Senior Operations Transformation Project Manager

Collectors Universe, Inc.; California; On-site; USD 157,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401K Matching

Vacation

Holiday Pay

Employee Discounts

Flexible Hours

Fun Working Environment

Fertility Benefits

Commuter Benefits

Educational Assistance

Job summary

Collectors Universe, Inc. is seeking a seasoned Transformation Program Lead to own a portfolio of high-priority operational initiatives sponsored by the COO and senior leadership.

You will translate strategic goals into charters, define milestones, and align cross-functional teams across Operations, Finance, and Product & Technology. You will design future-state processes, drive readiness for technology deployments including AI-assisted grading, and oversee end-to-end implementation from pilot

Qualifications

• 8+ years in operations, operations strategy, or transformation roles with 3+ years leading teams.
• Experience designing and launching new processes or sites in high-volume operations.
• Strong business case and financial modeling skills suitable for CFO-level review.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives portfolio sponsored by the COO and senior leadership.
• Design end-to-end future-state processes and operating models.
• Own implementation from pilot through full rollout with cross-functional teams.
• Build and validate business cases; track value realization post-launch.
• Lead executive communication, change management, and governance activities.
• Hire, develop, and coach transformation program leads.

Skills

Executive communication

Strategic leadership

Problem solving

Travel availability

Education

PMP or equivalent credential

Job description

Collectors is the leading creator of innovative technology that provides value-added services for collectors worldwide. We grade, authenticate, vault, and sell millions of record-setting collectibles, all while modernizing and digitalizing the process to further our mission of helping collectors pursue their passions. We’re always on the lookout for talented people to join our growing team. Our services span collectible trading cards, autographs, comic books, coins, video games, event tickets, and memorabilia. Our subsidiaries include PSA, PCGS, Beckett, SGC, and Card Ladder. Since our founding in 1986, we have graded and authenticated millions of items. We employ more than 3000 people across our headquarters in Santa Ana, California and offices in New Jersey, Texas, Florida, Japan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Canada, Mexico, Germany, the UK, and France. As part of our interview process, we request that candidates have their cameras on during video interviews. This helps foster meaningful conversation and allows us to create an experience that closely resembles our standard working environment. Certain interview steps may take place by phone. For remote roles, and at our discretion, candidates may be asked to participate in an on-site interview as part of the final stages of the process. We understand there may be occasional circumstances requiring accommodation and are happy to discuss them as needed. Your recruiter will be able to clarify expectations and answer any questions you have.

What You'll Do:

Strategic Initiative Leadership

Lead a portfolio of high-priority operational initiatives sponsored by the COO and senior leadership. Examples include new site and capability launches, network expansion, technology-enabled process changes, and cross-department workflow redesign. Translate strategic goals into clear initiative charters with scope, business case, success metrics, milestones, and decision rights. Shape the transformation roadmap with Operations, Finance, and Product & Technology, sequencing initiatives against capacity, risk, and return.

Future-State Process and Operating Model Design

Design new processes and operating models end to end. This includes workflow, layout and flow, roles and staffing models, handoffs, system touchpoints, controls, and performance metrics. Lead operational readiness for technology and automation deployments, such as AI-assisted grading, new equipment, and system changes. The aim is for processes, people, and tools to launch together.

Implementation and Launch

Own implementation from pilot through full rollout. This covers pilot design, go/no-go criteria, cutover planning, hypercare, and transition to steady state. Coordinate cross-functional launch teams across Operations, P&T, Facilities, Procurement, HR/Talent, Learning, and Quality. Partner with Learning to build SOPs and training so frontline teams and supervisors are ready before go-live. Identify and resolve launch risks early, escalating trade-offs with clear options and recommendations. Serve as the system super user, leading user acceptance testing (UAT), validating system functionality, and driving successful implementation and adoption of process and system enhancements.

Business Case and Value Realization

Build and validate business cases with Finance, covering capacity, throughput, labor, turnaround time, quality, and cost. Track value realization after launch against the original case, and report progress through the executive scorecard and steering committee forums. Run structured post-launch reviews and feed lessons into future initiative designs.

