Manager, Project​/Program Management; Individual Contributor - CAI Inventory Solutions PMO

Position: Manager, Project/Program Management (Individual Contributor) - CAI Inventory Solutions PMO
Company

Cox Automotive - USA

Job Family Group

Business Operations

Job Profile

Lead Project / Program Manager

Management Level

Manager - Non People Leader

Flexible Work Option

Hybrid - Ability to work remotely part of the week

Travel %

Yes, 25% of the time

Work Shift

Day

Compensation

Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $ - $. 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.

Job Description

Location

Note:

Strong preference for candidates in the Atlanta, GA area.

Role Overview

The Strategic Program Manager is a skilled delivery practitioner who independently executes complex, cross-functional strategic programs with a high degree of autonomy and ownership. This role is the backbone of the PMO's day-to-day execution capability - managing programs from initiation through close with discipline, rigor, and strategic awareness.

As an individual contributor, the Strategic PM brings deep program management craft, sound judgment, and strong stakeholder communication to every program they own. They proactively identify risks, navigate organizational complexity, and translate program status into clear narratives that enable faster decisions. They are expected to apply AI-powered practices to their work, contribute to the evolution of PMO standards, and model the delivery behaviors the team aspires to.

This role operates across a matrixed environment in close partnership with product, engineering, and business stakeholders - and is expected to influence without authority at the Director and VP level.

Responsibilities

Prepare, Manage & Execute Programs

* Independently manages complex, cross-functional projects and spanning multiple business or technical domains, owning the full lifecycle from initiation through delivery and close.

* Works on projects / programs that have strategic importance to the business, ensuring alignment to Manheim's overall strategy.

* Translates ambiguous strategies into actionable project plans.

* Translates program objectives into integrated plans, schedules, and delivery milestones; identifies dependencies, critical path, and resource needs.

* Produces and maintains high-quality program artifacts including charters, risk and issue logs, communication plans, dependency maps, and status reports calibrated to stakeholder audience.

* Manages scope, change control, and budget tracking; escalates proactively when constraints threaten delivery outcomes.

* Plays a consultative role with business partners and stakeholders to define the right approach, process, and tools for program success.

* Coordinates and leverages shared resources across concurrent work streams or programs within their portfolio.

* Defines and implements PM standards and processes for the programs they manage; contributes to broader PMO playbooks, templates, and delivery frameworks.

* Leads structured retrospectives on programs they manage; surfaces learnings that inform continuous improvement and PMO capability-building.

* Manages third-party vendor engagements related to program delivery when applicable.

Communicate & Engage Stakeholders

* Communicates program status, risks, issues, and decisions clearly and proactively to all stakeholders; calibrates message and medium to the audience.

* Produces high-quality program narratives for program sponsors and cross-functional leaders - translating execution detail into business-relevant insights that enable faster decisions.

* Establishes and maintains productive working partnerships with business owners, product leads, and technology teams.

* Identifies and escalates risks and issues with a clear point of view on mitigation; does not wait to be asked.

* Facilitates effective working sessions and decision forums at the program level, including steering and status meetings.

* Actively communicates program milestones and wins to maintain stakeholder engagement, team momentum, and PMO visibility.

* Demonstrates political acumen and interpersonal awareness; exercises sound judgment in how and when to surface issues across organizational levels.

Applies and Advances AI-Powered Delivery Practices

* Actively uses AI productivity tools to improve program delivery velocity; applies AI assistance to meeting synthesis, status reporting, risk identification, and documentation quality.

* Pilots emerging AI tools on live programs with a critical evaluation lens; produces structured assessments of productivity impact, accuracy risk, and appropriate use boundaries before recommending adoption to the broader team.

* Contributes to team AI fluency by sharing effective practices with peers and supporting PMO norms for responsible and transparent AI use.

* Partners with the Senior Portfolio / Program Manager to shape PMO-wide norms for responsible, transparent, and governed AI use; flags gaps or…