Program Manager

KellyMitchell Group; Illinois; On-site; USD 96,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance

Employee-Owned Profit Sharing (ESOP)

401K offered

Job summary

KellyMitchell Group is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead operational readiness for a major warehouse automation implementation in a distribution center near Chicago, IL.

You will coordinate process changes, testing, training, and change management to ensure a smooth go-live with automated storage and retrieval systems integrated into the WMS. Strong DC operations experience and ability to work onsite are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex operational implementations in distribution centers.
• Hands-on DC operations knowledge: receiving, replenishment, put-away, picking.
• Proven track record implementing warehouse automation/robotics.
• Ability translate requirements into practical workflows and testing plans.
• Experience coordinating internal stakeholders and external vendors.
• Strong communication, change and risk management skills.
• Willing to work onsite in Illinois five days a week.

Responsibilities

• Create and manage the operational implementation plan with milestones and risks.
• Align deployment with warehouse processes with leadership and IT.
• Define future-state workflows for receiving, replenishment, put-away, picking.
• Coordinate training and change management activities.
• Oversee testing and readiness activities for end-to-end workflows.
• Plan for will-call/customer pickup handling within automated system.
• Establish contingency procedures for failures and outages.
• Coordinate go-live and post-launch stabilization.
• Serve as liaison among operations, tech, stakeholders and vendors.

Skills

Program management

DC operations

Warehouse automation

Change management

Cross-functional teams

Stakeholder coordination

Onsite Illinois

Job description

Job Summary

Our client is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead operational readiness for a major warehouse automation implementation within a distribution center. This person will coordinate the process changes, testing, training, and change management needed to successfully introduce automated storage and retrieval technology into day-to-day warehouse operations. The implementation partner will be responsible for installing the automation technology and integrating it with the organization’s warehouse management system. The Program Manager will oversee the broader operational work required to prepare the distribution center for launch and ensure the solution effectively supports real-world business needs. Strong distribution center and warehouse operations experience is essential. Candidates should have a strong understanding of receiving, replenishment, put‑away, and picking, along with experience introducing automation, robotics, or automated material handling technology into an operational environment.

Core Responsibilities

• Build and manage the operational implementation plan, including milestones, dependencies, risks, and readiness activities
• Partner with warehouse leadership, IT, business stakeholders, and implementation partners to align technology deployment with warehouse processes
• Define and document future‑state workflows for receiving, replenishment, put‑away, and picking
• Coordinate change management, standard operating procedures, employee training, and adoption activities
• Develop and coordinate operational testing, including initial inventory loading, end‑to‑end workflows, exception scenarios, and launch readiness
• Address the needs of a significant will‑call/customer pickup operation, including how urgent customer requests will be prioritized and fulfilled when inventory is stored within an automated system
• Establish contingency procedures for equipment failures, system outages, and other operational disruptions
• Coordinate go‑live preparation and post‑launch stabilization, ensuring issues have clear owners and are resolved promptly
• Serve as a key liaison between warehouse operations, technology teams, business stakeholders, and external implementation partners

Required Skills/Experience (Must‑Haves)

• Program or project management experience leading complex operational implementations
• Strong, hands‑on knowledge of distribution center operations, including receiving, replenishment, put‑away, and picking
• Experience implementing warehouse automation, robotics, automated material handling, or comparable technologies
• Ability to translate warehouse operating requirements into practical workflows, testing plans, and operational readiness activities
• Experience coordinating internal stakeholders and external implementation vendors or partners
• Strong communication, change management, risk management, and issue‑resolution skills
• Ability to work onsite in Illinois five days per week

Preferred Skills/Experience (Nice‑to‑Haves)

• Experience with automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) or similar warehouse automation technologies
• Experience with warehouse management systems (WMS)
• Experience with WMS/ERP integrations
• Experience supporting distribution environments with substantial will‑call, customer pickup, or urgent fulfillment activity
• Experience leading warehouse automation implementations from planning through go‑live and stabilization

Work Environment

• Location: Chicago, IL

Compensation & Benefits

• Pay Range: The approximate pay range for this position is between $70.00 and $100.00. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to background, knowledge, skills, and location. We comply with local wage minimums.
• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance Plans
• Employee‑Owned Profit Sharing (ESOP)
• 401K offered

About KellyMitchell

At KellyMitchell, our culture is world class. We’re movers and shakers! We don’t mind a bit of friendly competition, and we reward hard work with unlimited potential for growth. This is an exciting opportunity to join a company known for innovative solutions and unsurpassed customer service. We're passionate about helping companies solve their biggest IT staffing & project solutions challenges. As an employee‑owned, women‑led organization serving Fortune 500 companies nationwide, we deliver expert service at a moment's notice.