Executive and Stakeholder Leadership

Serve as the single accountable owner for assigned initiatives, presenting status, risks, and decisions to C-suite and steerco audiences. Lead change management for large-scale operational shifts: communication plans, stakeholder alignment, and adoption tracking. Partner closely with the PMO on governance, resourcing, and portfolio visibility and Continuous Improvement for process flows and standards.

Team Leadership

Hire, develop, and coach a team of transformation program leads, building strengths in process design, launch execution, and executive communication.

Who You Are:

Required 8+ years in operations, operations strategy, or transformation roles, including 3+ years leading teams and cross-functional programs. A proven track record of designing and launching new processes, operating models, or sites in high-volume operations such as fulfillment, logistics, processing, or manufacturing. Experience leading operational readiness for technology or automation deployments, system migrations, automation deployments, including hands-on UAT and cutover. Strong business case and financial modeling skills that hold up to CFO-level scrutiny. Excellent structured problem-solving and executive communication skills, with the ability to drive decisions in ambiguous, fast-moving environments. Willingness to travel up to 25-30%. Preferred Management consulting background (operations or strategy practice) plus in-house operating experience. Experience with multi-site or international launches. Familiarity with Lean principles as a design input, used to build efficient, well-controlled processes from the start. Background in high-mix, high-value, or authentication-sensitive operations. PMP or equivalent program management credential.

Salary Range: The salary range for this position is $157,000-$185,000. Actual compensation on this range varies based on a variety of non-discriminatory factors, including location, job level, experience, and skill set. This role may be eligible for bonuses, commissions, or other forms of compensation, please ask your recruiter for details.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. Collectors uses e-Verify to validate your ability to work legally in the United States. We are aware that there are instances where individuals are receiving job offers that fraudulently allege to be from Collectors or one of our business units. This type of fraud can be carried out through false websites, through fake e-mails claiming to be from the company or through social media. We never ask for personal information such as your bank account, Social Security numbers or National IDs, nor do we send or request payments for the purchase of business-related equipment. If you suspect fraud, please reach out to [e-mail].

Reasons To Join Us:

• Health Insurance: All fulltime employees are eligible to enroll in Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Additional Benefits: Fulltime employees are eligible for fertility, commuter, and educational assistance benefits
• 401(K) Matching Plan: We are proud to offer a competitive 401k matching plan to our employees to support their future financial goals
• Vacation: All salaried employees are eligible for flexible time-off
• Holiday Pay: All regular, fulltime employees are eligible for ten company paid holidays
• Employee Discounts: Employees receive discounts on select grading services for approved submissions
• Flexible Hours: Many of our teams offer flexible schedules with varying shifts and will work with you to accommodate your needs
• Fun Working Environment: Our team members are invited to participate in celebrations, holiday events, and team building activities

U.S. residents:

U.S. residents: for disclosures relating to personal information we collect during the employment application and recruitment process, please see our Privacy Notice for U.S. Applicants.

For New York Residents:

In connection with hiring, Collectors Universe, Inc. uses an automated employment decision tool (Brighthire) to assist in evaluating candidates. Collectors Universe, Inc. began using this tool in October 2026. In accordance with NYC Local Law 144, a summary of the most recent independent bias audit of this tool is available from Brighthire. To request information about the type of data collected, its source, and our data retention policy, contact [e-mail].

Collectors is the leading creator of innovative technology that provides value-added services for collectors worldwide. We grade, authenticate, vault, and sell millions of record-setting collectibles, all while modernizing and digitalizing the process to further our mission of helping collectors pursue their passions. We’re always on the lookout for talented people to join our growing team. Our services span collectible trading cards, autographs, comic books, coins, video games, event tickets, and memorabilia. Our subsidiaries include PSA, PCGS, Beckett, SGC, and Card Ladder. Since our founding in 1986, we have graded and authenticated millions of items. We employ more than 3000 people across our headquarters in Santa Ana, California and offices in New Jersey, Texas, Florida, Japan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Canada, Mexico, Germany, and France.