Senior Program Manager

Senior Program Manager (Distribution Center Optimization)

As a member of the Program Management organization, the Senior Program Manager will lead long, strategic, region-wide initiatives from concept through scaled operations. This leader will manage all project-related functions, including project validation, scoping, scheduling, budgeting, capacity line balancing, stakeholder management, and associated reporting. This position will work across all internal business groups to drive project success and operational improvements and will be responsible for driving technology upgrades and growth efforts into seamless manufacturing.

Location: Remote + Travel (50%-75%), 10+ North American Distribution Centers. Ideally located locally to one of the distribution centers or manufacturing sites.

Compensation: $160,000 - $180,000 base salary + 15% bonus.

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, STD, LTD, 401k match (6%), Tuition reimbursement, 3 weeks PTO. Benefits start the first day of the month following hire.

Job Description:

Experience leading multi-year, multi-million operations projects that permanently impact regional operations.

Experience working in a high-SKU, complex manufacturing environment with DC operations.

Demonstrated success running a stage-gated formal process.

Execute on specific scope for top-level project priorities, concentrating on delivery, start-up, and technical accuracy.

Develop, drive, and report on all activities associated with assigned projects as they relate to scope, schedule, budget, procurement, and change management.

Act as the group’s key contributor and manager for driving improved supply chain processes as needed for project success.

Work directly with the Global Procurement division in operations (specifically the Indirect Procurement Manager) to coordinate NDAs, MSAs, contract negotiations, bid events, maintenance agreements, warranties, and technical partner relations.

Budget Accountability: Manage $10M+ project budgets, tracking capital and expense spending. Ensure strict adherence to PO processes and reconcile monthly with Global Finance and Plant Controllers.

Stage-Gated Management: Execute projects through a formal stage-gate process, moving from concept and technical feasibility to equipment start-up and operational hand-offs.

Lead supply chain, IT, transportation, and operations teams to ensure their specific scope of the project is clearly defined and all questions/concerns are addressed.

Strategic Procurement: Collaborate with Global Procurement and Indirect Sourcing to manage NDAs, MSAs, and bid events. Coordinate technical partner relations for specialized rigging, OEM installations, and maintenance warranties.

Responsible for the generation and tracking of all project budgets. Works directly with global finance, regional controllers, and plant controllers on budget status, monthly reconciliation, and purchase order requests.

Take full ownership of projects and present monthly progress and decisions needed to the executive team.

Risk & Issue Management: Identify technical and logistical risks inherent in asset transfers (e.g., rigging delays, utility mismatches, regulatory hurdles) and develop robust mitigation plans.

Serve the Americas team as a top expert in executing challenging projects.

Metrics & KPIs: Define success metrics including Process Yield, Material Usage Variance (MUV), and Equipment Utilization/Efficiency for all newly installed assets.

Cross-Functional Alignment: Lead matrixed teams across Engineering, IT, Supply Chain, and Operations to ensure site-readiness and infrastructure alignment.

Strong working relationships must be developed with each Manufacturing Facility, Innovation, Product Development, Product Line Management, Sales & Operational Planning, Procurement, and Commercial teams.

Provide support to regional and plant operations/engineering to maintain current capability, implement additional capabilities, answer questions, address concerns, and remove cultural/technical barriers.

Provide technical/procedural expertise and guidance to others in accomplishing projects as directed.

Work with outside vendors to acquire needed supplies and parts and design operating standards for process improvement implementation and standardization.

Performance Indicators:

Ability to drive momentum in projects and keep stakeholders aligned

Strict adherence to approved capital and expense budgets

Accuracy of up-to-date scopes, schedules, and budgets

Global Process Key Operational Indicators, Process Yield and Material Usage Variance (MUV)

Capacity & Equipment Utilization and Efficiency

Process Cost Savings (Labor, Materials, Variable Overhead)

Creation of in-process controls for critical characteristics, specifications and control standards for global manufacturing processes

Qualifications Seeking:

BS Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain or Business with a minimum of 7 years in supply chain role with specific experience in process design, process improvement, Statistical Process Control/Quality Control and lean six sigma applications.

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification from an accredited organization or skilled manufacturing company.

Proven ability to validate projects (business case and technical feasibility) and then drive through project execution.

Makes data driven decisions with ability to collect data needed if not readily available.

Preferred experience in process design for manufacturing of industrial products.

Experience in inventory planning.

Strong experience with process flow analysis and general manufacturing principles.

Good project management skills, including communication, execution and follow-up assessment.

Proven, positive results with capital planning and budgeting experience with projects >$10M.

Ability to work in a matrix management environment across multiple cultures.

Results oriented; seeks effective, creative solutions to process problems.

Excellent oral and written presentation skills in front of all levels of the organization.

Knowledgeable in Oracle/ SAP or similar.