Business Excellence Partner

Wheels is looking for a Business Excellence Partner who is energized by solving messy operational problems, driving measurable business changes and helping teams work smarter. This is not a traditional project coordination or process documentation role. The Business Excellence Partner is expected to identify operational pain points, quantify their business impact, design practical solutions, and drive implementation through measurable results. Success in this role means reducing manual work, improving cycle time, increasing quality, strengthening customer experience, and helping the business scale without simply adding headcount. The ideal candidate is smart, curious, analytical, and hungry to make an impact. They are comfortable working directly with frontline teams, functional leaders, IT, Product, Analytics, and other partners to understand how work gets done and then improve it. They do not wait for perfect direction. They can take an ambiguous business problem, structure it, build a solution path, influence others, and prove the value delivered. This role sits within the Business Excellence organization and will partner with business leaders across operational, client-facing, and support functions. The role will use structured problem solving, Lean thinking, data analysis, workflow redesign, automation, and performance measurement to deliver practical, sustainable improvements. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONSIdentify and Prioritize High-Value Business Problems:Partners with business leaders and frontline teams to uncover repeatable operational pain points, manual work, rework, delays, quality issues, customer friction, and process breakdownsTranslate business frustration into clear problem statements, root-cause hypotheses, value estimates, and improvement opportunitiesQuantify the impact of problems using metrics such as cycle time, cost, quality, rework, capacity, customer experience, and employee effortHelp leaders prioritize improvement work based on business value, urgency, feasibility, and strategic importanceBuild and manage a practical improvement roadmap for assigned business areas Design and Implement Practical Solutions:Redesign workflows, handoffs, decision points, controls, and operating routines to improve performanceDevelop practical solutions that may include process changes, reporting enhancements, automation, system improvements, role clarity, or new ways of workingPartner with Analytics, Technical Implementation, IT, Product, and operational teams to translate business needs into workable solutionsSupport the development of business requirements, user stories, process maps, test plans, adoption plans, and implementation materialsValidate solutions through pilots, testing, feedback loops, and performance tracking Drive Measurable Business Results:Own the delivery of measurable outcomes, not just the completion of project tasksEstablish baseline performance, define target outcomes, and track results after implementationMeasure impact across areas such as productivity, quality, cost reduction, cycle time, customer satisfaction, compliance, and scalabilityCreate visibility to progress, risks, decisions, and realized value for business leadersEnsure improvements are adopted, sustained, and embedded into the way teams work Lead Change Across the Business:Build trust with frontline employees, managers, directors, and executives by listening carefully and solving real business problemsFacilitate working sessions, process reviews, Kaizen-style events, and structured problem-solving discussionsInfluence stakeholders across functions to align on decisions, remove barriers, and adopt new processesCommunicate recommendations clearly using data, business logic, and practical implementation plansHelp create a culture where teams continuously identify, solve, and measure improvement opportunities Use Data, Tools, and Technology to Improve Work:Use data to diagnose performance issues, identify trends, and size improvement opportunitiesPartner with technical teams to implement automation, analytics, and workflow solutions where appropriateLeverage tools such as Excel, Power BI, Alteryx, Power Automate, Salesforce, AI tools, or similar platforms to improve how work gets doneIdentify opportunities to reduce spreadsheet dependency, manual rekeying, email-based work management, and inconsistent process executionHelp business teams use metrics and dashboards to manage performance more effectively What Success Looks LikeA successful Business Excellence Partner will be able to say:I found a business problem that was costing time, money, quality, or customer experienceI quantified the impact and built alignment around solving itI helped design and implement a practical solutionI got the business to adopt the changeI measured the result and proved the value This role will be evaluated on delivered business outcomes, including improvements in efficiency, quality, cost, cycle time, customer experience, employee capacity, and operational scalability. LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIESThis position has no people leader responsibilities COMPETENCIES - SKILLSProven track record of leading enterprise-wide Lean/CI programs with measurable impact in matrixed organizationsDeep knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving techniquesDemonstrated success facilitating Kaizen events and building engagement across levels of the organizationHands-on experience with Salesforce, ServiceNow, or similar enterprise platforms is a plusStrong business acumen, communication, and interpersonal skillsAdvanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, Visio, and project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, or similar) EDUCATION and EXPERIENCEBachelor's degree in industrial engineering, Supply Chain, Operations or related field required; advanced degree is a plusLean Six Sigma Black Belt certification3+ years of experience in process improvement, business transformation, or operational optimization within complex service or transactional environments CORE VALUESAt Wheels, we believe in fostering a culture that is built on our Core Values and Guiding Principles. We cultivate a culture of excellence and innovation by upholding these values, driving our collective success and growth.Integrity – Always act with integrity and honesty.One Team – Treat others with dignity and respect; act as a cohesive, inclusive and accountable team that is making a difference.Innovation – Drive continuous improvement, spark creativity and embrace next generation thinking.Customer Success – Ensure that customer and driver success is at the heart of everything we do. CULTURAL ATTRIBUTESAt Wheels, our culture guides us how we work every day, and we look for team members who show these behaviors:Discipline Drives Quality – Plan the Trip: Think proactively, hold a high bar, follow through by leveraging experience and systems. To produce quality outcomes, we must be intentional and deliberate in everything we do, from big bets to daily execution.Intellectually Curious – Fuel Your Minds: Be bold, challenge assumptions, think differently, look outside the box. Strive to unlock your own thinking and create new possibilities.Commit and Deliver – Own It: Take responsibility for your work, from start to finish, and be accountable for the results. Think and act like an owner of the business.Relationships Matter – Share the Ride: Trust is central, both with key internal and external stakeholders. Relationships are not a side effect of work but a driver of success. JOB SPECIFICATIONS, PHYSICAL DEMANDS and WORK ENVIRONMENTWork Environment: This position is in Schaumburg, Ill and operates in a professional office environment.Positions Type/Standard Schedule: This is a full-time, hybrid position (3 days in office - Wednesday is required in office), Monday and FridayTravel: No Travel required for this positionPhysical Demands: Speak, hear, and see, and to use hand and fingers for computer keyboard and phone. Sit or stand for extended periods of time. Reach above head to pull paper attachments. DISCLAIMERPlease note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. #LI-KZ1