Senior Specialist, Operational Excellence… at Coca-Cola · Japan -…

Senior Specialist, Operational Excellence and Digitalization

Location: Japan - Shiga

Job Description Summary:

Position Summary

Support the deployment and sustainment of Operational Excellence across CPS Japan through management system implementation, productivity governance, capability development, digitalization and transformation initiatives. Manage assigned workstreams and collaborate with functional teams to embed standards, streamline processes and sustain improvements in daily operations

Key Responsibilities

Management System Deployment

• Deploy OE frameworks, standards and management processes across functions.
• Coordinate management reviews, action follow-up and escalation processes.
• Work with functional teams and frontline employees to support implementation, assess adoption and address gaps.

Productivity Governance

• Support annual productivity planning and target deployment.
• Maintain the productivity initiative pipeline and coordinate progress reviews, reporting and risk escalation.
• Track benefit realization and support validation with initiative owners and Finance.

Capability Development

• Develop training materials and coordinate OE training programs, workshops and learning activities.
• Support the practical application of OE methods and adoption of new ways of working.
• Facilitate best-practice sharing and support OE Champion activities.

Transformation Execution

• Manage assigned OE workstreams, coordinating implementation with functional owners and tracking progress against agreed deliverables.
• Maintain implementation plans and monitor milestones, dependencies and risks.
• Support site diagnostics, maturity assessments and follow-up on agreed improvement plans.

Process and Digital Enablement

• Support business process standardization, simplification and workflow digitalization.
• Maintain OE documentation, implementation tools and collaboration resources.
• Coordinate user requirements and adoption activities with functional and digital teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations, Supply Chain or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum of five years of relevant experience in a manufacturing environment, including operational excellence, continuous improvement, operations or project implementation.
• Demonstrated experience implementing cross-functional initiatives and supporting the sustained adoption of processes or standards.
• Working knowledge of continuous improvement principles, structured problem solving and performance management.
• Strong planning, facilitation and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Ability to manage assigned workstreams independently, resolve implementation issues and escalate risks appropriately.
• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, with the ability to interpret operational and financial information.
• Business proficiency in Japanese and English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience deploying management systems or supporting manufacturing transformation programs.
• Familiarity with productivity governance and benefit realization.
• Lean or Six Sigma certification, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience in a multinational organization.
• Experience with workflow digitalization or process automation; familiarity with SQL, Python or Microsoft Power Platform is an advantage.

Skills:

Location(s):

Japan

City/Cities:

Shiga

Travel Required:

00% - 25%

Relocation Provided:

No

Job Posting End Date:

November 20, 2026

Our Purpose and Growth Culture:

We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what’s possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors – curious, empowered, inclusive and agile – and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years. Visit Our Purpose and Vision to learn more about these behaviors and how you can bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.