Manager, Banana Program

Northwest Center; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 86,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Floating holidays

Employee assistance program

Mental wellness program

Training and mentorship

Walking/parking stipend

Job summary

Northwest Center is seeking a Manager, Banana Program to lead strategy, growth, and day-to-day operations of a nationwide program sponsored by Amazon Global Real Estate & Facilities. You will drive scalable solutions, build customer experiences, and partner with vendors across multiple locations.

The role requires strong people leadership, experience scaling programs, and collaboration with internal teams. The position is full-time with a schedule aligned to operations in Seattle/Bellevue, WA

Qualifications

• 3+ years of people management in client-facing role and/or operations of high-performing programs.
• Experience in budget development, financial forecasting, and monthly reporting.
• Strong communication and collaboration across teams and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations across banana stand locations and partners.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with stakeholders, local management, and community partners.
• Define and monitor service levels and KPIs; design reports and dashboards for tracking.
• Assist in budget development and monthly financial reporting with the Senior Program Manager.
• Lead training development for program participants and stakeholders.

Skills

People management

Budget development

Communication

Data-driven decisions

Education

Associate degree

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

Description

At Northwest Center @ Amazon, we deliver exceptional experiences in a dynamic corporate environment through innovative programs that connect people, promote wellness, and build community. One of those programs is the highly visible Banana Program, a unique initiative sponsored by Amazon Global Real Estate & Facilities (GREF) that provides free, healthy, and compostable snacks to employees across North America.

As the our Manager, Banana Program, you'll lead the strategy, growth, and day-to-day operations of a beloved program that positively impacts thousands of employees. This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative and results-driven leader who enjoys building scalable solutions, driving innovation, and creating outstanding customer experiences.

Location: Seattle (South Lake Union) & Bellevue, WA

Schedule: Full-time, 7:30am-4pm with flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Salary Range: $85,800 - $99,278 per year

What we can offer:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance, effective the month after 30 days of employment
• 17 Accrued Paid Time Off Days Annually
• Additional 10 Annual Floating Holidays, Parental Leave, and Paid Compassion Leave
• Retirement 401(K) with a company match
• Employment Assistance Program (EAP) via Spring Health
• Mental Wellness Program including six free therapy sessions per year
• Opportunity for career development with our NWC Mentorship Match program
• Wellness Reimbursement Program - $25/month
• Student Loan Contribution Program - $50/month
• Arlington, VA: Company-Provided SmarTrip card or Parking Stipend - $153/month
• Seattle, WA: Company-Provided Orca Pass – Unlimited use
• Pet Insurance Discount Program

Check out the entire list of benefits Northwest Center has to offer here: https://nwcbenefits.hrbenefits.net/

What You Will Do

Operational Excellence

• Oversee daily operations across all banana stand locations
• Create and maintain partnerships with key stakeholders, local management, and community partners.
• Communicate and collaborate with key stakeholders to implement timely solutions.
• In partnership with the Senior Program Manager, assist in budget development, financial forecasting, and gathering of monthly financial reporting information.
• Assist in development of business proposals and contracts for new opportunities
• Identify potential challenges and opportunities within the programs. Understand the root cause of issues and associated impacts to the program and the customer.
• Define and closely monitor day-to-day service levels and overall KPIs, including qualitative measures.
• Design reports and dashboards to track activity and quality control.
• Own general maintenance and presence of online resources, providing clear and concise communication and updates to customers.
• Own the building and maintenance of program and operational standard operating procedures and playbooks.
• Become the subject matter expert of all banana program related items.
• Manage inventory systems and supply chain logistics for multiple locations.
• Own the development and delivery of program related training for program participants and stakeholders.

Customer Experience

• Drive community engagement and coordination of events in conjunction with other programs including vendor partners, NWC internal teams, and employees.
• Design and implement innovative approaches to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities for program expansion.
• Assist in resolving customer escalations and concerns in a timely manner– engaging with management, program owners, PR, and other stakeholders as necessary.

People Leadership

• Build and develop high performing teams across multiple locations.
• Responsible for employee development through in-the-moment coaching, regular 1:1 meeting, and the creation of individualized goals and training plans.
• Responsible for staff performance ensuring that all procedures, processes and policies are understood and followed.
• Following up with corrective employee conversations as necessary related to employee performance, including additional leadership as necessary.
• Participate in the interviewing, hiring, and termination process and discussions, partnering with Human Resources as necessary.
• Contribute to a positive work environment that encourages retention and talent.
• Work collaboratively across the organization with different job levels and departments.
• Foster a spirit of teamwork and unity among team members that allows for disagreement over ideas, conflict and expeditious conflict resolution.

Who You Are

• Associate degree required; bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3+ years of people management in client facing role and/or operations of high performing programs with direct supervision of staff.
• Must have a valid driver's license and auto insurance
• Proven track record of scaling programs across different markets.
• Experience in community engagement and public facing programs.
• Moderate computer skills in Microsoft Office, Advanced skills preferred.
• Moderate computer skills in Wiki content creation and publishing.
• Experience in facilities, supply chain and inventory management.
• Ability to plan, safely execute, and scale ideas.
• Ability to work across AMER locations and build relationships with other vendors, points of contact, etc.
• Commitment to Northwest Center’s mission of inclusion and ability to successfully work in a diverse environment.
• Ability to practice a high level of confidentiality without exception.
• Interpersonal skills to effectively motivate others. Lead change and innovation.
• Maintain good judgment in fast-paced, high-stress environments.
• Detailed oriented & thorough, with ability to see the “big picture”.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills.
• A self-starter who takes initiative and can deliver high level results.
• Passion to foster an inclusive and diverse culture through initiatives, training & education, communications, and implementing optimizations based on high-level goals.
• Responds calmly and professionally to emergencies, angry customers, or other stressful situations in the workplace.
• Exercises good judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations.
• Regularly seeks new and improved methodologies for enhancing the effectiveness of organization. Employs imagination and creativity in the application of duties and responsibilities. Is not averse to change.
• Ability to lead a remote team.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

• Must be able to frequently carry and lift a backpack containing a laptop and other supplies, up to 50 pounds.
• Will need to carry supplies to other buildings.
• Frequent travel between locations across the region.
• Must be able to handle bananas and/or various food products without allergic reaction.
• Encompasses a combination of desk work and actively visiting several Amazon buildings so the ability to walk consistently within a 1.5-mile radius is required.
• Ability to read, write, communicate, and comprehend the English language.
• Ability to see both distance and details at close range, within a few feet of the observer (with or without corrective lenses).
• Ability to identify and understand the speech of another person (with or without a personal auditory hearing device).
• Ability to work flexible hours including occasional changes in schedule according to operational needs.
• Variable working hours between 7am-6pm. Occasional earlier or later start times, nights and weekends may arise.
• This is a dog-friendly environment with over 1000 dogs on campus. Individuals with dog allergies or those who do not particularly care for dogs may not be the best fit.

About Us

Northwest Center is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact us at [email protected]

At Northwest Center, we do not just accept diversity and inclusion — we celebrate it, support it, live it, and flourish in it to benefit our employees, the community, and our clientele. We believe that our strength lies within our diversity and the forward motion towards a day when people of all abilities can learn and work together. We believe that curiosity and critical thinking are essential to the dialogue and improving decision-making, planning, resource allocation, and how we treat others. Our goal is to create and implement more equitable practices, policies, and culture. To be equitable means to value and respect individuals from all cultural backgrounds, genders, races, identities, and abilities. Northwest Center is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, including disability and veterans’ status.