Sr. Manager, Operations Strategy

About Novolex

Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food, beverage, and specialty packaging that supports multiple industries including foodservice, restaurant delivery and carryout, food processing, grocery and retail, and industrial sectors. Novolex manufacturing and sourcing expertise spans a diverse range of substrates including resin, paper, molded fiber, aluminum and more. We provide customers a broad array of stock and customized solutions with 120 product categories, 250 brands and over 39,000 SKUs.

Sustainability Commitment

The Novolex sustainability vision is built upon three pillars: our products, our operations and our people. Each is critically important to our growth and future as a business. These pillars form the foundation of our company-wide commitment to sustainability, helping us achieve our ambitious goals through our wide-ranging initiatives.

About the role

This is a hybrid position with 3 days a week in our Lake Forest, IL office.

Responsibilities

• Execute the modeling and analytical work required to optimize the enterprise end-to-end network for cost efficiency, service performance, scalability, and sustained competitiveness.
• Support network strategy development, advanced modeling, and continuous improvement initiatives while ensuring the organization makes well-supported, financially sound capital and expense decisions.
• Translate highly technical network architectures and complex data into clear, compelling narratives and strategic recommendations for leadership and key stakeholders.
• Facilitate cross-functional working groups to define strategic options, mitigate risks and deliver final, data driven recommendations.
• Build and leverage advanced statistical, mathematical and financial models to run scenario analyses, simulate network changes and optimize costs.
• Construct detailed, defensible business cases to support major capital projects, network redesign initiatives, and operational investments.
• Create and review capital and expense projections, including sensitivity analyses, multiyear forecasts, and scenario-based financial planning.
• Conduct hands-on network and cost analyses, partnering with Finance, Operations, Engineering and Procurement to build comprehensive total-cost and savings models that inform strategic recommendations.
• Analyze demand signals, operational constraints and market trends to identify bottlenecks and investment tradeoffs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, finance, business, or related field. Master's degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in network optimization, supply chain strategy, transportation optimization, or a related analytical field.
• Expertise in network modeling tools preferred (e.g., Optilogic, Llamasoft, Coupa, Blue Yonder, Supply Chain Guru, or similar).
• Demonstrated ability to translate analytical findings into financial and strategic implications.
• Strong financial acumen, including capital and operating expense forecasting, ROI modeling, and cost-benefit analysis.
• Knowledge of optimization methods, simulation, and scenario modeling.
• Experience working in a complex, multi-facility, multi-node network environment.
• Excellent executive communication skills.

Pay

A reasonable estimate of the current range is $160,000 - $180,000 + bonus.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with company match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts
• Paid vacation and sick days
• Paid parental leave
• Paid holidays
• Wellness program