Sodexo

Executive Director, Center of Excellence

Sodexo is a global leader in food and facilities management services, powered by over 430,000 employees worldwide and 104,000 in the U.S., delivering services to more than 1,600 clients every day.

In this role, I led comprehensive IFM and workplace services for a premier life sciences client, overseeing diverse, high-complexity environments across mega sites and R&D facilities. My focus centered on experience transformation, operational excellence, and strategic alignment — driving measurable improvements across service lines through effective change management and high-impact program development.

Employment: November 2023 – January 2025

Territory: North America

Reported To: Account Vice President

Direct Reports: 19 including Leads, Senior Managers, and Directors

Total Team Scope: 362 FTEs, Spanning all account functions

Service Line: Integrated Facility Management & Workplace Service Lines

Workplace Experience Transformation: Spearheaded the transformation of workplace and employee experience for a key life science account across North America, implementing impactful change management strategies and best practices.

  • Operational Efficiency & Team Leadership: Directed and mentored a high-performing team to achieve exceptional operational efficiency, exceeding client expectations and driving significant improvement in key performance indicators.

  • Strategic Business Model Development: Spearheaded the development and implementation of strategic business models and roadmaps that optimized service delivery, drove cost savings, and elevated the overall employee experience.

  • Financial Management & Resource Optimization: Managed a multi-million-dollar departmental budget, ensuring efficient resource allocation, cost-effective operations, and the maintenance of high-quality standards.

  • Program Evaluation & Enhancement: Led comprehensive evaluations of existing programs, identifying critical service gaps and implementing corrective action plans to enhance efficiency and employee satisfaction.

  • Organizational Restructuring & Cost Reduction: Created and proposed departmental reorganizations projected to achieve a 30% cost savings by redefining roles for improved efficiency and creating opportunities to elevate client services.

  • Change Management & Communication: Provided expert guidance and leadership on change management and communication best practices for organizational development initiatives, ensuring seamless implementation and employee adoption.

  • Cross-Functional Team Leadership: Led cross-functional teams, including HR business partners, facility leaders, and workplace service employees, to develop skill set requirements, conduct gap analysis, and implement training programs that improved employee performance and cultivated a high-performing, customer-centric culture.

  • Stakeholder Communication & Engagement: Developed and delivered compelling presentations based on business and operational reports to senior stakeholders, both internally and externally, effectively communicating key performance indicators and securing buy-in for initiatives.

  • Client Relationship Management: Served as a key client liaison, ensuring organizational alignment on all experience-driven initiatives and building trust by ensuring their goals translated into noticeable service improvements.

  • Mentorship & Strategic Guidance: Mentored and guided senior management, setting clear objectives and providing strategic counsel that optimized resource allocation and reduced costs.

  • Employee Engagement & Motivation: Spearheaded internal employee engagement initiatives, including team-building exercises, to maintain morale and motivation during periods of transition and organizational change.