Operational Excellence Lead

Informa Markets, a division within Informa, creates global platforms for industries. We organise over 500 large-scale branded and transaction-oriented events in 14 specialist markets. These are typically not-to-be-missed annual events where buyers and sellers build relationships, see and show products and do business.

We also provide year-round online platforms where companies showcase their businesses and products and buyers conduct research, generating valuable leads, and we provide data and digital content that supports the flow of knowledge and transactions in markets.

Markets Technology

We anticipate the need to enable customer touchpoints through digitalising processes that are currently offline, and through shaping and establishing a digital ecosystem over the next 5 years, developing a clear roadmap for modernisation and standardisation whilst developing new platforms, solutions and techniques we support Informa’s digital agenda and diverse global customer needs.

The position of Operational Excellence Lead is a key strategic position at Informa Markets and will report to the Director of Portfolio Delivery & Change and will be part of the Markets Technology Team.

The Operational Excellence Lead is accountable for delivering the outcomes defined by each Operational Excellence initiative. This role supports the work of the Chief Technology & Transformation Officer, alongside other portfolio leads to successfully deliver the Informa Markets business strategy and related programmes and projects that benefit Markets differentiation, innovation, and customer experiences.

The Operational Excellence Lead is also responsible for ensuring effective process management; co-ordinating global teams and in collaboration with delivery teams across the organisation. The projects are starting to introduce business process and capability transformation initiatives across the divisions.

Having, or quickly developing, global awareness of Informa’s strategy and Markets portfolio of change, and accountable for delivering the outcomes required, the Operational Excellence Lead needs to ensure they have considered how we can best measure our delivery against those outcomes. To be successful in this role, the Operational Excellence Lead requires a unique skill set of both having strategic insight, but also the ability to play a leading role in delivery, leading teams of professionals on Operational Excellence and transformation projects as well as line managing or task managing the team assigned to the work.

Programme Management

Leading a global team of Business Process and Performance Managers and Analysts, recruitment, development, and resourcing of colleagues, nurturing high levels of team engagement.

Ensure successful, on-time delivery of high-quality, and highly relevant initiatives, projects and programs, that deliver strategic operational outcomes or process improvement and ensure successful usage of the new process.

Create plans for each initiative that define roles & responsibilities, named resources, milestones, preliminary deliverables, deadlines, and ETA for other relevant SMEs.

Working with the Chief Transformation and Technology Officer, Markets to support prioritization, developing methods and frameworks to aid the prioritisation discussion. Ensuring business cases include resource modelling, KPIs and benefits reporting. Aligning all of these with industry best practice.

Operational Excellence

Ownership of value streams, including design, implementation, refinement, and measurement of process to support all Informa Market’s pillars and to ensure consistency across products and services. Continuous measurement of key KPIs in each area.

Responsible for the development and implementation of quality and data quality frameworks, tools and techniques for process management and control.

Ownership of CI methodology within Informa Markets, ensuring continuous improvement is at the forefront of discussions relating to strategy and operations, working alongside senior leaders in Informa Markets on the continuing evolution and refinement of business/operational processes to optimize quality, timeliness, efficiency, and cost effectiveness. Driving efficiency and automation in end-to-end processes.

Owner of workflows for Informa Markets process and supporting systems, assisting colleagues on the appropriate engagement approaches for overseeing relevant 3rd party relationships, managing resources and managing budgets involved in the workflow.

Utilize decision matrices to determine more efficient and effective means of delivering high-quality inputs and outputs and utilize them across Markets workflow and processes. Provide feedback on decision matrices to allow for regular recalibration.

Ensure continuous measurement of key KPIs in Informa Markets. Implement a post-delivery feedback process to identify areas of improvement and training needs.

Create support for business workflows and process documentation and deliver standardization, best practises, training, and maps.

• Substantial experience in Transformation Program Management, with a proven track record of leading and delivering complex, transformative process change to time and budget.
• Profound understanding of process transformation and agile methodologies, with experience implementing these within large, dynamic teams.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to perform under pressure, balancing multiple priorities.
• Familiarity with DMAIC and other Six Sigma tools, experience leading Lean Management initiatives in medium sized B2B organisations.
• Superior leadership and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to navigate complex organizational structures, inspire teams, and influence without direct authority.
• Expertise in project and portfolio management tools such as Smartsheet, MS Project, Jira, Confluence, etc. Familiarity with data analysis and visualization tools like MS Power BI is advantageous.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field is desirable. Advanced degrees or equivalent experience will be highly regarded.
• PMP, PgMP, or similar certifications are highly advantageous, as is direct experience in strategic transformation initiatives.

Employee experience is very important to us. On top of joining a supportive, diverse and ambitious team that welcomes all types of candidates. We are also flexible with different working patterns and prioritise promotions internally.

Our benefits include:

• Tailored development opportunities and on-demand access to thousands of courses on LinkedIn
• Balance time in the office with time working remotely, feeling fully supported wherever you are
• 25 days annual leave, 4 days for volunteering and a day off for your birthday!
• The chance to work from (almost!) anywhere across the globe, four weeks a year
• Competitive and rewarding benefits, tailored to each of our regions
• Work with high quality specialist products
• Bright and friendly staff who are all “expert’s experts” and additional training and development for helping you achieve your career aspiration
• The chance to become an Informa shareholder, with extra rewards just for colleagues
• Regular social events and networking opportunities

We know that sometimes the 'perfect candidate' doesn't exist, and that people can be put off applying for a job if they don't fit all the requirements. If you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, please go ahead and apply. You could be just what we need! We believe strongly in the value of diversity and creating supportive, inclusive environments where our colleagues can succeed. As such, Informa is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, ancestry, national origin, religion, or religious creed, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship, or other protected characteristics under federal, state or local law. See how Informa handles your personal data when you apply for a job here.