Operational Excellence Manager

Overview

First Supply, a fifth-generation family-owned company, has served the Upper Midwest for over 125 years. Guided by our Employee Value Proposition, Where Tradition Meets Innovation, we foster a workplace where people learn, grow, and contribute to a company that values its heritage while embracing progress. Our teams take pride in supporting customers and communities, creating meaningful work and rewarding careers every day. This is an on-site position in Madison, WI. 

The Operational Excellence Manager plays a key role in driving business efficiency and operational effectiveness by analyzing current processes, identifying improvement opportunities, and implementing strategies to optimize performance. This position is responsible for streamlining operations, reducing costs, and ensuring that the company stays ahead of industry best practices. Success in this role requires strong leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and expertise in business process management, as well as a commitment to fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with business leaders to ensure process improvements align with company objectives and long-term goals.
• Assess and analyze current business processes for efficiency and cost-effectiveness using data-driven methods.
• Identify and prioritize areas of improvement, developing actionable strategies to enhance productivity and reduce operational costs.
• Create and deliver detailed reports with recommendations for process optimization to stakeholders.
• Lead the implementation of new processes, ensuring seamless integration across multiple departments.
• Coordinate and manage cross-functional teams, including both internal teams and external contractors, to execute improvement initiatives.
• Monitor and optimize newly implemented processes to guarantee long-term sustainability and effectiveness.
• Update and maintain comprehensive process documentation to reflect current practices and ensure alignment with industry standards.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, aimed at reducing costs, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing product delivery.
• Analyze financial processes, develop performance scorecards, and collaborate with business leaders to drive improvement efforts.
• Act as a key player in enterprise-wide projects, ensuring alignment with stakeholders and successful execution of company-wide initiatives.
• Build and nurture strong relationships with internal business partners to ensure effective collaboration and shared success.
• Continuously review and update departmental policies, procedures, and workflows to maximize efficiency across the organization.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management or related field preferred.
• 5 years’ experience in operations, process improvement, supply chain management or logistics industry required.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma or other similar methodologies.
• Strong understanding of wholesale distribution operations including inventory management.
• Advanced proficiency with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and other business management tools used in distribution operations.
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience managing projects and leading multiple teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including experience drafting reports and process documentation.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a focus on collaboration and customer service.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.

About First Supply

First Supply® is a leading main channel wholesale distributor, providing industrial customers and building contractors with an extensive line of products and services. We offer a wide range of manufacturer product lines across the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, builder, waterworks, pump/well & septic, industrial, and municipal markets. Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, First Supply has more than 700 employees across 29 operating facilities serving Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan.

First Supply also owns and operates 18 Kitchen & Bath Stores across five Midwestern states under the Gerhard's Kitchen, Bath & Lighting and KOHLER® Signature Store by First Supply brands. Gerhard's is the largest, most versatile kitchen and bath store in the Upper Midwest, offering a wide variety of styles—from contemporary to traditional—along with unmatched service. The KOHLER Signature Stores are immersive kitchen and bath showrooms that provide a distinguished experience where designers and homeowners can get hands-on with hundreds of exclusive KOHLER products.

With a 128-year legacy and a people-first culture, First Supply is committed to building a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow their careers. That commitment has earned national recognition, including a spot on USA Today’s 2024 Top Workplaces in the USA, as well as honors as a Woman-Led Top Workplace and an Industry Top Workplace for Distribution.

First Supply LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.