This job contributes to REI’s success by overseeing the end-to-end delivery of the large, business driven and technology enabled, transformational multi-year program named “Merchandise Planning Transformation” (MPT) . This program entails significant technology and business process transformation for the merchandising area of the REI Co-op and is a critical foundational enabler for both the Co-op’s ongoing operations as well as its planned strategic initiatives. This role will serve as the bridge between strategy, business, change management and technical execution, ensuring that both the business and technical aspects of the program are delivered. The Program Manager will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating cross-functional and cross-divisional components that are both business-led and technology-enabled, including strategic program planning and management, budget oversight, risk management, cross-functional coordination, resource management, and ensuring that all aspects of the project are completed in alignment with program priorities, on time and within budget. This highly critical role will leverage a solid business acumen and technology experience to serve as a critical connectorensuring full activation of our transformation across people, process and tech. They will act as a strategic integrator, aligning business goals, partnering with technology teams on delivery and coordinating across with change team to ensure transformational solutions are delivered effectively, adopted widely and drives measurable value. This role models and acts in accordance with REI’s guiding values and mission.

Leading the Way

While the Program Manager role may only have one direct report at this time, it is considered a leadership position. This role will be responsible for orchestrating a complex, cross-functional program that will require influencing, aligning, and guiding diverse teams (business, change, and technology) across the organization.

• Lead cross-functional teams by setting direction, aligning priorities, and driving accountability
• Act as the central point of coordination for both business and technology teams
• Provide and communicate with clarity and purpose

This Program Manager will also be responsible for overseeing the PMO Coordinator role.

• Identifies and communicates key responsibilities and practices to ensure the organization promotes a successful attitude, confidence in leadership, and teamwork to achieve business results
• Supports the implementation of company programs, procedures, methods and practices to promote REI key messages
• Challenges and inspires employees to achieve business results
• Ensures employees adhere to legal and operational compliance requirements
• Oversees training and development of employees directly and indirectly managed and makes effective staffing recommendations
• Conducts and ensures the completion of performance reviews
• Provides coaching, direction and leadership support to employees to achieve department, company, and customer results
• Establishes and maintains visibility within the department
• Monitors operational statistics, reports trends, variances and issues, and takes appropriate action

Your Planning & Navigating Requirements

• Oversees long-term program plan and roadmap for Merch Planning Transformation and translates to specific project plans for the projects within the program
• Develops an integrated project plan for each component of the Merch Planning Transformation Program, including the technology, change, training, communications, and business in partnership with the program team, that includes program deliverables, strategic alignment, enterprise-wide impacts, milestones, risks, assumptions, constraints, and overall program investment
• Manages business and technology scope, roadmap, schedule, cost, and quality for the MPT program (cross-divisional, multi-year in nature)
• Mobilizes and monitors inter-connected and cross-functional business and technology workstreams within the program (strategic planning, operating model, design, testing, change, training, communications, cutover, deployment, iterative project planning)
• Coaches and mentors PMO Coordinator on developing and maintaining project plans, priorities and schedules that support program goals
• Consults with the sponsoring business units and program leadership team in the development of a vision, mission, business case and program charter for the program
• Partners with program team and cross-divisional collaborators to identify, evaluate, and evaluate project interdependencies and their impacts to the program
• Identifies and tracks progress on key performance metrics both for the program and business case
• Definitively makes sound judgments when faced with ambiguity and uncertainty
• Creates and maintains staffing plans, partnering with other divisions on resource allocation, including both technology and business teams. Makes recommendations to senior management regarding internal and external staffing needs
• Monitors project execution to ensure that key milestones and financial budgets are met and that projects are delivered effectively to achieve the overall goals and priorities of the program
• Prepares program or project budgets for staffing, software, tools, maintenance, etc.
• Works cross functionally with business partners, technology, vendors and other teams to ensure successful execution of the program
• Communicates status of program and projects to management and collaborators on a regular basis
• Coordinate and partner with business units and technology teams to resolve project performance issues
• Partners with change management team to incorporate comprehensive change management plans into integrated program plans
• Manages Collaborator register and collaborator management
• Monitors performance of independent contractors and vendors providing services or products
• Develops productive relationships with cross divisional partners to achieve positive project outcomes
• Establishes trust and inspires others to drive cross functional initiatives
• Foster the advancement of project management methodologies, leading practices, and standards
• Keep abreast of industry standards related to program and project management
• Acts as a source for direction, training, and guidance for less experienced staff

Qualifications

Required

• 7+ years of program management experience in mid to large corporate environment  

• 7+ years experience managing complex technology enabled transformation implementations, preferably SaaS  

• Proven track record of leading cross-functional programs that span both business transformation and technology implementation  

• Solid business acumen with the ability to comprehend and align strategic goals across merchandising, supply chain, store operations, and digital commerce  

• Solid technical fluency to engage confidently with IT, Product Management, and data teams  

• Demonstrate the ability to translate business needs into technical requirements and vice versa  

• Solid comprehension of waterfall/Agile/Scrum methodology  

• Experience with program strategic planning, risk management, budgeting and forecasting, and collaborator engagement  

• Ability to structure complex information and updates into succinct and digestible updates for communication  

• Solid interpersonal skills – ability to work cross-divisional, communicate clearly and concisely, mediate meetings, and work through conflict  

• Solid organizational skills and ability to structure complex project and program details for operational efficiency  

• Ability to identify and evaluate cross-functional and cross-divisional impacts and dependencies  

• Experience with effectively setting up and utilizing tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Smartsheet  

• Navigates complexity, conflicting viewpoints to drive meaningful progress  

• Builds capacity of individuals and teams through effective employee development, involvement, communication, and supervision efforts.  

• Creates a solid, mutually supportive work spirit and culture where people can do their best.  

• Establishes trust and inspires others.  

• Makes effective organization and people recommendations in a manner consistent with REI's values and ethics.  

• Delivers on commitments and holds others to same.  

• Champions the organization and advocates solutions in the overall Company's best interest.  

• Uses business knowledge, innovative thinking, and sound judgment in the solution of problems or the pursuit of business opportunities.  

• Consolidates information from various sources including feedback from others to reach sound conclusions.  

• Considers the ultimate impact of decisions and actions on internal and external customers.  

• Fosters change in company direction.  

• Effectively plans and executes changes.  

Preferred

• Direct experience leading or supporting the implementation of o9  

• Solid comprehension of merchandising systems 

• PMP Certification