Strategic Project​/Program Analyst

Role Overview

The Strategic Program Analyst is a driven, autonomous delivery practitioner who independently manages moderately complex, cross-functional programs across vAuto's software module portfolio — from initiation through release, launch, and adoption. They own their programs end-to-end, bring a consultative mindset to every engagement, and are hungry to grow.

This role operates with a high degree of initiative and a relentless drive to deliver. This person doesn't wait to be directed — they identify what needs to happen, move on it, and close the loop. They bring a standard of excellence to every artifact, every meeting, and every stakeholder interaction — and they're always asking how to do it better.

Coaching and mentorship are available, but this person doesn't wait for either.

They are expected to apply AI-powered practices to their work, contribute to PMO standards, and model the consultative behaviors that define this team. This role is aligned to vAuto's module portfolio and is a deliberate stepping stone toward senior program leadership.

• A self-starter who identifies what needs to happen and drives it forward — without being directed, without being chased, and without cutting corners.
• Independently manages moderately complex, cross-functional programs spanning product, engineering, and marketing — owning the full lifecycle from initiation through delivery, close, and adoption.
• Translates program objectives into clear plans, schedules, and delivery milestones; identifies dependencies, critical path, and resource needs without being prompted.
• Produces and maintains high-quality program artifacts including charters, risk and issue logs, communication plans, and status reports calibrated to the stakeholder audience.
• Manages scope, change control, and escalates proactively when constraints threaten delivery outcomes.
• Coordinates shared resources across work streams; flags capacity conflicts before they become delivery risks.
• Contributes to PMO playbooks, templates, and delivery frameworks; brings forward observations and improvement ideas grounded in their program experience.
• Leads retrospectives on programs they manage; surfaces learnings that inform continuous improvement.

• Drives clarity across their programs by communicating status, risks, and decisions proactively — calibrating message and medium to the audience.
• Produces clear, concise program narratives for program leads and cross-functional partners — translating execution detail into insights that enable faster decisions.
• Establishes productive working relationships with product, engineering, and marketing partners; builds trust through consistent follow-through.
• 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 status meetings at the program level.

• Actively uses AI productivity tools to improve delivery velocity; applies AI assistance to meeting synthesis, status reporting, risk identification, and documentation quality.
• Contributes to team AI fluency by sharing what's working and flagging what isn't.
• Maintains full alignment with Cox Automotive AI policy; ensures all AI-assisted artifacts are reviewed, owned, and accountable to the PM.

• Approaches every program with genuine curiosity — asks 'why' before 'how,' challenges assumptions, and takes time to understand the real business problem before building a plan.
• Comes to conversations prepared. Brings a point of view, not just a status update — so partners can make decisions rather than gather information.
• Reads the room. Pays attention to organizational dynamics and competing priorities that affect program delivery, and factors those into how they communicate and escalates.
• Earns trust through judgment and follow-through — builds a reputation for flagging problems early and delivering on commitments without needing to be chased.
• Holds themselves to a standard of excellence — not because they're asked to, but because they genuinely care about…