Director, Material Handling Equipment Service- Reliability COE

Position Summary

Director – Reliability COE

As the director of the Reliability COE, you will lead the transformation of Walmart’s Reliable Operations (RO) program and the Technical Learning & Development program across the Maintenance Supply Chain network, which spans Ambient, Grocery, and Fulfillment networks. In this role, you will oversee two critical teams:

• Reliable Operations Team – driving Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and reliability strategies across the network.
• Technical Learning & Development Team – creating and scaling technical training programs for automation technologies and maintenance skill development.

As the Director, you will set the strategic vision, provide leadership, and ensure flawless execution for RO adoption, TPM integration, and technical capability building. Your responsibilities will include developing onboarding programs, diversifying training for Symbotic, Witron, Knapp, and legacy systems, and building a robust talent pipeline to support long‑term workforce readiness.

• Strategic Leadership & Program Ownership: Lead the transformation of RO and Technical Learning & Development programs across the Maintenance Supply Chain. Serve as the owner of Walmart’s TPM and RO programs, ensuring alignment with enterprise goals and supply chain integration.
• Team Leadership & Development: Direct and develop two teams:
  Reliable Operations and Technical Learning & Development. Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and innovation within both teams.
• Technical Learning & Development: Oversee the design and execution of technical training programs for automated facilities, reducing dependency on vendor‑led training. Scale structured learning pathways such as Associate-to-Technician (A2T) and Automation, Mechatronics & Robotics (ARM). Create onboarding programs and a strategic talent pipeline to support long‑term workforce development.
• Network Enablement & Standardization: Driving adoption of standardized processes, including Daily Management Systems (DMS) and RO assessments. Executing regional workshops focused on technician development, workstream leadership, and automation focused programs.
• Continuous Improvement & Integration: Influence integration of RO with other supply chain initiatives such as Engineering, Operations, and Quality. Partner with engineering, operations, and vendor teams to optimize reliability strategies and reduce downtime.
• Impact on Associates & Customers: Oversee operational excellence initiatives that streamline processes, reduce waste, and eliminate rework. Empower associates through structured training and career pathways, improving engagement and advancement opportunities. Enhance the technical readiness of the field by preparing associates for automation technologies, accelerating proficiency and reducing ramp‑up time.

• Strategic Vision & Execution: Ability to define and drive the transformation roadmap for RO and Technical Learning programs. Experience aligning programs with enterprise goals and integrating across multiple supply chain segments (Ambient, Grocery, Fulfillment).
• Leadership & Team Development: Proven ability to lead and develop two distinct teams (RO and Technical Learning & Development). Strong people leadership skills to foster collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
• Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) principles and reliability engineering. Knowledge of automation technologies (Symbotic, Witron, Knapp) and legacy systems. Familiarity with CMMS, warranty processes, and maintenance best practices.
• Training & Capability Building: Experience designing and scaling technical training programs for diverse automation platforms. Ability to create structured learning pathways (e.g., A2T, ARM) and onboarding strategies. Knowledge in leveraging digital learning tools (Axonify or similar platforms).
• Change Management & Adoption: Skills to drive network‑wide adoption of RO, DMS, and standardized processes. Ability to influence cross‑functional stakeholders and integrate initiatives like TPM, WPS and Quality.
• Vendor & Cost Optimization: Experience reducing…