At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and colleague experience.
- Company: Railpen, a forward-thinking organisation embracing change and operational excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on enhancing organisational performance and culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on people processes and drive continuous improvement.
- Qualifications: Experience in operational excellence and process improvement methodologies required.
Operational Excellence People Process Lead – 6-9 month FTC
London/Darlington
Core Purpose of the Role
Railpen is evolving and undertaking a period of significant change. Adopting Operational Excellence across all People related processes and touchpoints is fundamental to achieving our strategic objectives, enhancing organisational performance and delivering value across the business.
The Operational Excellence People Process Lead will focus on understanding our current processes and related process gaps, identifying opportunities to simplify operational processes, improve efficiency and drive continuous improvement across the end-to-end colleague lifecycle, ensuring alignment to business priorities and the delivery of a high-quality colleague experience.
Working alongside People Operations, People Partnering, Talent and Reward Teams, you will undertake a review of our current people operations processes and implement stronger working practices, ensuring Workday supports streamlined ways of working. As a member of the People team, you will ensure people design decisions are evidence-based, outcome-focused and support our organisational performance, colleague engagement and culture.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead an end-to-end process improvement initiative to increase process efficiency, reduce complexity, and improve operational performance.
• Analyse current people processes, identify bottlenecks, and design sustainable solutions that deliver measurable results.
• Facilitate workshops and stakeholder sessions to map current and future-state processes.
• Develop and maintain process documentation, standard operating procedures, and governance
frameworks.
• Partner with teams across Finance and IT to ensure Workday workflows and system capabilities
support optimised people processes.
• Design an Operational Effectiveness Dashboard to define, monitor, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure process effectiveness and identify further improvement opportunities.
• Apply continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, or similar frameworks to drive business outcomes.
• Support change management activities, including stakeholder engagement, training, and adoption of new processes and ways of working.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence across the People function.
• Identify an escalation process, risk based with the appropriate control points.
You will bring:
• Proven experience in Operational Excellence, continuous improvement and Business Process Improvement
• Experience leading process redesign and optimization initiatives across HR, Shared Services, or other business functions.
• Strong understanding of process improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, DMAIC, PDCA, or Agile.
• Ability to analyse complex processes, identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions that deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Experience with Workday, particularly in HR and/or enterprise process environments.
• A collaborative and pragmatic style, balancing pace, care, and organisational outcomes.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills, capable of building relationships across all levels of the organisation.
Operational Excellence People Process Lead – 6-9 month FTC in London employer: Railpen
Railpen is an exceptional employer that values its employees by offering a dynamic work culture and a supportive environment for professional growth. With the opportunity to work closely with the CFO in a high-impact role, employees benefit from competitive salaries, generous annual leave, and flexible hybrid working options, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in London.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operational Excellence People Process Lead – 6-9 month FTC in London
✨Leverage Your Network
Tap into your existing network in corporate circles—friends, former colleagues, or even acquaintances from industry events. A temporary role often isn't widely advertised, so having someone inside a company like Railpen can give you the inside scoop or even a referral.
✨Stay Alert for Short-term Opportunities
Many corporate leadership roles are filled during peak business cycles or project launches. Keep your eyes peeled for announcements or staffing needs from companies like Railpen; they might be looking for temporary support during busy times.
✨Showcase Your Flexibility
In temporary roles, adaptability is key. When you're chatting with potential employers, emphasise your ability to quickly adjust to new challenges and demands. Highlight specific instances where you've successfully managed change or stepped into new projects on short notice.
✨Join Corporate Management Forums
Get involved in online corporate management forums or local business groups. Networking in these spaces can help you discover temporary opportunities as well as gather insights about industry trends. Plus, being active in these communities can help you establish yourself as a knowledgeable candidate when applying to places like Railpen.
We think you need these skills to ace Operational Excellence People Process Lead – 6-9 month FTC in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Leadership Experience:For a role in corporate leadership management, it’s crucial to emphasise your past leadership experiences. Mention specific projects where you led teams or initiatives, detailing the outcomes and skills you developed. This shows that you understand what it takes to guide a team and deliver results.
Show Your Adaptability for Temporary Roles:Since this is a temporary position, employers will be looking for someone who can hit the ground running. In your cover letter, explain why you're interested in a temporary role at Railpen and how your previous experience equips you to adapt quickly to new challenges.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any certifications in project management, team leadership, or similar areas, definitely include them in your CV. These credentials can set you apart from other applicants, showing you’re not just qualified but also committed to your professional growth.
Tailor Your CV to the Company Culture:Take some time to research Railpen's values and leadership style. Adjust your CV language and examples to reflect their culture, demonstrating that you're not only a good fit for the job itself but for the organisation as a whole. This adds a personal touch that can really make your application stand out.
How to prepare for a job interview at Railpen
✨Show Off Your Leadership Stories
For a temporary role in corporate leadership management, we want to hear your stories! Think of specific examples where you’ve led teams or projects successfully, particularly under tight deadlines or challenging situations. This isn't just about what you did, but how your actions positively impacted the team or the business.
✨Be Ready for Situational Questions
Expect situational interview questions where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving and decision-making skills. Think of common scenarios in corporate settings, like managing a conflict or implementing a new strategy, and practice articulating your thought process and outcomes. This will help show off your ability to navigate corporate complexities.
✨Talk Strategy, Not Just Tasks
In a temporary leadership role, understanding the bigger picture is crucial. Brush up on strategic management principles and be prepared to discuss how you can quickly adapt and contribute to the company's objectives. Consider how you would initiate change or drive efficiency within a limited time frame—this will show that you're ready to hit the ground running!
✨Demonstrate Flexibility and Adaptability
Given the temporary nature of this position, we need to see how adaptable you are! Think of examples where you've had to adjust your leadership style or approach based on team dynamics or company culture. We want to know how you can blend in quickly while still making an impact during a short-term engagement.
