About this role
Have you been looking for a company that you can get behind and feel good about the impact it has on sustainability and recycling efforts? Quest is a full-service environmental consulting and management group supporting the efforts of Fortune 500 companies seeking to maximize profits and mitigate risks and minimize their ecological footprints.
If you want an opportunity where your efforts make an impact, Quest has an opportunity for you. The ideal person must be able to multi-task, work independently and have strong attention to detail while being able to collaboratively communicate across departments.
Why Work at Quest?
First off, we practice what we preach. We focus every day on recycling, reusing and repurposing where we can, and being socially responsible.
Second, we take care of our employees’ wellbeing and offer a comprehensive benefits package including: Medical/Dental/Vision, 401(k) Plan, Life and STD.
- Company paid Life, Short term disability plan (voluntary employee-paid LTD is offered)
- Eligibility for health and life insurance plans: 1st of month following date of hire
- Remote/hybrid work environment
- 401k plan with employer match
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Paid Holidays, Vacation and Sick time
Finally, we are just a modern, FUN and collaborative work environment. We’re a smaller company that provides opportunities for employees to advance within the company, so there is always room to grow. We offer a casual business environment (so, you can wear jeans), great incentives and rewards with a quarterly recognition program.
ROLE SUMMARY
The Senior Vice President (SVP) of Operations is a highly strategic and results-driven leader responsible for overseeing all aspects of vendor management, operational excellence, process improvements, and change management within the company. The SVP of Operations will be responsible for strengthening vendor relationships, negotiating favorable contract terms, and ensuring optimal operational processes across various departments. This leadership role will drive efficiency, cost savings, and the seamless execution of operational goals through collaboration with key business leaders and stakeholders.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
Vendor Management & Relationship Development:
- Lead and manage vendor relationships to ensure the best value, service, and terms for Quest.
- Negotiate favorable contract terms and conditions, including payment terms, CPI, allowable fees, and other key contract metrics.
- Identify vendors that deliver superior service and value, and work to develop long-term strategic relationships with these vendors.
- Continuously assess vendor performance, providing guidance and feedback to enhance vendor service levels and efficiency.
- Develop and implement actionable solutions to improve vendor relations and performance, driving both cost savings and service improvements.
- Establish and implement vendor performance KPIs to track and drive vendor efficiency and operational excellence.
Process Improvement & Operational Excellence:
- Develop, implement, and maintain a Process Improvement/Operational Excellence Division to enhance business operations.
- Collaborate with business leaders to identify operational process gaps, design improvement initiatives, and implement solutions that streamline workflows and improve overall efficiency.
- Work closely with the Enterprise Project Management Office (ePMO) to ensure process improvements align with broader organizational goals and do not overlap with other initiatives.
- Develop and implement change management strategies across the organization, including managing and mitigating resistance, while driving sustainable improvements.
- Drive incremental benefits to Quest, including cost savings, improved service delivery, and optimized service continuity.
KPI Development & Change Management:
- Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to track and measure vendor performance, operational improvements, and change management outcomes.
- Develop KPIs in collaboration with Finance/Accounting and Operations teams to guide leadership discussions and strategic decision-making.
- Implement effective change management processes across all levels of the organization, ensuring smooth transitions during operational improvements and enhancements.
Collaboration & Cross-Functional Leadership:
- Collaborate with key business leaders to ensure the implementation of process improvements and optimization initiatives are aligned with organizational goals and strategies.
- Work closely with the IT department to ensure a deep understanding of system capabilities, needs, and potential gaps that may impact operational efficiency or data integrity.
- Ensure seamless coordination between Operations, Finance/Accounting, and IT teams to maintain data quality, accuracy, and precision across the organization.
Data Quality & Integrity:
- Own the integrity and accuracy of operational data, developing and enhancing controls to ensure high data quality and precision.
- Work with cross-functional teams to ensure that all processes and systems have the appropriate data governance measures in place.
General:
- Consistent and prompt attendance.
- Other duties and projects as assigned and required of the business.
CORE VALUES
Together, we DRIVE success through the Quest Core Values:
- Develop People
Trust and empower one another
- Encourage people to be their best selves
- Honor individual goals and aspirations
- Build strong leaders
- Foster Respect
Support one another
- Treat every role as vital
- Embrace diverse backgrounds
- Create an inclusive environment
- Deliver Innovation
Be the change
- Ask questions and be curious
- Seek opportunities and identify problems
- Contribute to solutions
- Value Relationships
Win and grow as one team
- Put people first
- Partner across the organization to build strong collaboration
- Embody a customer service mindset – both internally and externally
- Pursue Excellence
Act with integrity
- Hold yourself and others accountable
- Be fully engaged
- Focus fanatically on data and insights
- Serve as a good steward in our communities
Qualifications
ROLE COMPETENCIES
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
- MBA or other relevant advanced degree is a plus.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in Operations leadership, including vendor management and contract negotiation.
- Proven track record of driving operational excellence, process improvements, and cost savings in a fast-paced environment.
- Extensive experience in change management, process redesign, and implementation of best practices across cross-functional teams.
- Strong experience in negotiating and managing vendor contracts, developing KPIs, and overseeing vendor relationships.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to drive strategic initiatives.
- Excellent leadership and people management skills with the ability to drive change and build strong teams.
- Strong negotiation and analytical skills, with the ability to assess and interpret complex contracts and agreements.
- Proficiency in developing and monitoring KPIs to drive organizational and vendor performance.
- In-depth knowledge of operational systems, processes, and data management.
- Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with all levels of the organization.
- Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and effectively manage competing priorities and deadlines.
- Disciplined organizational skills in all aspects of job duties with strong attention to detail.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and relevant operational systems or ERP software.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Dependability - Meets deadlines and commitments to ensure the job gets done. Consistently completes assignments in an accurate and timely fashion.
- Communications - Expresses thoughts clearly, accurately, and precisely both verbally and in writing.
- Business Acume n - Understands industry and overall business operations. Possesses strong analytical skills
- Customer Focu s - Provides excellent customer service to clients, vendors, and/or fellow Quest employees. Responds promptly, professionally, effectively, and efficiently to internal and external customer needs.
- Innovation - Drives continuous improvement by identifying opportunities and assessing risks.
- Initiative : Takes proactive steps to address challenges and capitalize on opportunities. Demonstrates a willingness to go above and beyond job responsibilities. Leads by example and inspires others to take initiative.
- Decision-Makin g - Makes sound and practical decisions by considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions and all related requirements. Resourceful - Self-directed problem solver.
- Critical Thinking - Identifies root cause of problems and prevents the problems from recurring within assigned department. Considers impact of team's decisions.
- Flexible - Uses critical thinking skills and open to learning new ideas/skills. Responds well in a fast paced, high volume, dynamic environment.
- Planning and Implementin g - Plans and implements work according to appropriate timelines.
- Management Skills - Provides on-going guidance and assistance to improve morale and productivity. Identifies employees for development, succession planning, and training as needed. Effectively manages underperforming employees.
- Relationship Building/Teamwork - Facilitates a positive and productive team-oriented environment. Encourages open communication/feedback within the team.