Program Manager

The Program Manager leads one or more customer programs consisting of multiple related warehouse automation and material handling projects. This role aligns customer priorities, project delivery plans, and internal resources to support successful execution across the overall program.

The Program Manager serves as the primary program-level customer contact and works closely with Project Managers, Sales, Account Management, Engineering, Controls, and Software to coordinate commitments, resolve escalations, and maintain visibility into program performance.

This position has no direct reports. The Program Manager leads through influence and cross-functional coordination. Project Managers retain responsibility for individual project execution, while the Program Manager leads alignment, oversight, and customer communication across the program.

Job Functions:

Customer Leadership and Alignment

• Serve as the primary program-level customer contact for priorities, commitments, project performance reviews, and escalations.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with customer stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Align customer expectations with contractual scope, delivery capabilities, and agreed program objectives.
• Partner with Account Management to support continuity across proposals, active projects, and post-project support.

Program Planning and Execution

• Develop and maintain an integrated program plan covering project milestones, dependencies, resource needs, and customer commitments.
• Coordinate Project Managers and cross-functional teams to align execution priorities across concurrent projects.
• Identify conflicts between projects and facilitate decisions on sequencing, shared resources, and competing priorities.
• Establish consistent customer-specific reporting, communication practices, templates, and delivery standards.
• Support proposal and contract reviews to identify execution risks, clarify assumptions, and align commitments with delivery capabilities.
• Coordinate project closeout and transition to service and support teams.

Financial and Commercial Oversight

• Maintain consolidated visibility into program budgets, forecasts, financial performance, and cash flow.
• Work with Project Managers and Finance to identify financial risks and coordinate corrective actions.
• Review proposed scope changes and change orders for consistency, financial impact, and contractual alignment.
• Coordinate required approvals in accordance with established authority.
• Communicate the program-level impact of changes to scope, schedule, cost, and customer commitments.

Risk, Escalation, and Reporting

• Maintain a program-level view of risks, issues, dependencies, and decisions.
• Lead resolution of escalations that affect multiple projects or require broader customer or internal alignment.
• Assign action owners, track commitments, and escalate unresolved issues to the appropriate leaders.
• Lead customer program reviews and internal reviews, presenting clear updates on schedule, financial performance, risks, and required decisions.
• Promote consistent attention to safety, quality, and contractual requirements across the program.

Continuous Improvement

• Facilitate lessons-learned reviews and apply improvements across current and future customer projects.
• Provide guidance to Project Managers on customer-specific expectations and program delivery practices.
• Identify recurring issues and work with functional leaders to improve processes, tools, and coordination.

Travel Requirements:

• Up to 40% overnight travel, based on customer needs and program phase. Travel expenses paid by Toyota Automated Logistics.
• Travel may include customer facilities, project sites, and internal planning sessions.

Required Qualifications and Preferred Skills:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Project Management, Business Construction Management or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• At least five years of progressive project management experience, including leadership of complex projects or multiple related projects.
• Experience delivering customer-facing projects in material handling, warehouse automation, manufacturing, or a related industry.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams without direct supervisory authority, align priorities, and drive commitments.
• Experience managing customer relationships, resolving escalations, and communicating with senior customer and internal stakeholders.
• Strong financial understanding, including budgets, forecasting, contracts, and change management.
• Ability to coordinate schedules, shared resources, dependencies, and risks across multiple projects.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project scheduling and reporting tools, including an understanding of baseline schedules and critical-path scheduling.
• Ability to travel as required.
• Must be eligible to work in the USA long term without sponsorship.
• Employees must follow all information security policies, protect confidential data, complete required training, and report any suspected security incidents to support our information security controls.

Preferred Skills

• Experience leading customer programs involving multiple sites, concurrent projects, or phased deployments.
• Project Mgmt. Professional (PMP), Program Mgmt. Professional (PgMP), or equivalent certification.
• Experience with integrated automation systems involving mechanical equipment, controls, and software.
• Experience leading executive program reviews and developing consolidated financial, schedule, and risk reporting.
• OSHA 10 certification

About Toyota Automated Logistics

Toyota Automated Logistics is your global partner for integrated warehouse automation. Our team combines the talents of Bastian Solutions, Vanderlande’s warehousing business, and Viastore under one brand to deliver scalable systems, intelligent software, and life-cycle services.

In addition to exciting work at a growing company, we offer the following benefits:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with a company match
• Vacation / Holiday Pay
• Paid Volunteer time off
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Professional Associations, Conferences and Subscriptions
• Company Meetings & Events

Toyota Automated Logistics does not work with outside recruiting agencies. No solicitation phone calls please.