Director, Program Management

The Director of Program & Project Management leads the Marketing Program Management Office (PMO) and is accountable for delivering high-impact marketing programs and projects on time, on budget, and with measurable business outcomes. This role establishes governance, standards, and operating rhythms across marketing planning and execution—ensuring cross-functional alignment, risk management, resource optimization, and performance reporting.This Director has direct people leadership responsibility for three core functions: (1) Program & Project Management, (2) Marketing Technology Operations (MarTech Tool Configuration), and (3) Change Management. The role ensures that marketing priorities are translated into scalable processes, enabling technologies, and sustained adoption across the organization.In addition, the Director serves as the Lead Program/Project Manager for Marketing-led enterprise initiatives—large-scale, cross-functional programs where Marketing is the accountable business owner driving strategy, governance, execution, readiness, and value realization in partnership with IT, Data/Analytics, Sales, Product, Finance, Legal/Compliance, and Operations.Key ResponsibilitiesMarketing Program Leadership & Delivery• Own the end-to-end lifecycle for strategic marketing programs (e.g., launches, integrated campaigns, lifecycle/nurture programs, brand initiatives, events).• Translate marketing strategy into executable roadmaps, workstreams, milestones, dependencies, and deliverables.• Drive execution rigor through best-fit delivery practices (e.g., agile, hybrid, waterfall) and proactive issue resolution.• Ensure outcomes are measurable by partnering with Analytics to define success metrics, reporting cadence, and learnings.PMO Governance, Standards & Operating Rhythm• Establish and continuously improve marketing program/project governance, stage gates, change control, and stakeholder communications.• Define and enforce templates, playbooks, and processes for briefs, charters, RACI, timelines, status reporting, and post-mortems.• Own the marketing intake model and prioritization framework to align demand to strategic priorities and capacity.• Create and run operating rhythms (weekly execution reviews, monthly portfolio reviews, quarterly planning/OKR cadence).Portfolio, Capacity & Resource Management• Manage the marketing portfolio across teams and channels, balancing capacity, throughput, and priority trade-offs.• Lead quarterly and monthly planning processes (OKRs, roadmap planning, campaign calendars).• Partner with functional leaders to allocate resources (internal, agencies, freelancers) based on skills, urgency, and value.• Identify bottlenecks and implement solutions (process redesign, staffing plans, vendor strategies, automation).Stakeholder Management & Cross-Functional Alignment• Serve as a trusted partner to marketing leaders and enterprise stakeholders, providing clarity on timelines, scope, risks, and dependencies.• Facilitate decision-making forums (steering committees, program councils, launch/campaign reviews).• Improve collaboration across Creative, Content, Digital, Ops, Sales, Product, Legal/Compliance, and IT to reduce cycle time and rework.• Manage stakeholder expectations, negotiate priorities, and maintain clear communication across all levels.Marketing Technology Operations (MarTech Tool Configuration) Leadership (Direct Team Oversight)• Own and administer the customer journey orchestration platform, including environments, configuration, and releases.• Configure and maintain end-to-end journey workflows, rules, triggers, and integrations across CDP/CRM, marketing automation, web/app, contact center, and offline systems based on defined journey requirements.• Translate journey strategies, business requirements, and data models into platform objects and segments, ensuring strong governance for naming conventions, taxonomies, and configuration standards.• Lead QA for all journeys and releases, testing data flows, logic, and edge cases to validate correct qualification and progression.• Partner with Customer Journey, Lifecycle Marketing, and channel teams to convert journey maps and briefs into detailed functional specifications and prioritized backlogs.• Configure and manage in-journey experiments (A/B/n tests, path optimization, holdouts), ensuring proper setup, execution, and measurement in partnership with analytics, channel, and CX teams.• Act as the primary platform expert, maintaining documentation and runbooks, training users, and ensuring adherence to guardrails.• Provide hands‑on input into the MarTech roadmap, highlighting gaps, technical debt, and new capability opportunities.Change Management & Adoption (Direct Team Oversight)• Directly lead the Change Management team responsible for organizational readiness and sustained adoption of new processes, tools, and operating models.• Own change strategy for major marketing initiatives: stakeholder impact assessment, communication plans, training/enablement, reinforcement, and adoption measurement.• Build adoption playbooks and “ways of working” standards to improve consistency, compliance, and performance.• Partner with Marketing leaders and cross-functional partners to address resistance, close readiness gaps, and ensure changes stick.Marketing-Led Enterprise Initiatives (Lead PM)• Serve as Lead Program/Project Manager for Marketing-led enterprise initiatives—programs with enterprise scope where Marketing is the accountable business owner.