Project Manager, Operations Strategic Initiatives – Hybrid - Stillwater, MN

Job Overview:

The Project Manager, Operations Strategic Initiatives – Retail is responsible for driving the successful execution of enterprise operational initiatives across CUB. This role ensures strategic priorities are translated into consistent store execution by coordinating cross-functional work streams, managing implementation plans, removing barriers, and holding initiatives accountable from planning through sustained adoption.

Serving as the central execution lead for Retail Operations, this position partners closely with Operations, Merchandising, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Supply Chain, and external partners to ensure initiatives are delivered on time, aligned across functional areas, and produce measurable business results. Primary areas of focus include shrink reduction, fresh quality, labor optimization, operational standards, and store conditions.

This position owns execution governance, implementation discipline, cross-functional accountability, and enterprise adoption to ensure operational initiatives achieve intended outcomes.

• Lead execution of enterprise Retail Operations initiatives from implementation through sustained adoption.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, implementation roadmaps, milestones, dependencies, and execution timelines.

• Monitor initiative progress, identify execution risks, remove barriers, and ensure projects remain on schedule.

• Coordinate pilot programs, operational testing, rollout planning, and enterprise deployment to ensure successful implementation across stores.

• Drive accountability for initiative deliverables, ensuring commitments are completed and intended business outcomes are achieved.

• Serve as the central coordination point across Retail Operations, Merchandising, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Distribution, Supply Chain, and external business partners.

• Clarify ownership, responsibilities, timelines, and deliverables across multiple work streams.

• Facilitate collaboration between business partners to proactively resolve execution challenges and prevent project delays.

• Build strong partnerships that enable consistent execution across field and support center teams.

• Support enterprise initiatives focused on shrink reduction, store conditions, labor optimization, fresh quality, and operational consistency.

• Coordinate implementation of production planning improvements, waste reduction strategies, fresh process standardization, and merchandising enhancements.

• Partner with operational leaders to ensure initiatives are practical, scalable, and sustainable within store operations.

• Monitor implementation effectiveness and recommend adjustments that improve execution and business performance.

• Maintain governance processes that provide clear visibility into initiative status, risks, milestones, dependencies, and business outcomes.

• Develop executive-level dashboards, scorecards, and status updates for weekly operating reviews, monthly business reviews, and executive leadership meetings.

• Track initiative performance against defined success measures and communicate progress, risks, and recommendations to leadership.

• Maintain a comprehensive portfolio view of Retail Operations initiatives to ensure priorities remain aligned with business objectives.

• Identify opportunities to improve implementation processes, execution routines, governance practices, and operational adoption.

• Capture and share best practices across initiatives to improve future project execution.

• Support change management activities that strengthen adoption, accountability, and long-term sustainability of operational improvements.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor degree in Business, Operations, Supply Chain, Project Management, or related field required.

• Five or more years of experience leading cross-functional projects, operational initiatives, or business transformation within a retail, grocery, or multi-unit operating environment.

• Demonstrated success managing complex enterprise initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.

• Strong project management, organizational, communication, and executive skills.

• PMP certification or equivalent project management experience preferred.

• Strong knowledge of retail operations, merchandising execution, labor management, store operations, and operational improvement methodologies.

• Grocery or fresh/perishable retail experience strongly preferred.

• Experience supporting shrink reduction, quality improvement, production planning, labor optimization, or operational excellence initiatives.

• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance operational priorities, financial objectives, and customer experience.

• Excellent organizational and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple…