Operations Optimization Specialist - West

Reporting to the National Manager – Operations Optimization, the Regional Operations Optimization Specialist – West plays a key role in supporting process standardization, operational excellence, and continuous improvement initiatives across the assigned region. This individual contributor role works closely with Branch Operations, Distribution Centers, Supply Chain, Services, and all other business teams to identify operational improvement opportunities, implement standardized processes, conduct operational reviews and audits, and support practical solutions that improve quality, consistency, efficiency, and customer experience.

This role can be hybrid or based in office. Home location is flexible to any major metropolitan area in which Bolt Supply House operates.

The ideal candidate would be a collaborative and results-oriented professional who can build credibility with frontline employees and leaders, influence positive change, and help sustain operational improvements across multiple business functions. Success in this position is built on strong relationships, practical problem solving, and the ability to translate operational challenges into scalable, sustainable solutions.

Roles & Responsibilities:

Operational Improvement & Standardization

• Conduct operational assessments to identify recurring issues, process inefficiencies, unnecessary steps, and improvement opportunities.
• Partner with employees and leaders to develop, test, and implement practical workflows and standardized operating processes.
• Support change management activities, including employee engagement, training, and adoption of approved process improvements.
• Identify and share successful local practices that may be scalable across locations and business units.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Support the National Operations Optimization Program, including Quality Management System initiatives.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, work instructions, process maps, and operational standards.
• Conduct process health checks, operational reviews, and compliance audits.
• Investigate recurring operational issues and support root cause analysis and corrective action implementation.
• Lead and facilitate continuous improvement initiatives to improve operational performance and process consistency.
• Establish accountability, follow-up activities, and performance measures to ensure improvements are sustained.

ERP & Business Systems Optimization

• Collaborate with IT/IS and business stakeholders to improve ERP workflows, data accuracy, operational reporting, and system utilization.
• Assist in defining business requirements for system enhancements and process improvements.
• Improve the quality and consistency of customer, supplier, inventory, and operational master data.
• Identify system limitations, inefficiencies, and manual workarounds impacting productivity or customer service.

Performance Measurement & Reporting

• Collect, analyze, and interpret operational data, KPI results, and process review findings.
• Measure baseline performance and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented improvements.
• Prepare operational summaries, recommendations, progress reports, and management updates.
• Support the development and maintenance of dashboards, scorecards, and KPI tracking tools.

Collaboration & Integration

• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Service, Sales, Customer Excellence, Finance, and IT/IS teams to improve cross-functional processes.
• Engage frontline employees in identifying challenges, testing solutions, and implementing improvements.
• Support acquisitions, business integrations, new initiatives, and system implementations.
• Share best practices, lessons learned, and successful improvements across regions and business units.
• Other duties as required to support operational excellence and continuous improvement objectives.

Education & Experience:

• Minimum 3+ years of experience in industrial distribution, supply chain, manufacturing, warehousing, branch operations, service operations, or a related operational environment is required.
• Post-secondary education in Business, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Engineering, Logistics, or a related discipline is considered an asset.
• Experience supporting process improvement, quality management, operational excellence, or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Practical understanding of branch operations, warehouse operations, distribution centers, service operations, or customer-facing environments.
• Experience developing and implementing SOPs, work instructions, process maps, or operational standards.
• Experience working with ERP systems, operational reporting tools, and business performance data.
• Knowledge of Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience supporting organizational change, acquisitions, or business integration initiatives is considered an asset.
• Professional certifications such as Lean Six Sigma, ISO 9001 Internal Auditor, ASQ, APICS/ASCM, or equivalent are considered assets.

Specific Skills:

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and process improvement capabilities.
• Ability to identify operational challenges and develop practical, scalable solutions.
• Strong facilitation, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Exceptional collaboration skills with a demonstrated ability to work effectively across multiple departments and operational functions.
• Ability to influence change and drive results without direct authority.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Experience analyzing operational data and translating findings into actionable recommendations.
• Proficiency in process documentation, workflow development, KPI reporting, and continuous improvement tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently in a dynamic and evolving operational environment.
• Positive attitude, practical mindset, and commitment to continuous learning and improvement.