Senior Manager, Strategic Project / Program Management

Role Overview
The Senior Manager, Strategic Project / Program Management is a people leader and consultative program-level integrator responsible for owning the execution of the most complex, cross-functional technical programs across vAuto's full portfolio of software solutions - from product inception and development through release, launch, and market adoption. This role leads and develops a team across multiple levels, aligned to distinct focus areas spanning module delivery, enterprise programs, and foundational transformation initiatives.
They serve as a trusted thought partner to executive sponsors, shaping how the PMO delivers measurable business value and ensuring the organization is informed, prepared, and equipped to adopt change before it arrives. They bridge tactics and strategy by orchestrating readiness plans, mitigating risks, and driving stakeholder engagement - and serve as the escalation point for the most complex programs across the portfolio.
The Senior Manager raises the capability bar across the team, modeling AI-powered delivery practices, consultative behaviors, and executive presence - and builds practitioners who reflect that same standard. They are sought out by senior leaders for their judgment, not just their process rigor.
Responsibilities
Prepare, Manage & Lead Programs• Owns the delivery of the most complex, cross-functional software release programs across vAuto's module portfolio - from product inception through release, launch, and market adoption.• Develops a point of view on portfolio trade-offs and brings prioritization recommendations to Directors and AVPs with clear rationale - does not simply present options and wait for direction.• Proactively identifies when program scope has drifted from strategic intent and raises the conversation with executive sponsors - including recommending course corrections or stops when warranted.• Establishes right-sized governance (SteerCos, risk councils, escalation paths) that reduces decision latency and unblocks dependencies across concurrent module releases.• Ensures KPIs, benefits tracking, and delivery milestones are in place and actively maintained throughout the program lifecycle.• Serves as the escalation point for the most complex programs across the module portfolio; influences senior-level decision-making on launch strategies and release sequencing.• Owns PMO delivery frameworks, playbooks, and templates for the modules pillar; leads capability-building for the team and drives continuous improvement grounded in lessons learned.
Lead & Develop the Team• Leads and develops a team across multiple levels, providing coaching, guidance, and structured feedback that raises the capability bar across the pillar.• Fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, and consultative delivery - modeling the standards expected of every practitioner on the team.• Actively manages team capacity across concurrent programs; aligns resources to strategic priorities and escalates resourcing constraints before they threaten delivery.• Identifies and cultivates succession paths within the team; invests in practitioner growth as a deliberate leadership responsibility.
Communicate & Engage Stakeholders• Drives clarity and reduces uncertainty across the module portfolio by communicating program status, risks, and decisions proactively - calibrating message and medium to the audience.• Produces high-quality executive narratives for Directors and AVPs - translating execution detail into business-relevant insights that enable faster decisions.• Earned a seat at the table before the agenda is set; engages senior stakeholders during planning and problem framing, not just execution.• Demonstrates political acumen and tact in escalation; exercises sound judgment in how and when to surface issues across organizational levels.• Actively communicates team and individual wins; ensures the work of the module pillar is visible to senior leadership.
Embed AI-Powered Delivery Practices• Champions responsible AI adoption across the modules pillar; identifies, pilots, and scales AI-assisted workflows to reclaim team capacity for higher-value work.• Establishes team norms for responsible AI use aligned to Cox Automotive policy; models critical evaluation over uncritical adoption.• Builds the team's AI fluency as a durable capability; stays current on emerging tools relevant to software release delivery.
Drive Organizational and Launch Readiness• Ensures all impacted teams - internal and external - are informed, prepared, and equipped to adopt changes before launch.• Independently executes change management on mid-to-high complexity programs; partners with Change Enablement on the most organizationally complex releases.• Tracks adoption indicators post-launch and escalates sustainment risks before they become rollback risks.• Accounts for external dealer impact by coordinating appropriate readiness activities alongside internal change management - ensuring sustainable behavioral change, not just on-time delivery
Shows up as a Strategic Partner• Maintains a forward-looking view of vAuto's strategic initiatives and goals - anticipates where the portfolio needs to move before being asked, and positions the team accordingly.• Builds genuine partnerships with Business, Marketing, and Product Directors and AVPs - showing up as a thought partner in planning conversations, not just a delivery resource at execution time.• Connects portfolio decisions to business outcomes; consistently links program trade-offs and sequencing recommendations to strategic objectives, not just delivery timelines.• Brings a point of view to every conversation. Arrives with recommendations, not options - and is willing to say what senior leaders need to hear, not what is easiest to report.• Earns trust through judgment. Is sought out for their read on organizational risk, stakeholder dynamics, and strategic fit - not only for delivery metrics.
Qualifications
Required• 8+ years of program management experience delivering large, complex enterprise programs independently• 3+ years of people leadership experience with a demonstrated track record of developing and elevating team members• Strong executive presence with proven ability to influence and partner with Directors and AVPs - comfortable leading SteerCo-level conversations and arriving with recommendations, not just status• Excellent ability to translate complex program status into clear executive narratives - verbal, written, and in the room• Fluency in Agile, hybrid, and traditional delivery methodologies across software product portfolios• Demonstrated familiarity with AI productivity tools and genuine curiosity for adopting emerging technology• Proficiency with Smartsheet, Microsoft 365, and Teams
Preferred Qualifications• Experience supporting and implementing large scale Information Technology projects• Retail software experience strongly preferred (Client Support, Program Management, Business Operations, Performance Management, etc.)

• PMP, PgMP, HCD, Six Sigma, Agile certifications

Note: This job description provides a general summary of essential responsibilities and is not meant as an exhaustive list. Assignments may differ based on business conditions, departmental need, or program portfolio scope.
USD 122,600.00 - 204,400.00 per year
Compensation:
Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $122,600.00 - $204,400.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.
Benefits:
The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.
Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship.
Application Deadline: 08/10/2026
EOE, including disability/vets