Continuous Improvement (Lean) Specialist

About us

About the role

Identify Opportunities. Eliminate Inefficiencies. Reinvent How Stores Operate.

A rare opportunity to join a high performing store operations transformation team, with the mandate to reinvent how our stores operate. Our mission is clear: enable store team members to spend less time on operational tasks and more time servicing customers across our network of 175+ stores. The team is responsible for driving a step-change in store productivity by leveraging digitisation, artificial intelligence and advanced analytics at the core.

You will bring deep operational excellence expertise across Lean, Kaizen and process optimisation to transform E2E store processes, embed continuous improvement practices and drive sustainable productivity outcomes across the store network – partnering closely with store teams, central operation, technology, data and AI teams in a squad model.

We're looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, is highly motivated by delivering tangible business outcomes, and embraces a progress over perfection mindset. Success in this role will require strong strategic thinking, exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, and the ability to challenge established ways of working to drive meaningful change.

As the Operational Excellence Specialist, you will:

• Apply operational excellence tools (e.g.: value stream mapping, process GEMBAs, 5 Whys, fishbone/root cause analysis, time and motion studies) to conduct detailed task analysis across key store processes, identifying and quantifying "waste".


• Design and facilitate Kaizen events and rapid improvement workshops with cross-functional stakeholders.


• Build and prioritise a pipeline of transformation opportunities based on business value, customer impact, feasibility, and productivity benefits.


• Co-design design future-state processes that leverage digitisation, AI, automation, and streamlined ways of working. 


• Translate operational challenges into clear business requirements and support proof-of-concept initiatives through data-driven analysis and recommendations.


• Contribute to business cases, investment proposals, and benefits realisation tracking through dashboards, reporting, and performance measurement.


• Support development of SOPs and process documentation, and present insights and recommendations to senior leaders in a clear and compelling manner.

This role based at our Chadstone Support Office in Melbourne lots of time spent in our stores.

About you

You’re a curious, commercially minded and passionate about challenging the status quo and driving meaningful change. You'll be energised by solving complex business problems, partnering with stakeholders at all levels, and delivering practical solutions that improve the way our store teams work. Combining Operational Excellence expertise with Lean practices, you'll thrive in a fast-paced environment where innovation, collaboration, and measurable results are valued.  In addition, you will have:

• 5–7+ years’ experience in Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, Business Transformation, Consulting, or similar environments, with a proven track record delivering large-scale change initiatives.


• Demonstrated success applying methodologies like Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen to identify waste, scope opportunities, and execute end-to-end improvement programs Strong experience delivering technology-enabled transformation programs, including digital, automation, AI, or process optimisation initiatives.


• Proven ability to influence and partner with frontline operational teams, business leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders to drive change at scale.


• Commercially minded and analytical, with experience developing business cases, investment proposals, and measurable value outcomes.


• Relevant tertiary qualification in Engineering, Business, Operations, Supply Chain, or a related discipline, supported by Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or equivalent certification (Black Belt preferred).


• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, Power BI, Snowflake (or similar data platforms), AI-enabled technologies, and retail/store systems including POS and handheld devices.

Our culture

If you’re searching for an organisation that’s truly committed to its people, where you can thrive in a culture of togetherness, then join Officeworks and let’s make bigger things happen – for all of us!  We celebrate our teams’ uniqueness by offering genuine team member benefits to the Officeworks family:

• We’re all about giving you the flexibility you need to keep things balanced to suit your individual needs. 


• Enjoy generous discounts across Officeworks, Geeks2U, Bunnings, Kmart, Target and the wider Wesfarmers brands.


• Access to our Officeworks benefits program for exclusive discounts and perks across entertainment, travel, lifestyle, and health.


• Our Growing Families Policy supports team members during the exciting and challenging times of expanding their family


• We prioritise safety, mental health and wellbeing, offering access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) as well as other ongoing programs


• OurFlexible Public Holidays Policy supports those who observe cultural or religious holidays different from the standard public holidays in Australia


• Take advantage of outstanding learning and development programs to support your career growth


• Explore fantastic career opportunities across the broader Wesfarmers Group.

At Officeworks, we operate best when our team represents the communities we serve.  We proudly commit to providing a safe and supportive work environment for our team.  We encourage applications from all candidates of all ages, cultures (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), people with disabilities, and the LGBTQI+ community.