Principal Specialist - Operations Officer

The OpEx Specialist acts as a project and governance partner to the EMEA Operational Excellence leadership team. This role is responsible for driving the execution of process improvements, coordinating complex project work streams, and maintaining the standards that ensure service quality across regional accounts. By managing the technical and structural elements of the OpEx function, this individual enables Directors to implement large-scale change while ensuring all initiatives remain compliant and data-backed.
Main Objectives:
Project Delivery & Facilitation:
To drive the momentum of OpEx initiatives by managing project timelines, tracking milestones, and facilitating process reviews or Kaizen events in collaboration with senior stakeholders.
Governance Stewardship:
To own the OpEx framework, ensuring all account documentation—from Project Charters to SOPs—is standardized, high-quality, and aligned with global best practices.
Audit & Compliance Leadership:
To manage the regional audit lifecycle, acting as the primary coordinator for ISO and "Early Success" reviews to ensure 100% adherence to contractual and legislative requirements.
Strategic Communication:
To bridge the gap between the OpEx function and account leadership through clear reporting, structured newsletters, and professional stakeholder engagement.

Job Responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities and scope
This role has a broad regional scope, supporting the EMEA OpEx head and interacting frequently with Directors and Account Leaders. The Specialist is responsible for the end-to-end coordination of change projects, including resource alignment, risk tracking, and stakeholder follow-up. They act as a key point of contact for both onsite and off-site teams, ensuring that new technologies and process improvements are adopted consistently across the business.
job tasks
Process Review & Standardization:
Collaborate with Directors to conduct deep-dive process reviews and Kaizen events. You will identify operational waste, draft new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and standardize documentation across EMEA, APAC, and NAM accounts to increase overall productivity and consistency.
Project Management Administration & Support:
Create and maintain E2E project plans and RASCI models; track progress against deadlines and facilitate "Huddle" sessions or project workshops to resolve bottlenecks.
Compliance & Audit:
Administer compliance controls in across the region including Control Books for each account in One Trust, coordinate evidence gathering for audits, and conduct regular reviews of Business Continuity Plans (BCP) and SOPs.
Data Analysis & ROI:
Collect and analyze performance data to calculate project ROI, identify resource gaps through skill matrices, and prepare data for Annual and Quarterly Business Reviews.
Stakeholder Coordination:
Manage the OpEx work intake process, follow up on new requests, and coordinate the logistics for tool rollouts and Global Compliance Alliance meetings.
Op Ex Content & Branding:
Draft internal communications regarding legislative changes, the sharing of best practice tools and Op Ex innovations; manage the Op Ex "Connect" channel and create high-level presentations for leadership meetings.
Expected Outcomes and Accountabilities
The Specialist is accountable for the successful execution of project administrative milestones and the accuracy of all governance data. Success is marked by the timely delivery of improvement projects, high audit pass rates, and the seamless transition of new processes into standard operations. The incumbent must show high levels of initiative, often leading process reviews or chasing senior stakeholders to ensure project goals are met.

KPIs, Objectives and Time frames
Project Execution: 100% of assigned project documentation (Charters, Plans) completed and approved within one week of project kickoff.
Audit Success:
Maintain a "Green" status across all regional ISO and "Early Success" audits through proactive record management.
Stakeholder Engagement:
Ensure all internal communications and monthly newsletters are delivered on schedule with 100% accuracy.
Efficiency Gains:
Implement at least two workflow or reporting automations using AI tools (Gemini/Notebook

LM) within the first 6 months to improve team capacity.
Management Scope
People Management:
No direct reports.
Project Management:
Manages the administrative lifecycle of the EMEA OpEx project portfolio, including tracking milestones, maintaining RASCI alignment, and ensuring regional documentation meets global standards.
Functional Oversight:
Acts as the primary custodian of the OpEx governance framework, providing technical guidance to account teams on the correct application of ISO protocols and standardized processes.
Stakeholder Coordination:
Manages communication and logistical workflows between OpEx leadership, account directors, and third-party vendors to ensure project consistency.
Autonomy and Decision-making
Operational Independence:
Manages daily…