Head of Operational Excellence

Objective

The Head of Operational Excellence is responsible for establishing and embedding a sustainable culture of continuous improvement across the Group’s diverse business verticals including trading & manufacturing, engineering, automotive, power solutions, financial services, office automation, car rental, and leasing etc. The role carries a Group-wide mandate and is positioned to deliver measurable improvements in operational efficiency, quality, customer experience, financial performance, and overall Group competitiveness. The Head of Operational Excellence will collaborate closely with respective MDs and Divisional Heads to assess existing operational processes and implement best-in-class strategies and frameworks tailored to each division’s operational requirements and challenges.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the Group’s Operational Excellence strategy, roadmap, and governance framework.
• Lead the deployment of Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen methodologies across business units to drive efficiency, quality, sustainable cost optimization, and cross-functional operational synergies.
• Partner with executive leadership and business heads to identify transformation priorities and translate them into measurable business outcomes.
• Build, develop, and mentor a high-performing Operational Excellence team, supported by a network of internal change agents and certified practitioners.
• Define and monitor performance indicators, benchmark against industry best practice, and report progress, risks, and transformation outcomes to senior management through effective governance and performance reporting mechanisms.
• Lead change management, capability development, and the institutionalisation of best practices Group-wide.

Expected Outcomes

• Achieve measurable improvements in operational efficiency, process effectiveness and service quality across all Group’s business divisions.
• Implement sustainable cost optimization strategies through process improvement, resource optimization, and operational standardization.
• Increase customer satisfaction across service-oriented divisions by improving response times, service quality, and overall customer experience.
• Ensure the successful execution of key strategic operational projects within approved scope, timelines, and budget, with no major delays or cost overruns.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, innovation, and operational excellence across all levels of the organization.

Educational Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field is required, a Master’s degree or MBA is highly preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification (or Black Belt supported by a demonstrable leadership track record)

Experience

• Minimum of 12–15 years of progressive experience in Operational Excellence, Business Transformation, or Continuous Improvement, with a substantial portion in senior leadership roles.
• Proven track record of implementing large-scale operational excellence programs within a multi-industry environment (e.g., manufacturing, financial services, automotive, etc.)
• Prior experience in the GCC region will be considered a distinct advantage.

Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide transformation initiatives, operational improvement programs, and cross-functional strategic projects, ideally within a multi-sector group or large conglomerate environment.
• Strong commercial acumen, executive presence, and proven ability to influence at Board and C-suite level.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and change leadership capabilities.
• Fluency in English is essential; proficiency in Arabic is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Attractive fixed and variable compensation
• Staff car
• Paid annual leave

Job Remarks

• Preferred Language: English, Arabic
• Job Country: Kuwait
• Duty Shift / Timings: One Shift / 07:00 AM to 03:00 PM