Senior Operations Transformation Project Manager

Collectors Holdings, Inc.; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 157,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401(K) Matching Plan

Vacation - Flexible time-off

Fertility assistance

Commuter benefits

Educational assistance

Holiday pay

Employee discounts

Flexible hours

Team celebrations

Job summary

Collectors in Santa Ana, CA seeks a Senior Operations Transformation Project Manager to redesign operations as volume grows. You will lead strategic initiatives from concept through design, launch, and stable run-state, driving new processes, automation, and system migrations across sites and functions.

You will partner with COO and senior leadership, design the operating model, build the implementation plan, and lead cross-functional teams to ensure on-time go-lives and measurable value

Qualifications

• 8+ years in operations, operations strategy, or transformation roles.
• 3+ years leading teams and cross-functional programs.
• Experience with technology readiness and automation deployments, including UAT.
• Strong business case and financial modeling skills that stand up to CFO scrutiny.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic operational initiatives from concept through design, launch and steady state.
• Translate goals into charters with scope, business case, metrics and milestones.
• Design future-state processes, operating models, roles and handoffs.
• Oversee readiness for AI-assisted grading, new equipment and system changes.
• Own pilot to full rollout, cutover planning and hypercare.
• Lead cross-functional launch teams across Operations, Finance, Product & Tech.

Skills

Operations experience

Program leadership

Financial modeling

Executive communication

Education

PMP or equivalent

Job description

Senior Operations Transformation Project Manager### Senior Operations Transformation Project ManagerApply: Santa Ana, CA: Full time: Posted Today: JR107240Collectors 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. We’re looking for a ***Senior Operations Transformation Project Manager*** who will redesign Collectors and how its operations run as it scales volume, adds sites, and brings new technology onto the floor. You will lead the company's most strategic operational initiatives, from concept through design, launch, and stable run-state. Examples include standing up new processes and workflows, integrating automation and AI-assisted capabilities into production, implementing and migrating core operating systems (ERP, WMS, grading platforms), and re-architecting how work flows across departments. This role turns strategy into working operations. It takes an executive priority and makes it real on the floor: defining the future-state operating model, designing the process, building the implementation plan, and leading the cross-functional launch. The goal is an operation that runs at target performance and is owned by Ops from day one. You'll report to the Director, Continuous Improvement**, and work onsite at our Santa Ana, CA HQ**. ***Willingness to travel domestic and internationally with up to 30% travel required for this role**.* **Onsite Requirement:**This role requires you to be onsite in the office 5 days per week. **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.* **Reasons To Join Us:*** Health Insurance: All full-time employees are eligible to enroll in Medical, Dental, and Vision* Additional Benefits:Full-time 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, full-time 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 **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]. *We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, national origin, gender, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or parental status, disability, veteran status, or other class protected by applicable law. We believe that a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills will better service the diverse community of collectors we support.* *If you require an accommodation to apply or interview with us due to a disability or special need, please email [e-mail].*