Senior Program Manager

Circle K • Charlotte, NC

35d

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced, strategic Senior Program Manager to join Circle K’s Strategy and Transformation team, reporting to Enterprise Director, Program & Portfolio Management, and leading enterprise-wide initiatives that drive operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and long-term growth in a fast-paced retail environment. In this role, you will scope, organize, and deliver complex programs with a collaborative approach, ensuring cross-functional alignment and transformative outcomes. You will partner closely with senior leaders across operations, IT, finance, marketing, merchandising, and supply chain to advance Circle K’s Core + More strategy. The ideal candidate has a strong track record managing complex initiatives, building trusted relationships across stakeholder groups, navigating ambiguity, and delivering high-impact results in matrixed organizations. The ideal candidate is strategic, organized, and big-picture oriented, bringing clarity, structure and progress on top company priorities, and has excellent collaboration skills working with different teams and stakeholders. You can navigate ambiguity and uncertainty with a high degree of independence, and together with teams provide clarity and drive progress and results for key leaders across the company. This is a high-visibility opportunity to shape Circle K’s future by leading transformative programs and partnering with senior leaders to drive meaningful, enterprise-wide impact.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Project Management, Operations, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred. Strong retail or program management experience with demonstrated results may substitute.
• PMP and/or Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), or equivalent certification preferred.
• 8-10+ years of project or program management experience, including 5+ years in senior roles leading complex initiatives in retail, consulting, or transformation environments.
• Ability to bridge business and technical teams effectively. Professional profile and demonstrated track record more important than exact years of experience.
• Demonstrated success managing cross-functional teams of 10–20+ members, delivering enterprise-level impact.
• You are experienced working with program management in a matrix organization with participants from a broad set of functional groups.
• Program Management Expertise: Proven experience leading complex programs from problem identification through go-live across Waterfall, Agile (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe), and hybrid methodologies. Practical impact in retail environments is valued over theoretical depth.
• Executive Stakeholder Collaboration: Ability to build trusted, influential relationships across diverse senior stakeholders using clear communication, analytical insight, and adaptability.
• Drive for Results: You are motivated by creating impact and delivering results. You take ownership and proactivity to get things done.
• Financial & Resource Management: Strong budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation capabilities across distributed teams and large budgets.
• Risk & Quality Management: Advanced skills in risk quantification, scenario planning, quality assurance, and compliance.
• Tools Proficiency: Strong working knowledge of PowerPoint, Excel, Jira, Smartsheet, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, matrixed organization with travel across North America and potentially internationally.
• Strategic, organized, and big-picture oriented, with the ability to navigate ambiguity independently while bringing clarity and momentum to enterprise priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of complex, multiyear programs, including strategic scoping, detailed planning, execution, monitoring, and closure, ensuring stakeholder alignment and measurable business impact.
• Partner with senior leaders at the portfolio level to assess interrelated programs, prioritize initiatives, and lead tradeoff discussions with an enterprise-wide perspective.
• Develop and manage comprehensive program plans incorporating timelines, milestones, dependencies, resource allocation, and scenario modeling to optimize large-scale outcomes.
• Establish and facilitate strong governance structures, including RACI frameworks, stakeholder engagement plans, and escalation protocols to maintain alignment and resolve issues efficiently.
• Build influential executive relationships to secure buy-in, negotiate priorities, and deliver compelling, data-driven materials that inform strategic decisions.
• Partner with change management experts to design and execute adoption strategies, including training, readiness assessments, and success metrics to maximize ROI.
• Oversee multimillion-dollar budgets, including forecasting, variance analysis, and cost optimization to ensure financial performance and efficiency.
• Manage cross-functional and external partner/vendor relationships, negotiate contracts, ensure integration, and drive accountability for high-quality, timely deliverables.
• Collaborate with key partner companies to develop and deploy innovative, new-to-company solutions from problem identification through go-live.
• Contribute to the continued development of strong program and change management capabilities within the centralized PM/CM team.

Benefits

• Competitive Group Benefits Program: Complete benefits packages (medical, dental, vision etc.).
• 401 K: Plan for your future and retire with peace of mind with our 401 K plan, helping you build a secure financial future.
• Stock Purchase Plan: Invest in your future and share in our success with our employee stock purchase plan, allowing you to become a shareholder of Circle K.
• Paid Time Off: Recharge and rejuvenate with paid time off.
• Employee Discounts: Enjoy our People Perks which allows for great discounts on food and fuel, making it even easier to fuel up and stock up on your favorite goodies.
• Recognition and Rewards: We celebrate our team's achievements and milestones with a range of recognition programs, rewards, and incentives to show our appreciation for your hard work and dedication.
• Mentorship Program: Take your career to new heights with our mentorship program, where seasoned professionals provide guidance, support, and valuable insights to help you reach your full potential.
• Fortune 500 company and a 5-time Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winner.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior