Sr. Program Manager, Automation Strategy & Planning

Circana

15d•$167,000•Remote

About The Position

Let’s be unstoppable together! Circana is a leading provider of technology, AI, and data solutions for consumer-packaged goods companies, manufacturers, and retailers. Our predictive analytics and Liquid Data® platform help clients measure market share, uncover consumer behavior, and drive growth—powered by six decades of expertise and an expansive, high-quality data set. At Circana, we are fueled by our passion for continuous learning and growth, we seek and share feedback freely, and we celebrate victories both big and small in an environment that is flexible and accommodating to our work and personal lives. We’re a global company dedicated to fostering inclusivity and belonging. We value and celebrate the unique experiences, cultures, and viewpoints that each individual brings. By embracing a wide range of backgrounds, skills, expertise, and beyond, we create a stronger, more innovative environment for our employees, clients, and communities. With us, you can always bring your full self to work. Join our inclusive, committed team to be a challenger, own outcomes, and stay curious together. Circana is proud to be Certified™ by Great Place To Work®. This prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at Circana. Learn more at www.circana.com. Role Overview The Director of Program Management is a critical leadership role within the Global Operations, Service, and Delivery automation transformation initiative. This position ensures the successful execution of transformative technology projects and oversees value tracking across the entire automation program portfolio, including both large-scale technology projects and high-velocity micro-automations. Circana is seeking a dynamic and results-driven leader to serve as the Director of Program Management. This role is central to delivering the success of a transformative initiative focused on advanced automation and technology modernization. The Director will oversee the execution of a portfolio of technology projects and lead the value tracking framework for all automation initiatives, ensuring measurable business impact across the portfolio. This position involves managing a complex, multi-year program with high visibility, driving disciplined execution while fostering innovation and operational excellence. You will coordinate cross-functional teams, vendors, and governance structures to deliver projects on time, within scope, and aligned to strategic objectives. In addition, you will design and maintain systems for tracking KPIs, cost savings, and ROI, ensuring transparency and accountability for benefits realization. The ideal candidate combines strong program management expertise with analytical rigor and the ability to navigate dependencies across technology, operations, and automation teams. You will champion best practices in governance, reporting, and stakeholder engagement, enabling Circana to achieve its automation goals and unlock competitive advantage.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
Experience: 8+ years in program management or transformation leadership roles, with at least 3 years in a senior capacity. Proven track record in managing large-scale technology projects and value realization in automation or digital transformation environments.
Technical Skills: Familiarity with automation technologies (RPA, ETL, ML/LLM) and tools such as Power Automate, Python, Airflow, OCR, Intelligent Suite, and Copilot Studio. Proficiency in analytics and reporting tools (Excel, Power BI, Monday.com, JIRA or similar).
Leadership and Soft Skills: Strong strategic thinking, analytical mindset, and communication skills. Ability to manage complex portfolios and drive alignment across diverse stakeholders. Excellent communication skills for stakeholder reporting and interlocks.
Other Requirements: Demonstrated ability to lead complex, high-visibility programs with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment. Willingness to travel as needed (up to 20%).

Responsibilities

Program Oversight: Lead the execution of transformational Technology Projects, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, timelines, and budgets.
Value Tracking Leadership: Establish and manage frameworks for tracking KPIs, Costs to Achieve (CTA), and realized benefits across all automation portfolio initiatives.
Governance and Reporting: Develop dashboards and reporting mechanisms to provide real-time visibility into project progress, financial performance, and value delivery.
Interlock Management: Manage and facilitate bi-weekly interlock calls between Global Operations and Technology ensuring effective communication, alignment on priorities, and resolution of cross-functional dependencies between core tech projects and micro-automations.
Performance Metrics: Define and monitor KPIs for automation velocity, cost savings, and operational efficiency improvements.
Risk Management: Identify and manage portfolio-level risks, implementing mitigation strategies to safeguard delivery and outcomes.
Continuous Improvement: Analyze trends and performance data to identify opportunities for optimization and drive enhancements in program execution.
Executive Engagement: Communicate progress and insights to senior leadership, fostering transparency and accountability across the organization.
Team Leadership: Build and lead a small team of program managers and analysts to support execution and value tracking efforts.