Head of Business Improvement - Warwickshire

Head of Business Improvement Jobs

For a business to thrive, grow and attract the best talent, it must be on a constant mission for improvement. Improvement can manifest itself in many ways, from the small things that affect a few employees to a revolution in the way it does business that can propel it from an also-ran to a company at the top of its game. The most effective way to achieve improvement is to appoint a team or an individual whose job is solely to seek out business improvement opportunities and make them happen – in charge of this activity is the head of business improvement.

The job requires an ongoing analysis of the business and all its processes, or at least the processes within the remit of the head of business improvement. Armed with the financial figures for a given business activity, he or she observes and analyses the way it is carried out, talks with the people doing the work and try to come up with ways of improving it. This is not always a directly cost-saving or profit-enhancing measure. Sometimes an improvement might simply take the stress off certain employees, and the benefits will be long term – and the head of business improvement has the figures to prove it.

The skills required

An advanced ability to monitor and completely understand a business process and how it interacts with the rest of the business is a key attribute of a successful head of business improvement. You are able to come to a balanced appraisal of how a process works and what are the effects of making a change not only to it but also to the wider company. Where you consider that the benefits outweigh the costs, you will then have to make proposals to the board so that they can decide whether to implement them.

You are able to work on multiple processes at a time, and often change will have to be implemented gradually so that early effects can be assessed with a view to making more dramatic changes if necessary. This requires excellent analytical skills as well as a great interpersonal manner. It will be your job to convince all stakeholders that your proposals will have a benefit, which is not always easy, particularly where this might mean downsizing or relocation.