,570 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $53,240 for the lowest 10% to over $269,320 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire operational excellence managers in Illinois?

Employers hiring operational excellence managers in Illinois right now include Augmentis, Morton Industries, and Integrated Project Management Company, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's dense concentration of manufacturers, hospital networks, and financial services firms means demand for the role stays consistent across multiple sectors throughout the year.

Which Illinois cities have the most operational excellence manager jobs?

Chicago, Morton, and Bolingbrook have the most operational excellence manager openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the majority of listings because of its headquarters-heavy business environment and large hospital systems, while Peoria reflects Caterpillar's global manufacturing operations and Deerfield draws demand from pharmaceutical and healthcare employers like Baxter and Walgreens headquartered in the northern suburbs.

Are there remote operational excellence manager jobs in Illinois?

Yes, but they are less common than in purely desk-based fields because the role often requires direct observation of operations, floor-level kaizen events, and in-person team facilitation. About 75% of operational excellence manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with most remote-eligible positions focused on data analysis, reporting, and program design rather than hands-on process deployment.

How can I get hired as a operational excellence manager in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a quality analyst, process improvement coordinator, or operations analyst role at a mid-size Illinois manufacturer or hospital system, then building toward management from within. Large Illinois employers like Advocate Health Care and Caterpillar run structured rotational and associate operations programs that place candidates without direct management experience. Earning a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt through an Illinois community college or online program before applying gives candidates a measurable edge over other entry-level applicants.

Where can I find and apply to operational excellence manager jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to operational excellence manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across industries and experience levels. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to each employer through the listing.

See All 18 Operational Excellence Manager Jobs in Illinois

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