Director, Operational Excellence

At Prologis, we don’t just lead the industry—we define it with a 1.3 billion square foot portfolio and an annual throughput of approximately $3.2 trillion. We create the intelligent infrastructure that powers global commerce, seamlessly connecting the digital and physical worlds. From agile supply chains to energy solutions, our ecosystems help your business move faster, operate smarter and grow sustainably. With unmatched scale, innovation and expertise, Prologis is a category of one—not just shaping the future of logistics but building what comes next.

Job Title:

Director, Operational Excellence

Company:

Prologis

A day in the life

Drive transformation at the world’s leading logistics real estate company. As our Director of Operational Excellence, you’ll deliver meaningful impact across the enterprise. Partnering closely with the VP of Operational Excellence and senior leaders across the business, you’ll spearhead large-scale initiatives that standardize, optimize, and innovate how we work—helping us achieve our ambitious goals and deliver exceptional value to our customers. This is a high-visibility role, ideal for a strategic, hands-on individual passionate about driving lasting operational change.

Key responsibilities include:

Contributor-Level Leadership

• Partner with VP of Operational Excellence and Lead Director to deploy strategy supporting enterprise transformation.
• Oversee large-scale initiatives to standardize, optimize, and improve processes across business lines.
• Drive continuous improvement, fostering innovation and operational efficiency.
• Ensure alignment with financial targets and KPIs, while supporting governance frameworks to track success.
• Communicate effectively with executives and stakeholders to gain buy-in.
• Deploy cost optimization strategies and lead internal process standardization.

Operational Strategy & Execution

• Collaborate with senior leadership to define and execute operational improvement strategy.
• Lead complex enterprise-wide transformation efforts and process improvement initiatives.
• Manage financial readiness, conduct P&L diagnostics, and recommend cost savings.
• Apply Lean methodologies and tools to optimize processes across departments.
• Communicate status updates, ROI, and results to senior leadership.
• Facilitate improvement events (e.g., VSMs, Kaizen, pilots, analytics, systems thinking).
• Develop and oversee project plans, budgets, and timelines.
• Build business intelligence reporting with analytics teams, aligning to strategic objectives.
• Guide development and auditing of Standard Work to ensure policy alignment.
• Meet regularly with project sponsors, provide timely documentation, and escalate key issues.
• Demonstrate initiative, independence, and accountability with a “can-do” mindset.
• Serve as a role model for continuous improvement, leveraging innovation including AI/ML.

Change Management

• Influence and facilitate change without formal authority.
• Lead change initiatives to ensure adoption of new processes, tools, and technologies.
• Develop and execute change management plans (communication, training, stakeholder engagement).
• Partner with leadership to assess impacts, mitigate resistance, and foster adaptability.

Building Blocks for Success

Required:

• 7+ years applying Lean Six Sigma to drive improvement; 5+ years facilitating large-scale Lean Transformations.
• Deep experience in Lean tools/methods (Hoshin Kanri, VSMs, Kaizen, A3 thinking, daily management, 5S, Visual Management, Standard Work).
• Skilled in strategy deployment, stakeholder management, and executive communications.
• Strong data analytics capability for problem solving and root cause analysis.
• High emotional intelligence, relationship building, and communication skills.
• Self-starter, strategic thinker, adaptable in ambiguity, committed to continuous learning and personal development.
• Proven success leading cross-functional, complex projects with executive-level engagement.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience in transactional Lean environment is a plus.
• Experience with Tableau, Sigma, Salesforce, Lucid, Monday.com, and ChatGPT is a plus.

Hiring Salary Range of: $138,000 -173,000. Salary and whole compensation package (bonus target & LTI) to be determined by the candidate’s location, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. 

#LI-TA1

People First

Each of us working at Prologis plays an essential role in the enduring success of our company. We value people who are decisive, courageous and adaptable. While we are one company, locations and departments operate with autonomy and accountability. Individuals take the initiative here.

When you join Prologis, you work shoulder to shoulder with some of the top talent in the industry to do the best work of your career. Every employee belongs. Every employee contributes. Employees advance their careers here.

As a successful global enterprise, Prologis has never lost sight of what matters most, our strong belief that our people are the most important part of our business. And because of that, we provide a generous total rewards package and take a lot of time to focus on quality management and leadership development. People come first here.

All full-time roles in the US come with a robust benefits package which includes healthcare, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents. Prologis also offers several other wellness, financial, and work/lifestyle-specific benefits. Our 401(k) retirement plan has a company match of 50% up to 12% of eligible compensation. We also offer generous PTO with a starting accrual of 22 days a year in addition to paid holidays and volunteer time. 

All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of background verification. Prologis is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religions, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Employment Type:

Full time

Location:

Chicago, Illinois

Additional Locations:

Cerritos, California, Cerritos Office, Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte Office, Dallas, Texas, Dallas Office, Denver, Colorado, East Rutherford, New Jersey, Indianapolis, Indiana, Indianapolis Office, LAX Office, Miami, Florida, New Jersey-E Rutherford Office, New York, New York, New York City Office, San Francisco, California, San Francisco Office, Seattle, Washington