Continuous Improvement Project Manager

In 1966, in Marseille, Pierre Bellon laid the foundations of what would become Sodexo, guided by a simple yet powerful idea: improving everyday life through services that truly matter.

Today, Sodexo is a global leader in Food and Services, supporting people at every moment of life, at work, in schools, hospitals and communities. With 426,000 colleagues across 43 countries, we serve 80 million consumers every day, generating €24.1 billion in revenues. Our growth goes hand in hand with social and environmental responsibility, driven by our purpose: to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all.

About Sodexo Business Services (SBS)

Portugal is no exception! Seven years ago, we established Sodexo Business Services (SBS), our shared service center. Here, you will have the opportunity to join various Financial teams such as Record to Report, Order to Cash, Purchase to Pay, Financial Analysis, and Master Data, supporting European markets and ensuring business growth.

Join Us!

We are looking for talented professionals to be part of our team, bringing unique skills and perspectives to help us grow even further.

Continuous Improvement Project Manager

Porto GBS Continuous Improvement Project Manager supports the Continuous Improvement Department’s mission to position Porto Shared Business Services (SBS) and GBS organization as a centre of excellence and strategic partner for Sodexo. The role empowers the organisation to deliver process excellence, customer-centric improvement, and a culture of innovation and capability-building.

⚙What will you do?

• Project Management: Lead and manage a variety of continuous improvement projects, including process optimisation, operational excellence, automation, and Kaizen initiatives, ensuring delivery on time, within scope, and on budget. Coordinate project teams, allocate resources, monitor progress, manage risks, and ensure quality standards are met.
• Facilitate Workshops and Hands-On Improvement Activities: Design, organise, and conduct workshops (such as Kaizen events and process mapping sessions) to engage teams in collaborative problem-solving, end-to-end process reviews, and solution development. Foster a hands-on, practical approach to improvement.
• Operational Excellence Model Implementation: Support the deployment and governance of the operational excellence model across SSC functions. Ensure processes are standardised, documented, and aligned with model principles. Monitor compliance and report deviations.
• Process Improvement & Optimisation: Identify inefficiencies and improvement opportunities within SSC processes. Apply Lean methodologies and best practices to streamline workflows, eliminate waste, and drive value stream optimisation.
• Change Management & Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitate change management activities, ensuring effective adoption of new processes and models. Engage with stakeholders at all levels, including finance HQ, SSC leaders, operational teams, and business process owners.
• Training & Coaching:Deliver training sessions and coaching on continuous improvement and operational excellence tools, methodologies, and governance standards. Support the CI Training Academy and capability-building initiatives, empowering teams to lead and sustain improvements.
• Performance Monitoring & Reporting:Collect and analyse performance data, develop and maintain KPIs and dashboards, and support regular audits to ensure compliance with governance standards.
• Documentation & Communication:Maintain thorough project documentation and provide regular status reports. Ensure clear communication among team members and stakeholders.
• Continuous Improvement Culture: Promote a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence, encouraging innovation, best practice sharing, and the development of a self-sustaining CI mindset across the SSCs.
• Other Duties: Undertake any other equivalent supporting actions that would increase the impact of SSC Continuous Improvement.

🤙What You Need to Succeed:

• 5+ years’ professional experience, (2+ years in Project Management & Continuous Improvement)
• Strong knowledge of process analysis, value stream optimization & Lean methodologies
• Hands-on experience with Lean tools (VSM, PDCA, SIPOC, A3, 5 Whys, visual management; Lean certification a plus)
• Data analysis, KPI reporting & exposure to finance/accounting processes
• Strong presentation skills; able to engage senior stakeholders in multinational environments
• Experience working with Finance HQ in large international companies
• Tools exposure: Power BI, Power Query, VBA, Smartsheet, SAP ECC & S/4HANA (a plus)
• Engineering or Management background preferred; Supply Chain/Operations knowledge a plus
• Structured, analytical and detail‑oriented
• Strong communication, negotiation & stakeholder management skills
• Leadership and change‑management capabilities in complex, multicultural environments
• Proactive, resilient and adaptable to fast‑changing contexts
• Curious learner with strong critical‑thinking skills
• Team player, able to multitask and perform under pressure
• Motivated by international environments
• Willingness to travel occasionally

🎉 What we have to offer you?

• Hybrid working model;
• Flexible working hours;
• Health & Life Insurance;
• Meal allowance paid in Meal Card;
• Additional Days off: extra vacation day, employee’s birthday, volunteering day;
• Opportunity to grow professionally inside the Company;
• Possibility to participate in multicultural projects;
• Several internal activities aiming to promote our team´s wellbeing.

📩 Apply now! Send your CV to [email protected] with the job title in the subject line. Explore all our career opportunities here: Sodexo Careers.

Learn more about Sodexo: YouTube - Sodexo.

Diversity & Inclusion Statement

Sodexo is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on merit.

🔒 Data Privacy:

We respect your privacy. Your personal data will be used exclusively for recruitment purposes, processed under GDPR regulations, and treated confidentially. For further details, contact [email protected].