Vice President, Business Process & Transformation

About Baird & Warner Real Estate

Over the last decade, Baird & Warner was named a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace ten times in a row. But we didn’t get there by accident — behind every great company is a culture created by the professionals who work there. Throughout our rich history, one thing has remained true: we believe that when you give people the support they need, amazing things can happen. That’s why at Baird & Warner we empower you to be independent, to grow in your career, to do the right thing by your colleagues and your community, and to have a true work/life balance. We truly care about making our team feel part of something bigger by sharing a single purpose — making it easier for homebuyers and sellers to realize their real estate dreams.

Vice President, Business Process & Transformation

At Baird & Warner, we are committed to continuous improvement and transformation to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving and competitive market. As we embark on an exciting phase of growth entering our 169th year of business, we are seeking a highly experienced Vice President, Business Process and Transformation to help drive operational excellence across the organization.

This individual will be responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive strategies for our business process optimization, driving transformational change, and enhancing overall efficiency and effectiveness. This role requires a strategic leader with a proven track record of leading transformation initiatives, leveraging best practices, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the company’s goals and objectives.
• Lead the development and execution of the company’s business process improvement and transformation strategy in alignment with the company's strategic objectives across the enterprise.
• Select and lead the implementation of a standard process improvement methodology, so all three business units and shared services can collaborate using the same language/methodology.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, providing insights and recommendations on opportunities for process optimization, cost reduction, and revenue enhancement.
• Partner with each business unit and with cross-functional teams to refine processes, streamline workflows, eliminate waste, and optimize resource allocation to enhance operational performance while always ensuring alignment.
• Break down silos between functional groups to enable collaboration and communication.
• Secure stakeholder buy-in through effective change management.
• Create and maintain a detailed workflow mapping library and process maps to understand current and optimal future states of our business operations resulting in redesigned workflows that eliminate inefficiencies and boost productivity while reducing costs.
• Develop and oversee project improvement deliverables - oversee the execution of the projects, ensure they stay on schedule, within budget, and meet predefined benefits.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the progress and impact of process improvement initiatives, and provide regular updates to senior leadership.
• Work closely with Learning & Engagement to provide/update training and support to our people to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to adapt to new methodologies, processes, technologies, and ways of working.
• Provide structure, tools and support mechanisms needed to manage change and foster an environment conducive to sustaining change.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in business process improvement, transformation, and change management roles.
• Proven track record of leading successful process improvement initiatives from inception to full implementation, driving tangible results in terms of cost savings, efficiency gains, and customer satisfaction.
• Strong understanding of methodologies such as Six Sigma and Lean and change management frameworks.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and inspire teams at all levels of the organization.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans and drive execution in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Innovator
• Demonstrated experience in building and leading high-performing teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Black Belt, Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP), or similar certification(s) from a reputable institution, desired.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, PTO, VTO