Director of Operational Excellence

**Applications will be accepted through 31 May 2026. Please note that submissions may not be reviewed prior to this deadline.**

When you work at Daktronics, you’ll be part of something amazing. We design, engineer, manufacture and support bold, eye-catching digital LED display technology and audio systems.

Our products bring excitement to professional, college and high school games. They attract customers for businesses around the world, and even provide direction for people as they travel, work and play.

As part of the Daktronics team, you’ll have interesting, impactful work with flexible opportunities. You can learn and grow at a company that provides competitive compensation and meaningful benefits – and the people are second to none.

What will the work look like for me?

The Director of Operational Excellence provides enterprise-wide leadership to drive safe, efficient, predictable, and scalable business operations across all functions. This role translates business strategy into standardized operating systems and continuous improvement practices that improve enterprise performance outcomes (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Experience, and Engagement).

The Director partners with functional and business leaders to deploy proven operational excellence methodologies, eliminate waste, improve customer and employee experience, and embed a culture of continuous improvement across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

Enterprise Operational Excellence Leadership

• Lead the enterprise operational excellence strategy across all functional areas, beginning in Manufacturing & Supply Chain, and expanding into Sales, Service, Engineering, Finance, HR, IT, and Shared Services.
• Translate corporate strategy into scalable operating models, standard work, and performance management systems.
• Drive measurable and sustained improvements in efficiency, quality, cycle time, cost, and customer experience.

Continuous Improvement & Systems Deployment

• Design, deploy, and sustain enterprise continuous improvement frameworks, incorporating Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Lead cross-functional transformation initiatives targeting process flow, decision speed, service quality, and cost optimization.
• Ensure improvements are embedded and sustained through leader standard work, governance routines, and audit disciplines.

Process Excellence & Standardization

• Establish enterprise process management and governance models, including value stream ownership and end-to-end process accountability.
• Standardize core business processes while enabling flexibility for functional and regional requirements.
• Capture, document, and scale best practices across functions, teams, and geographies.

Performance Management & Analytics

• Define and deploy enterprise KPIs and tiered accountability systems aligned to strategic objectives.
• Lead business performance reviews, facilitating fact-based discussions and corrective action planning.
• Quantify and track financial, operational, and customer impact of operational excellence initiatives.
• Provide clear, concise reporting to executive leadership on progress, benefits, risks, and priorities.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Influence

• Partner with functional leaders and executives to align priorities, behaviors, and expectations.
• Influence without direct authority to drive adoption of standardized ways of working.
• Serve as a thought leader in operational excellence, business operating models, and organizational effectiveness.

Digital Enablement & Transformation

• Partner with IT and Digital teams to improve process effectiveness through automation, analytics, and enabling technologies.
• Ensure process design and improvement approaches align with system capabilities and future-state architecture.
• Promote data-driven decision-making and transparency across the organization.

Capability Building & Culture

• Build internal continuous improvement capability through training, coaching, and development of CI practitioners, managers, and leaders.
• Coach leaders on problem-solving, change leadership, and performance management behaviors.
• Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement across all levels of the organization.

Where is this opportunity located? 

Position located in Brookings, SD.

To be considered for Director of Operational Excellence, we require the following: 

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations, Finance, or related field required.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent strongly preferred.

Experience

• 10–15+ years of progressive leadership experience in operational excellence, business transformation, operations, or consulting.
• Proven experience leading complex, cross-functional, enterprise-wide improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated success delivering sustained improvements in efficiency, quality, cost, and customer/employee experience.

General

• The selected individual must be able to travel by air and ground and comply with the Daktronics Driver Eligibility Policy to begin and maintain employment. This requirement will be verified through a motor vehicle record (MVR) check conducted in accordance with applicable federal, state, provincial, and local laws.
• Ability to travel by air and ground. Valid driver’s license and good driving record. Frequent domestic and international travel may be required.
• Fluent in English, written and verbal.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Daktronics does not sponsor, renew, or extend immigration visas for this position.

Core Competencies

• Enterprise operational excellence and systems thinking.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and executive presence.
• Change management, influence, and stakeholder alignment.
• Financial acumen with strong ROI and value realization capability.
• Data analytics, performance measurement, and insight generation.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and coaching skills.

Typical Success Metrics

• Improved enterprise efficiency, cycle time, and service levels.
• Reduced cost of poor quality, rework, and non–value-added work.
• Increased consistency and predictability of business performance.
• Scaled adoption of standard processes and best practices.
• Strong continuous improvement capability embedded across functions.
• Improved employee engagement through better ways of working.

Ready to make an impact? Apply now and start your journey with Daktronics.

Daktronics is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.