Continuous Improvement Manager – HR Services

Location: Budapest, Hungary
Working model: Hybrid
Function: Continuous Improvement / HR Services
Leadership responsibility: Team of Operational Excellence Analysts

Drive Continuous Improvement Across a Regional HR Services Organisation

EvolveTalent® is supporting a leading global organisation in the search for an experienced Continuous Improvement Manager – HR Services.
This is a senior leadership opportunity for an accomplished Continuous Improvement, Lean or Operational Excellence professional who is passionate about transforming processes, developing people and embedding a sustainable improvement culture.
Although the position is based within the HR Services organisation, a traditional HR background is not required. The strongest candidates may come from Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, Lean, business transformation, shared services, manufacturing or other complex operational environments.
You will partner with HR Services leaders across the EMEA region to identify improvement opportunities, optimise end-to-end processes and lead transformation initiatives that create a more efficient, consistent and customer-focused service organisation.

The Organisation and Team
The HR Services organisation in Budapest consists of approximately 50 professionals supporting different stages of the employee lifecycle from a back-office and service-delivery perspective.
The team supports local HR organisations, employees and managers across areas such as:

• HR administration and employee lifecycle processes
• Interview scheduling
• Offer management
• Employee and manager enquiries
• HR case and ticket resolution
• Standardised HR service delivery

As the Continuous Improvement Manager, you will lead a team of four Operational Excellence Analysts and work closely with HR Services leaders, functional stakeholders and international teams across EMEA.

Your Responsibilities
In this role, you will:

• Lead the Continuous Improvement agenda for the HR Services organisation across EMEA.
• Develop and embed a strong Lean and Continuous Improvement culture.
• Partner with HR Services leaders to identify process gaps, inefficiencies and transformation opportunities.
• Lead regional improvement and transformation projects from initial analysis through implementation and sustainable adoption.
• Apply Lean, Continuous Improvement and structured problem-solving methodologies to complex business and service-delivery processes.
• Support the standardisation, simplification and optimisation of HR Services processes.
• Establish appropriate governance, performance indicators and improvement mechanisms.
• Use operational data and process insights to identify root causes and recommend practical solutions.
• Facilitate workshops, process reviews and improvement initiatives with cross-functional and international stakeholders.
• Translate Lean principles into practical approaches that can be successfully applied within a corporate service environment.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of four Operational Excellence Analysts.
• Strengthen the team’s knowledge and capabilities in Continuous Improvement and transformation.
• Build strong relationships with HR Services leaders and act as a trusted improvement partner.
• Support change management and stakeholder engagement throughout transformation programmes.
• Ensure that improvements are measurable, sustainable and aligned with the wider HR Services strategy.

What You Bring
We are looking for an experienced Continuous Improvement leader with:

• Approximately 10 or more years of relevant professional experience.
• Strong experience in Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, Lean or business transformation.
• Deep practical knowledge of Lean methodologies and improvement tools.
• A successful track record of leading complex process-improvement or transformation projects.
• Previous people-management experience.
• The ability to coach, enable and develop professionals at different levels of experience.
• Strong project and programme management capabilities.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders across functions, countries or regions.
• The ability to influence and create engagement without relying solely on formal authority.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent facilitation and communication capabilities.
• Professional fluency in English.
• The ability to work effectively in a complex, international and matrixed organisation.

Relevant Professional Backgrounds
We are open to candidates from a variety of environments, including:

• Continuous Improvement
• Operational Excellence
• Lean Management
• Business Transformation
• Shared Services or Global Business Services
• Service Delivery Excellence
• Manufacturing or industrial operations
• Quality and Process Excellence
• Business Process Management
• Corporate-function transformation

Experience within HR Services, HR Operations or HR transformation would be valuable, but it is not a mandatory requirement.
Candidates coming from manufacturing or operational environments are very welcome, provided they are motivated to apply their Lean and Continuous Improvement expertise within a corporate HR Services setting.
Additional Advantages
The following would be beneficial:

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt or comparable certification.
• Experience introducing Lean methodologies within a transactional, service or office environment.
• Exposure to HR Services, HR Operations or employee-lifecycle processes.
• Experience within a shared-services or global business-services organisation.
• Knowledge of process mapping, root-cause analysis and performance-management frameworks.
• Experience leading change across multiple countries or business units.
• Familiarity with digital transformation, automation or service-delivery technologies.

The Leadership Profile
This role requires more than strong technical knowledge of Lean and Continuous Improvement. The successful candidate will be a credible and supportive leader who can combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery.
You should be able to:

• Create clarity and direction for your team.
• Develop the knowledge and capabilities of less-experienced colleagues.
• Build trust with HR and business stakeholders.
• Challenge existing ways of working constructively.
• Adapt Lean principles to a people-focused service environment.
• Engage stakeholders and guide them successfully through change.
• Balance ambition, pragmatism and sustainable implementation.

Why Consider This Opportunity?
This role offers the opportunity to:

• Lead Continuous Improvement for a substantial HR Services organisation.
• Influence HR service delivery across the EMEA region.
• Manage and develop a dedicated Operational Excellence team.
• Lead meaningful international transformation projects.
• Transfer strong Lean expertise into a complex corporate-function environment.
• Build a culture in which Continuous Improvement becomes part of everyday work.
• Join a globally connected organisation with significant opportunities for professional growth and impact.

About EvolveTalent®
At EvolveTalent®, we believe that sustainable recruitment begins with understanding people, organisations and the environments in which they can thrive.
We support our clients in identifying professionals who bring not only the required expertise, but also the leadership qualities, values and motivation needed to create a lasting impact.
EvolveTalent® – Evolving Talent, Connecting Hearts.