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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Company Overview
Founded in 1910 , KONE is a global leader that provides elevators, escalators and automatic building doors, as well as solutions for maintenance and modernization that add value to buildings throughout their life cycle. Our mission is to improve the flow of urban life and make our world’s cities better places to live by providing innovative solutions that help make people’s journeys safe, convenient and reliable.
Our operations in over 60 countries around the world has helped us achieve our position as an innovation and sustainability leader with repeated recognitions by Forbes , Corporate Knights for clean capitalism and others.
Job Overview
Are you ready to make your next career move to join our team as our Area Sales & Operational Excellence Leader for KONE Americas?
Do you enjoy translating strategic priorities into clear initiatives, milestones, owners, KPIs, and decision points?
Does supporting standards work, process simplification, and continuous improvement motivate you?
Do you thrive in areas where you design and facilitate operating reviews, scorecards, dashboards, and action registers that connect sales performance, customer outcomes, and financial performance?
Are you skillful with anticipating barriers and coordinating corrective action before performance is at risk?
Do you demonstrate a passion for reinforcing leadership expectations, stakeholder engagement, and sustained behavior change?
Are you committed to promoting strategic agility, customer satisfaction, accountability & ownership, excellent communication?
If you answered a resounding YES to these questions, then we have an amazing opportunity for you!
Location of position: Lisle, IL or Allen, TX.
Job Duties
As our Area Sales & Op Excellence Leader , you will be accountable for translating business strategy into disciplined, visible, and measurable execution across sales, operations, and enabling functions. The role establishes the operating cadence, performance management routines, governance, and cross-functional action tracking needed to ensure functional and business commitments stay on track, risks are escalated early, and results are delivered against strategic priorities.
You will bring 10+ years of progressive and successful experience in sales ops, business ops, commercial excellence, operational excellence, strategy execution, transformation, or field/business leadership to KONE. You will use the knowledge gained through your bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Operations, Finance, Marketing, or related field required. MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred.
Other Listed Duties
Support adoption of new operating models, tools, reporting routines, and business practices.
Drive follow-through on functional and business actions by clarifying owners, due dates, dependencies, and escalation paths.
Maintain a single view of execution progress and ensure leaders have timely visibility to commitments, gaps, and trade-offs.
Prepare concise executive updates, issue papers, decision recommendations, and performance narratives that enable faster decision-making and stronger accountability.
Other Hiring requirements
Lean Six Sigma, PMP, Agile, Prosci, or similar certification preferred.
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft 365, Power BI, CRM, and analytics tools.
Proven track record improving execution and business performance across teams.
Experience with executive dashboards, governance processes, and performance management.
Industry experience in construction, manufacturing, industrial, B2B, or complex project environments preferred.Proven ability to lead through influence across senior leaders, matrixed teams, and dispersed stakeholders.
Strong expertise in sales operations, commercial excellence, business performance management, operational excellence, and governance practices within complex cross-functional environments.
Proven ability to translate strategy into execution through KPI development, performance reporting, executive reviews, project management, process improvement, and risk mitigation.
Exceptional analytical, financial, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and drive alignment across matrixed teams.
Results-driven leader who fosters accountability, continuous improvement, change adoption, and data-driven decision-making while delivering measurable business outcomes.
About KONE
At KONE, we foster an innovative and collaborative culture, valuing each individual's contribution. Employee engagement and sustainability are key focuses, promoting ethical practices and mutual respect. We're proud to offer experiences and opportunities to help you achieve career and personal goals while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
We hire individuals who value culture because we believe culture drives innovation :
We value your authentic self.
Collaborative, creative, and supportive work environment.
Passionate about safety, quality, and innovation
We care about the communities where we live and work.
Just some of our many benefits include:
Competitive salary
Flexible work schedule
Opportunities to learn and grow
401K Employer Match
401k Employer Non-elective Contribution
Well-being Program
Medical, Prescription, Dental and Vision Insurance
Digital Health Solutions & Telehealth
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
Family & Medical Leave
Parental Leave
Leave to Care for a Domestic Partner
Paid Time Off & Holidays
Company Paid Life and AD&D Insurance
Supplemental Life and AD&D Insurance
Company Paid Short-term and Long-term Disability
Buy-Up Long-term Disability
Critical Illness Insurance
Hospital Indemnity & Accident Insurance
Identity Theft Protection
Legal Insurance
KONE Credit Union
Tuition Reimbursement
Commuter Benefits
Annual Base Pay Range:
The hiring range for this role in Lisle, IL location is $179,200 – $235,200. The compensation package offered will depend on candidate’s ability to meet the requirements of the role, needs for the business strategy, and a range of factors unique to each candidate, including their skill set, years and depth of experience, certifications, and location.
We will also consider candidates in the following areas. Below are the different ranges applicable to those locations:
Dallas, TX area hiring range: $179,200 – $235,200.
Variable Compensation
KONE Annual Bonus plan at 20% Target Incentive (60/40) based on achievement of company goals and individual goals.
Come share your passion and energy to make a positive impact at KONE for our customers and your career !
*Beware of Recruitment Scams!*
KONE is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local fair chance laws.
Read more on www.kone.com/en/careers/
At KONE, we are focused on creating an innovative and collaborative working culture where we value the contribution of each individual. Employee engagement is a key focus area for us and we encourage participation and the sharing of information and ideas. Sustainability is an integral part of our culture and the daily practice. We follow ethical business practices and we seek to develop a culture of working together where co-workers trust and respect each other and good performance is recognized. In being a great place to work, we are proud to offer a range of experiences and opportunities that will help you to achieve your career and personal goals and enable you to live a healthy and balanced life.
Read more on https://kone.com/global/en/careers.html
See All 18 Operational Excellence Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsOperational Excellence Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Operational Excellence Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring


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
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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