Business Process Improvement Manager

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission.

At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.

Here is what we offer: 

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match 
• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
• Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

Join Howard University and thrive with us! 

https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness

BASIC FUNCTION: Serves as the University's internal consultant for business process improvement by partnering with administrative and academic units to redesign processes, standardize operations, eliminate inefficiencies, and improve institutional service delivery.

SUPERVISORY ACCOUNTABILITY:  The Business Process Improvement Manager is responsible for leading business process improvement initiatives and coordinating cross-functional teams to achieve project objectives and organizational outcomes. The incumbent works collaboratively with University leadership, faculty, staff, external vendors, and project stakeholders to facilitate process redesign, implementation, and continuous improvement efforts. While the position does not initially have direct supervisory responsibility, it provides functional leadership for project teams and may oversee consultants, student assistants, temporary staff, or other resources assigned to business process improvement initiatives. Formal supervisory responsibilities may evolve as the Office of Business Optimization expands.

NATURE AND SCOPE:  The Business Process & Improvement Manager is responsible for leading business process improvement initiatives that enhance operational efficiency, service delivery, and organizational effectiveness across the University. The incumbent partners with academic and administrative units to assess existing business processes, identify opportunities for improvement, facilitate process redesign, and support the implementation of sustainable solutions aligned with institutional priorities. The position applies business process improvement methodologies, workflow analysis, process mapping, and change management principles to optimize University operations.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Lead business process analysis, redesign, and improvement initiatives across academic and administrative units to increase efficiency, improve service delivery, and strengthen organizational effectiveness.

• Facilitate process discovery sessions, stakeholder interviews, workshops, and current-state/future-state process mapping to identify improvement opportunities.

• Develop business requirements, process documentation, workflow diagrams, standard operating procedures, and recommendations to support enterprise initiatives.

• Partner with University leadership, functional departments, project teams, and external vendors to implement business process improvements aligned with institutional priorities.

• Identify process inefficiencies, operational risks, redundancies, and opportunities for standardization while recommending practical and sustainable solutions.

• Support organizational change by assisting with stakeholder engagement, communications, training coordination, and implementation planning.

• Establish and monitor process performance measures, key performance indicators, and operational metrics to evaluate outcomes and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

• Serve as a resource on business process improvement methodologies, organizational effectiveness, and best practices.

• Collaborate with the Office of Business Optimization to advance enterprise-wide transformation initiatives and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Lead current-state and future-state process mapping.

• Facilitate process redesign workshops across campus.

• Standardize institutional business processes.

• Support Workday business process optimization.

• Evaluate operational effectiveness of Centers & Institutes.

• Partner with Research Administration to improve research workflows.

• Support Financial Aid process redesign.

• Identify opportunities for automation and AI-enabled improvements.

• Develop standard operating procedures and process documentation.

• Support organizational change initiatives.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Higher Education Administration, Organizational Development, Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field, with a minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in business process improvement, operational excellence, organizational effectiveness, or a related discipline; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated experience analyzing, redesigning, and implementing business process improvements across complex organizations.

• Knowledge of business process improvement methodologies, including Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Business Process Management (BPM), or comparable continuous improvement frameworks.

• Experience facilitating process mapping, workflow analysis, requirements gathering, and stakeholder engagement across multiple organizational units.

• Demonstrated understanding of organizational change management principles and experience supporting enterprise implementation efforts.

• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate operational challenges into practical business solutions.

• Experience collecting, analyzing, and presenting operational data and performance metrics to support decision-making.

• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships and influence outcomes across diverse stakeholder groups without direct supervisory authority.

• Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience using process mapping, project management, or collaboration software.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a complex, fast-paced organizational environment.

Note: This position description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as may be required. The university has the right to revise this position description at any time. This position description is not construed as a contract for employment. 

Compliance Salary Range Disclosure

Compensation Range: $130,000 - $135,000