Process Excellence Manager

Process Excellence Manager

At Western Digital, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible. At our core, Western Digital is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we've been doing just that. Our technology helped people put a man on the moon. We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest growth organizations in the world. From energizing the most competitive gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world's biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future. Binge-watch any shows, use social media or shop online lately? You'll find Western Digital supporting the storage infrastructure behind many of these platforms. And, that flash memory card that captures and preserves your most precious moments? That's us, too. We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, storage devices and platforms for business and consumers alike. Our data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital, G-Technology, SanDisk and WD brands. Today's exceptional challenges require your unique skills. It's You & Western Digital. Together, we're the next BIG thing in data.

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated Process Excellence Manager to lead the creation, development, and execution of end-to-end foundational supply chain business process frameworks across our organization. This individual will work closely with senior leadership to design and implement strategic initiatives that enhance operational efficiency, quality, and performance across key business functions. Reporting directly to the VP of Strategic Sourcing, the Process Excellence Manager will be responsible for establishing a structured approach to process improvement, managing metrics for successful implementation, and training cross-functional teams on process standards. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of process excellence methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.), program management, and have a proven track record in developing and implementing process frameworks that deliver measurable business results. You will drive a culture of continuous improvement while ensuring that key metrics and KPIs are tracked and optimized across the organization. Key focus areas include end-to-end process lifecycle, supplier relationship management, business continuity and risk management, supplier selection processes, market intelligence and financial reporting, organization governance and skills development roadmap.

Key responsibilities include :

• Process Framework Development : Design and implement a scalable and sustainable business process framework that aligns organizational goals. This framework will focus on increasing efficiency, reducing waste, and improving overall quality across key business functions.
• Define and document standard operating procedures (SOPs) and best practices to ensure consistency and clarity across teams.
• Process Improvement & Execution : Lead the execution of key process improvement initiatives, ensuring that the framework is embedded across departments (e.g., operations, HR, finance, product development).
• Conduct process mapping and root cause analysis to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement.
• Develop and lead process optimization projects using process excellence methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, or Agile.
• Training & Knowledge Sharing : Develop and implement training programs to educate and upskill teams on process excellence principles, tools, and best practices.
• Act as a subject matter expert (SME) in process excellence, providing coaching and guidance to departmental leaders and teams.
• Facilitate workshops and cross-functional meetings to foster a culture of continuous improvement and process optimization.
• Metrics & Performance Management : Define and manage a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to monitor the success and impact of process improvements.
• Use data and metrics to measure the effectiveness of implemented processes, identifying areas for further optimization or recalibration.
• Provide regular reporting to the VP and other senior leadership on progress, success, and challenges of process excellence initiatives.
• Change Management & Stakeholder Engagement : Champion change management efforts to ensure smooth adoption of new processes and practices across teams.
• Work closely with senior leadership and functional managers to gain buy-in and alignment on process improvement initiatives.
• Influence and engage key stakeholders across various functions to ensure alignment with process excellence goals.
• Continuous Improvement Culture : Foster a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization, ensuring that process excellence becomes embedded in everyday operations.
• Stay up to date with industry best practices, emerging trends, and process improvement tools to bring innovative solutions to the organization.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, or related field (MBA preferred). 5+ years of experience in procurement, supplier management, or process excellence roles. Proven experience in strategic sourcing, risk management, and supplier engagement strategies.

Skills & Competencies

Deep understanding of end-to-end Strategic Sourcing and Procurement processes and procurement best practices. Expertise in supplier segmentation, QBRs, and performance management. Proficiency in RASCI modeling, OKR frameworks, and program governance. Strong analytical, financial, and market intelligence capabilities. Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the "Know Your Rights : Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" poster. Our pay transparency policy is available here. Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution. Western Digital is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at jobs.accommodations@wdc.com to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 10 / 16 / 2025 (3 months from posting), although we reserve the right to close the application process sooner if we hire an applicant for this position before the application deadline. If we are not able to hire someone from this role before the application deadline, we will update this.

Compensation & Benefits Details

An employee's pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs. The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York. This range may be modified in the future. If your position is non-exempt, you are eligible for overtime pay pursuant to company policy and applicable laws. You may also be eligible for shift differential pay, depending on the shift to which you are assigned. You will be eligible to be considered for bonuses under either Western Digital's Short Term Incentive Plan ("STI Plan") or the Sales Incentive Plan ("SIP") which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance, depending on your role and your performance. You may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to Western Digital's Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical / dental / vision insurance; life, accident and disability insurance; tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program; employee stock