• Stand up and run integrated program governance (executive steering, workstream cadences, RAID management, dependency tracking, decision logs).• Coordinate cross-functional workstreams across Marketing, IT, Sales, Product, Data/Analytics, Finance, Legal/Compliance, and Operations to ensure aligned scope, sequencing, readiness, and outcomes.• Provide consolidated reporting and executive visibility on progress, risks, decisions, and value realization.• Ensure launch readiness and post-launch adoption, including monitoring outcomes and driving continuous improvement.Financial, Vendor & Risk Management• Support budget planning and tracking for programs and vendors in partnership with Finance and Marketing leadership.• Oversee agency/vendor performance for delivery: SOWs, SLAs, deliverables, timelines, and quality.• Proactively manage risks, issues, and escalation paths; implement mitigation plans to protect delivery dates and outcomes.• Ensure compliance with brand, legal, privacy, and operational standards.Team Leadership & Capability Building (Direct Reports Across PMO, MarTech, Change)• Build, lead, mentor, and develop a multi-disciplinary organization spanning Program & Project Management, MarTech, and Change Management with clear goals, operating rhythms, and career paths.• Create a high-performance culture focused on accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.• Establish training, certification, and competency development plans (e.g., PMP, Agile, Lean, change management).• Define a unified delivery and adoption operating model to ensure initiatives are delivered successfully and sustained over time.Required Qualifications• 8–12+ years in program/project management, marketing operations, or PMO leadership—preferably within a complex, cross-functional marketing environment.• Proven track record delivering integrated marketing programs and managing portfolios across multiple channels and teams.• Demonstrated people leadership experience leading multi-disciplinary teams, including direct oversight of program/project management and either MarTech and/or Change Management (both strongly preferred).• Proven ability to lead Marketing-led enterprise programs with executive governance, complex dependencies, and cross-functional workstreams.• Strong executive communication skills—able to present to leadership, drive alignment, and influence without authority.• Demonstrated experience building governance, scalable operating models, and delivery standards.• Expertise with work management practices and performance reporting; comfort using data to drive decisions.Preferred Qualifications• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Operations, or related field; MBA or advanced degree a plus.• PMP, PgMP, Agile/Scrum certification, Lean/Six Sigma, or comparable credentials.• Change management certification or formal training (e.g., Prosci/ADKAR or equivalent).• Experience leading marketing technology delivery programs, integrations, and measurement enablement in partnership with IT and Data/Analytics.• Experience managing agencies, contractors, and vendor contracts/SOWs.Core Competencies• Program and portfolio management excellence• Strategic thinking with operational discipline• Structured problem solving and risk management• Resource planning and prioritization• Stakeholder management and facilitation• Marketing technology enablement leadership• Change management, adoption, and continuous improvement• Leadership, coaching, and team developmentExciting Benefits and Perks Await You:Competitive compensation and 401k matchingEnjoy a healthy work-life balance with insurance plans (health, dental, vision) and maternity benefits.Associate purchase and discount programs for new and pre-owned vehicles, services, parts, collision, accessories, and AutoGearAccess amazing deals and discounts through YouDecide, a website with offers from top providers and retailersJoin our DRVPNK mission to raise and donate millions of dollars to cancer research and treatment, partnering with cancer charities nationwideAutoNation is one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States, offering innovative products, exceptional services, and comprehensive solutions, empowering our customers to make the best decisions for their needs. With a network of dealerships nationwide strengthened by a recognized brand, we offer a wide variety of new and used vehicles, customer financing, parts, and provide expert maintenance and repair services. Through DRV PNK, we have raised over $40 million for cancer-related causes, demonstrating our commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of our Associates, Customers, and the communities we serve.AutoNation is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment in our workplace and the services we provide. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds who are passionate about making a positive impact. Even if you do not meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. Join our team and help us foster a culture of belonging while contributing to our revolutionary work in the automotive industry. We value innovation, teamwork, and a commitment to making a positive impact in the world. #J-18808-Ljbffr AutoNation