Manager - Project Management Operational Excellence

Be a part of our success story. Washington Mutual offers talented and motivated people the opportunity to do the best work of their lives in a dynamic and growing company. Through competitive salaries, outstanding benefits, internal advancement opportunities, and nationally recognized community involvement, you'll have the chance to create a career you can be proud of. Your success story starts here.



Overall Role:

The Manager - Process Mgmt OpEx will partner with the Manager - Strategy and OpEx to lead and participate in Finance cross functional initiatives including but not limited to Benchmarking, VOC, TRM, BPO, Finance Scorecard, and Optimization of Processes.  This person will also assist in setting the vision of driving enterprise wide Finance toward World Class as well as ensure that OpEx is engrained in our community. 

 

Job responsibilities include:
Assist in setting and executing the Finance vision to a World Class organization
Apply and execute expert level project management skills.
Enhance the quality, productivity and synergy of work unit operations consistent with business strategies and resources
Successfully manage multiple complex cross-functional projects (VDS, QV and Atlas)
Independently interpret strategies, apply and integrate those strategies into alternative technologies and operational processes through project planning.
Provide subject matter expertise in areas (including, but not limited to):  Project management, project scope definition, risk identification/mitigation, resource allocation, facilitation, project intervention, knowledge transfer and other areas of expertise based on professional knowledge and backgroud
Defines process KPIs and then translates those KPIs.
Make presentations to executive-level steering committee (or similar body) representing the development of project objectives, negotiation of project scope with client, risk identification/mitigation, negotiation on project deliverables, timelines and resources
Promote acceptances of new approaches, and solicit feedback
Provide effective leadership and guidance, faciliates a team-building environment that adheres to corporate values.
Bring multiple teams together, break down silos, communicate messages clearly through layers of management
Proponent of Operational Excellence, striving toward appropriate certification
Continue to advance Project Management expertise, seeking out external certification (PMI) as well as internal education through courses and seminars
Study new industry trends/developments and apply to future development approaches and strategies.
Apply conflict management techniques as appropriate
Gains confidence and respect for peers, customers and senior management.
Demonstrates excellent capabilities in the following:  Communication management, facilitation, management of team dynamics, relationship building, influencing, management of matrix personnel, problem solving, decision making, strategic thinking, innovation management, tactical execution, dealing with ambiguity, team building, leadership, interpersonal communication, and executive level communication. 


BS/BA
MBA preferred
10 years of related experience with a minimum of five years in a leadership role
Finance and/or accounting experience preferred
Experience in retail banking or mortgage banking preferred
Requires thorough understanding of operational excellence (six sigma/lean) methodology execution and ability to determine the return on investment of operational excellence initiatives.
In-depth knowledge of business process improvement, re-engineering, estimating and measurement concepts, of change control development process, quality assurance principles and concepts relative to standards and procedures, review process, reporting, escalation and continuous improvement.
Expert knowledge of principles, practices and techniques for assessing best practices, emerging technologies, and their impact on business objectives/strategies and current systems
Project Management Experience and relation education and definite plus.
Demonstrated ability in problem-solving and analysis
Experience in coaching and mentoring others
Strong oral and written communication skills, including facilitation of groups toward deliverables Washington Mutual is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Anyone needing accommodation to complete the interview process should notify the recruiter.