Operations Project Manager

About Us

Freeman is a global leader in events, on a mission to redefine live for a new era. With a data-driven approach and the industry' largest network of experts, Freeman's insights shape exhibitions, exhibits, and events that drive audiences to action. The integrated full-service solutions leverage a 99-year legacy in event management as well as new technologies to deliver moments that matter.

Summary

The Operations Project Manager is a critical execution role within Operations Enablement, responsible for independently driving day-to-day delivery across a fast-paced, high-stakes operational transformation program. This role applies advanced project management and execution knowledge to keep complex initiatives moving forward, ensuring alignment across teams, clarity on ownership, and disciplined follow-through on commitments.

This position is ideal for an experienced project manager who thrives in ambiguity, brings structure to complexity, and exercises sound judgment to balance speed, risk, and quality. The Operations Project Manager operates with minimal day-to-day guidance, leads assigned projects or workstreams end-to-end, and serves as a trusted execution resource for cross-functional teams and less-experienced colleagues.

This position will support our Operations Enablement team. It is eligible to work a hybrid schedule, generally requiring work in-office and/or show-site 2-3 days per week. The ideal candidate will be located in Dallas, TX; however, we are also open to candidates based out of:

• Atlanta, GA

• Las Vegas, NV

• Nashville, TN

• New Orleans, LA

• Orlando, FL

• San Antonio, TX

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Program Execution & Day-to-Day Coordination

• Leads the end-to-end execution of multiple concurrent projects or workstreams within a large-scale operational transformation effort, maintaining forward momentum across all areas of responsibility.

• Owns and maintains a comprehensive, integrated master project plan, tracking milestones, task ownership, dependencies, risks, and delivery timelines across workstreams.

• Operates independently within established governance, guidelines, and priorities, making day-to-day execution decisions and escalating issues appropriately when impacts or risks exceed defined thresholds.

• Runs rigorous action item, issue, and decision logs-capturing commitments, monitoring progress, and holding owners accountable to agreed timelines.

• Proactively identifies gaps, delivery risks, and misalignment across teams; applies judgment and practical problem-solving to resolve issues before they escalate.

• Coordinates across operations, functional teams, and external partners to ensure handoffs are clear, responsibilities are understood, and work does not stall between groups.

• Maintains delivery pace in a high-velocity environment by setting clear expectations, reinforcing priorities, and adjusting plans as conditions change.

Tracking, Reporting & Transparency

• Produces clear, accurate, and timely status reporting on a regular cadence, translating complex project activity into decision-ready insights for working teams and leadership.

• Analyzes delivery progress, risks, and dependencies using multiple inputs to assess program health and recommend corrective actions when needed.

• Builds and manages dashboards and tracking tools that provide leadership with visibility into milestones, risks, and execution performance.

• Prepares structured, concise materials for leadership reviews, steering committee discussions, and stakeholder updates-highlighting impacts, tradeoffs, and required decisions.

• Maintains complete, up-to-date program documentation as a single source of truth, ensuring accessibility, accuracy, and consistency across stakeholders.

Stakeholder Engagement & Influence

• Serves as a primary point of coordination for assigned projects or workstreams, working across functions and levels to maintain alignment on priorities, progress, and next steps.

• Facilitates working sessions, standups, and cross-functional meetings with a clear agenda and a bias toward resolution-ensuring discussions lead to decisions, owners, and timelines.

• Communicates complex or sensitive information clearly and constructively, helping stakeholders understand implications, risks, and recommended paths forward.

• Works to build alignment and consensus among teams with competing priorities, exercising influence without authority to drive progress.

• Builds trust through consistent follow-through, transparent communication, and reliable delivery against commitments.

Education & Experience

• 5-8 years of project management experience, with demonstrated success leading complex initiatives or multiple concurrent workstreams in operational, transformation, or high-stakes environments.

• Proven track record of maintaining delivery discipline-managing action items, reporting cadences, risks, and cross-functional accountability.

• Experience supporting large-scale operational or technology-enabled programs; familiarity with enterprise platforms such as SAP, Salesforce, or Microsoft Dynamics preferred.

• PMP or equivalent project management certification preferred.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited 4 year college or university with a concentration in Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field is required.

• Advanced organizational and execution skills, with the ability to manage multiple moving parts simultaneously without losing sight of dependencies or priorities.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, applying sound judgment and a new perspective to resolve complex delivery challenges.

• Demonstrated ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and communicate it clearly to different audiences.

• High degree of autonomy, accountability, and ownership; comfortable operating with minimal guidance in a fast-changing environment.

• Strong facilitation and interpersonal skills, including the ability to navigate difficult conversations and build consensus.

• Serves as a resource to colleagues by modeling execution discipline, best practices, and effective use of tools.

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Visio, Teams, SharePoint, Azure DevOps, and related project tracking and reporting tools.

What We Offer

The Freeman Company provides benefits that aim to empower our people and their families to thrive mentally, physically, and financially. These are a handful of the types of programs and benefits our full-time people may be eligible for. There may be some variances in specific benefits across regions.

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Paid Parental Leave

• Life, Accident and Disability

• Retirement with Company Match

• Paid Time Off

Diversity Commitment

At The Freeman Company, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is helping us to create not only a great place to work, but also an environment where our employees, our customers and our communities around the world can reach their goals and connect with each other. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status and other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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