Operational Excellence Program Manager

POSITION SUMMARY: The Operational Excellence Program Manager will lead key initiatives within HR Operations, with a focus on operational excellence, scalability, and employee experience. The incumbent will be responsible for managing complex, cross-functional programs that enhance efficiency, driving process improvements, increasing automation, and ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and compliance standards.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead and deliver enterprise-level HR programs focused on process optimization, systems integration, and service delivery improvement.

• Define program strategy, objectives, KPIs, and success metrics to ensure clear alignment with HR and organizational priorities.

• Develop and manage detailed project plans, including timelines, budgets, milestones, risks, and stakeholder responsibilities.

• Implement process improvement frameworks to drive efficiency, eliminate redundancy, and streamline end-to-end HR workflows.

• Partner cross-functionally with HR Centers of Excellence, IT, Legal, Finance, and Compliance to ensure seamless execution of operational initiatives.

• Champion digital transformation efforts across HR platforms and systems to improve accuracy, scalability, and employee experience.

• Drive change management and communication strategies to ensure stakeholder engagement and adoption of new processes and systems.

• Conduct post-implementation reviews and establish continuous improvement cycles to sustain operational excellence and compliance.

• Perform other job-related duties as assigned or apparent.  

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Deep understanding of HR processes, systems, compliance, and service delivery models.

• Demonstrated expertise in process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, or equivalent).

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and business decisions.

• Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and influence skills across all levels of the organization.

• Adept at managing competing priorities in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.

• Proven track record of driving automation, systems optimization, and operational scalability within HR functions.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• 7 – 10 years of experience in HR Operations or HR Program Management, with proven success leading enterprise-scale programs or transformation initiatives.

Rewarding Compensation and Benefits

Eligible employees can elect to participate in:
• Comprehensive medical benefits coverage, dental plans and vision coverage.
• Health care and dependent care spending accounts. 
• Short- and long-term disability.
• Life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment insurance.
• Employee and Family Assistance Program (EAP).
• Employee discount programs.
• Retirement plan with a generous company match.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).

The statements used herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by an employee in this position, and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required by an incumbent so classified.  Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the Company.

EEO STATEMENT:Republic Services is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, relationship or association with a protected veteran (spouses or other family members), genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) is a leader in the environmental services industry. We provide customers with the most complete set of products and services, including recycling, waste, special waste, hazardous waste and field services. Our industry-leading commitments to advance circularity and support decarbonization are helping deliver on our vision to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world.

In 2023, Republic’s total company revenue was $14.9 billion, and adjusted EBITDA was $4.4 billion. We serve 13 million customers and operate more than 1,000 locations, including collection and transfer stations, recycling and polymer centers, treatment facilities, and landfills.

Although we operate across North America, the collection, recycling, treatment, or disposal of materials is a local business, and the dynamics and opportunities differ in each market we serve. By combining local operational management with standardized business practices, we drive greater operating efficiencies across the company while maintaining day-to-day operational decisions at the local level, closest to the customer.

Our customers, including small businesses, major corporations and municipalities, want a partner with the expertise and capabilities to effectively manage their multiple recycling and waste streams. They choose Republic Services because we are committed to exceeding their expectations and helping them achieve their sustainability goals. Our 41,000 team members understand that it's not just what we do that matters, but how we do it.

Our company values guide our daily actions:

• Safe: We protect the livelihoods of our colleagues and communities.
• Committed to Serve: We go above and beyond to exceed our customers’ expectations.
• Environmentally Responsible: We take action to improve our environment.
• Driven: We deliver results in the right way.
• Human-Centered: We respect the dignity and unique potential of every person.

We are proud of our high employee engagement score of 86. We have an inclusive and diverse culture where every voice counts. In addition, our team positively impacted 4.6 million people in 2023 through the Republic Services Charitable Foundation and local community grants. These projects are designed to meet the specific needs of the communities we serve, with a focus on building sustainable neighborhoods.   

STRATEGY

Republic Services’ strategy is designed to generate profitable growth. Through acquisitions and industry advancements, we safely and sustainably manage our customers’ multiple waste streams through a North American footprint of vertically integrated assets.  

We focus on three areas of growth to meet the increasing needs of our customers: recycling and waste, environmental solutions and sustainability innovation.

With our integrated approach, strengthening our position in one area advances other areas of our business. For example, as we grow volume in recycling and waste, we collect additional material to bolster our circularity capabilities. And as we expand environmental solutions, we drive additional opportunities to provide these services to our existing recycling and waste customers.

Recycling and Waste

We continue to expand our recycling and waste business footprint throughout North America through organic growth and targeted acquisitions. The 13 million customers we serve and our more than 5 million pick-ups per day provide us with a distinct advantage. We aggregate materials at scale, unlocking new opportunities for advanced recycling. In addition, we are cross-selling new products and services to better meet our customers’ specific needs.

Environmental Solutions

Our comprehensive environmental solutions capabilities help customers safely manage their most technical waste streams. We are expanding both our capabilities and our geographic footprint. We see strong growth opportunities for our offerings, including PFAS remediation, an increasing customer need. 

SUSTAINABILITY INNOVATION

Republic’s recent innovations to advance circularity and decarbonization demonstrate our unique ability to leverage sustainability as a platform for growth.

The Republic Services Polymer Center is the nation’s first integrated plastics recycling facility. This innovative site processes rigid plastics from our recycling centers, producing recycled materials that promote true bottle-to-bottle circularity. We also formed Blue Polymers, a joint venture with Ravago, to develop facilities that will further process plastic material from our Polymer Centers to help meet the growing demand for sustainable packaging. We are building a network of Polymer Centers and Blue Polymer facilities across North America.

We continue to advance decarbonization at our landfills. As demand for renewable energy continues to grow, we have 70 landfill gas-to-energy projects in operation and plan to expand our portfolio to 115 projects by 2028.

RECENT RECOGNITION

• Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies
• CDP Discloser
• Dow Jones Sustainability Indices
• Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies
• Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies
• Great Place to Work
• Sustainability Yearbook S&P Global