Sr Project Manager, Process Design and Innovation, Development Team - Task Automation

Target • Minneapolis, MN

23h • $73,000 - $132,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

A role on the Supply Chain Operations, Process Design and Innovation (PDI), Development Team means helping shape the future of Target's supply chain by leading an accelerated, data-driven intake and solution development process. The team brings together advanced analytics, proof of concept testing, and task automation to evaluate opportunities with the right speed and depth based on impact and risk. Through benchmarking, directional testing and analytics, root cause analysis, collaborative solution development, and validation, the team delivers recommendations that help stakeholders decide when to pause, stop, or accelerate solutions, ultimately scaling the most compelling ones. As a Sr Project Manager, PDI Development Team, you will help shape the future of Target’s supply chain. What if your work could determine which automation and robotics solutions scale across our network? You will sit at the intersection of supply chain process design, automation evaluation, operational analytics, and scalable solution development. You will lead small-to-medium scope intake initiatives or own workstreams within larger intakes that evaluate automation and robotics solutions that can unlock step-change efficiency and capacity improvements across Target’s supply chain. This is hands-on solution development work where you will frame the problem and impact, translate process inefficiencies into measurable opportunities, partner with engineering, data, operations, finance, safety, field, vendor, and operations-owner teams, build the metric plan and business case, coordinate validation or pilot readiness, and create the recommendation that determines whether a solution should stop or scale with run-state teams.

Requirements

• Four-year degree or equivalent experience in automation engineering, industrial engineering, supply chain, process improvement, or a related field.
• 3+ years of relevant experience in supply chain, industrial engineering, automation, or process improvement work, including automation assessment, solution development, analytics, and cross-functional project leadership.
• Experience improving an operational process or evaluating a process or technology solution using a combination of data, observation, root-cause problem solving, and measurable success criteria.
• Experience leading small-to-medium scope initiatives or larger workstreams in cross-functional environments, including coordinating partners, managing action items, resolving issues, and developing recommendations.
• Working knowledge of structured problem-solving approaches such as Lean, Six Sigma, Design-Measure-Analyze-Design-Validate (DMADV), Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (DMAIC), value stream mapping, metric planning, or pilot/validation planning.
• Strong analytical capability using Excel and operational data to size opportunities, validate assumptions, identify patterns, and support business recommendations; experience with SQL, data extraction, or data visualization is a plus.
• Ability to create clear written and visual materials that explain complex process, engineering, data, and business tradeoffs to cross-functional partners.
• Ability to travel up to 25% as needed to support benchmarking, validation, pilot, launch, handoff, or other business needs.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with distribution center operations, warehouse process design, material handling systems, robotics, autonomous equipment, or modular automation solutions.
• Experience evaluating vendor or supplier technology solutions, developing business cases, designing pilots, validating operational performance, or transitioning solutions to operational-owner teams.
• Experience with SQL, data extraction, data visualization, simulation, Miro, Smartsheet, or other tools that support analysis, collaboration, and execution.
• Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt certification, supply chain, industrial engineering, or automation-related certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead Task Automation intake work that evaluates modular automation and robotics solutions for potential use in Target supply chain operations.
• Apply the PDI Development intake approach from pre-scoping through full scoping, solution development, validation planning, pilot readiness, and handoff to run-state partners.
• Define clear problem statements, success measures, assumptions, risks, decision points, and business case inputs that support recommendations to pause, stop, accelerate, or scale.
• Coordinate cross-functional partners including process design, automation and design engineering, distribution operations, data and analytics, finance, safety, quality, field operations, supplier/vendor partners, and run-state owners.
• Use benchmarking, operational observations, data analysis, root cause analysis, and metric planning to determine whether a solution addresses the right problem and can create meaningful business value.
• Develop and manage project plans, decision logs, action items, test plans, validation criteria, and handoff documentation that keep work organized, aligned, and moving forward.
• Create clear, simple, and visually effective communication materials that translate complex insights, tradeoffs, progress, risks, decisions needed, and recommendations into a compelling story that builds stakeholder confidence and excitement in the team’s work.
• Facilitate meetings and working sessions that clarify roles, resolve misalignment, remove barriers, and maintain momentum across teams with different priorities and operating constraints.
• Support a healthy pipeline of intakes for our team by helping partners understand the intake process, improving intake quality, and surfacing higher-value opportunities across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of PDI Development tools, templates, routines, and feedback mechanisms so the team can improve speed, quality, partner experience, and decision-making over time.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits and programs (medical, vision, dental, life insurance)
• 401(k)
• Employee discount
• Short term disability
• Long term disability
• Paid sick leave
• Paid national holidays
• Paid vacation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree