Sr Director, Program Management

Primary Responsibility :
Responsible for managing the facilitation of project planning and tracking process for the successful completion of multiple key capital growth projects and other business expansion initiatives. Responsible for managing multiple project teams to provide support to field operations and implement large, complex programs involving construction, racking/automation, systems and operations/people. Ensure that each project is completed within the original budget and schedule while meeting or exceeding the promised business benefits. Ensure successful go-lives of new business launches with no service disruption. Responsible for the development of PMO processes and reports to be utilized globally. Ensure PMO status reporting is consistent globally. Develop and coordinate training programs for global PMO staff.
What You’ll Do :
• Lead the definition and development of tools and templates appropriate for each project type.
• Develop project charter and align with internal and external expectations
• Develop and integrate project work plans
• Ensure global teams are executing documented PMO methodologies including consistency of tools/templates and KPI reporting before, during and after go-live.
• Visit projects managed by staff to audit progress and ensure facility readiness through tollgate and readiness meetings onsite.
• Develop and execute project work plans, to include successful partnering with other departments in the organization (Business Development, IT, Operations, Transportation, Real Estate, Legal and Finance).
• Manage the development of project plans for key expansion and growth initiatives. Manage multiple projects and resources simultaneously.
• Support construction and automation leads through integrated engineering, scheduling, oversight and conflict resolution
• Partner closely with operations to manage and track ramp-up plans, hiring and training trackers and actions/issues logs.
• Assign projects, review the quality of support provided by the team members and provide additional education in weak areas to ensure a broad and deep understanding of all workstreams.
• Manage project review meetings with team members to understand and document progress against plans and issues prohibiting progress.
• Communicate progress against the plan to team members, stakeholders, and executives; develop executive summaries and weekly status/progress documents that provide a view across timelines, facilities and customers.
• Partner with process owners and General Managers to fully understand impact of customer requirements or requests and the affect they would have on overall project planning process and/or specific projects.
• Continuously assess, manage, and report risk to minimize financial or schedule exposure on projects through contingency planning and risk mitigation.
• Manage resources to support operations initiatives and standardize operations best practices.
• Provide expertise and guidance to resolve problems encountered during implementations.
• Manage indirect reports who will be participants and project managers on the project in specific workstreams while still performing their day-to-day responsibilities in their home department.
• Full responsibility for multiple assigned projects, including both driving progress and ensuring deadlines are met and keeping management informed of progress.
• Manage change control so that as potential scope changes arise, they are each carefully analyzed, reviewed, and appropriately approved.
• Ensure adherence to budgeted costs and overall business case including revenue and profitability.
• Evaluate, appraise, and coach management team members.
• May need to travel on short notice (same week) to support project initiatives and occasionally for extended periods of time.
• May need to travel to internationally to visit customers, suppliers, or project sites
• Other duties and special projects as requested.
What Experience and Education You Need :
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Logistics, or related field
• 10-15 years of demonstrated Project Management experience in the fields of construction, warehouse automation, operations and/or logistics required.
• Operations management experience desired; proven experience inside a distribution center and leadership or other role through two or more go-lives
• Successful track record managing multiple high priority capital investment ($50M+) and customer implementations using project/program management methods and tools
• PMP/PMI certification highly desired or similar levels of program/project management education
• Strong knowledge of standard Microsoft applications to include Project, Excel, PowerPoint, Word and VISIO (and other process documentation tools)
• Experience using collaboration tools such as Microsoft 365 applications, OneDrive, BlueBeam, SharePoint and Box
What Could Set You Apart :
• Strong Project Management acumen
• Strong knowledge of construction processes
• Strong knowledge of automated systems, their application, and the fully implementation process
• Good transition/change management skills
• Capacity to anticipate, comprehend and manage project dependencies across work streams
• Ability to communicate professionally, both written and verbal with individuals at all levels of the organization, external contacts, customers and potential customers
• Strong ability to work cross-functionally with a variety of stakeholders and develop a solution oriented approach
• Demonstrates a results-based leadership style with strong impact and influencing skills
• Ability to communicate effectively to direct and motivate team and others, maintaining a persuasive and credible presentation style at all levels of the organization
• Strong financial acumen and business savvy
• Strong analytical skills and problem solving skills
• Possess a proactive approach with strong customer service orientation
• Demonstrates uncompromising level of integrity and code of ethics and maintain a high degree of confidentiality
• Must be able to travel at an estimated 50-75% of the time, plus to support projects and staff both domestically and internationally
• Extended travel including weekends may be required during critical times such as facility launches or key construction milestones for multiple weeks
Physical Requirements :
The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Requires the ability to sit for long periods of time, with frequent interruptions
• Requires several hours per day of sitting, getting up and down from chairs, and reaching, or bending
• Requires manual dexterity with normal hand and finger movements for typical office work
• Talking, hearing, and seeing are important elements of completing assigned tasks
• Requires frequent travel by automobile and airplane up to 75% of the time
• Requires visiting facility operations in temperatures at or below freezing
• Frequently carries loads related to travel and occasionally lifts, carries, positions, or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds
• Requires the use of various electronic tools
• Occasionally works evenings or weekends in order to complete objectives or to attend meetings
• Requires the ability to relate to others beyond giving and receiving instructions: must partner with colleagues without exhibiting behavioral extremes
• Requires the performance of work activities including reasoning, negotiating, instructing, persuading, or speaking with others; and respond appropriately to constructive feedback from executive management
Americold is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and complies with applicable employment laws.
EOE/AA M/F/D/V DFW.