Senior Process Excellence Manager

The role This is a senior process excellence role within an education‑focused publishing environment, centred on improving end‑to‑end publishing workflows and enabling next‑generation digital publishing. You’ll act as a trusted partner to a specific publishing area, owning a portfolio of improvement initiatives while leading and coaching a small team. The role blends process excellence, business analysis, change management and stakeholder engagement at scale. Key responsibilities * Lead and develop a small team of Process Excellence Managers, providing coaching and direction. * Own and manage a portfolio of tactical and strategic improvement initiatives aligned to business priorities. * Analyse and improve complex publishing workflows across the submission‑to‑publication lifecycle. * Identify inefficiencies, risks and improvement opportunities, and define future‑state processes. * Work closely with editorial, production, technology, marketing and commercial teams to deliver change. * Translate business needs into clear, prioritised requirements and solution options. * Support delivery of workflow automation, system enhancements and regulatory/compliance initiatives. * Contribute to change management planning and drive adoption of new processes and technologies. * Define and track KPIs to measure impact and value of delivered improvements. * Act as a Centre of Excellence representative, clearly communicating objectives and progress to the wider business. Skills and experience * Demonstrable experience in process optimisation, continuous improvement, process excellence or business analysis in a lead role. * Strong understanding of education or research publishing and journal workflows, including the submission‑to‑publication journey. * Demonstrable experience partnering with senior stakeholders and influencing across functions. * Experience leading or line‑managing a small team. * Strong analytical capability with the ability to translate complexity into clear, practical solutions. * Demonstrable experience working across projects with strategic impact. * Familiarity with change management concepts and successful adoption of change in operational environments. * Lean Yellow Belt or Business Analysis certification. * Degree‑level qualification or equivalent practical experience. Desirable * Project or programme management certification (e.g. PRINCE2, MSP, Agile). * Experience working closely with technology teams and third‑party suppliers. * Confidence operating in a complex, matrixed organisation. Why apply * Opportunity to influence and improve education publishing processes at global scale. * High‑impact role with visibility across senior stakeholders. * Supportive, collaborative culture with a strong focus on continuous improvement. * Hybrid working and a comprehensive benefits package. How to apply Apply via CV Library or contact Portare Solutions for a confidential discussion