Senior Technical Program Manager

Cox Communications; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 102,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Cox Automotive - USA is seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead complex, high‑risk IT and Operations initiatives with cross‑functional teams. You will plan, organize, monitor, and oversee Enterprise Technology programs to meet defined business specifications, coordinating with IT Owners and Service Area Leaders to drive results.

The role requires strong facilitation, budgeting, risk management, and stakeholder communication, plus 3+ years managing technology projects and PMP certification.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical, business, or management discipline with 4 years in active program/project management.
• 3+ years’ experience managing Technology/Security/Operations projects.
• PMP certification required or in progress.
• 2+ years’ experience leading or supporting SAFe Agile teams or equivalent program management on Agile projects.
• Experience with Smartsheet preferred.
• Strong facilitation, communication, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale, complex technology projects in a matrixed environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex enterprise programs involving cross-functional teams in an Agile environment.
• Facilitate collaboration across Enterprise Technology, Product, and Business functions.
• Drive AI adoption and communicate value across teams.
• Support all phases of the program lifecycle from initiation to closure.
• Develop and deliver program management deliverables in compliance with methodology.

Skills

Facilitation

Communication

Organizational skills

Analytical thinking

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in technical, business, or management discipline

Master’s degree + 2 years experience

Tools

Smartsheet

Job description

Company

Cox Automotive - USA

Job Family Group

Information Technology

Job Profile

Sr Technical Project Manager

Management Level

Individual Contributor

Flexible Work Option

Hybrid - Ability to work remotely part of the week

Travel %

Yes, 15% of the time

Work Shift

Day

Compensation

Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $101,500.00 - $169,100.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.

Job Description

The Senior Program Manager role manages complex, high-risk technical IT and Operations programs or projects of strategic importance to the organization. This role oversees project initiatives involving cross-functional teams and multiple delivery systems, ensuring that sequencing and dependencies are monitored and managed with timely escalation of deviations from plans and commitments. The Senior Program Manager will plan, organize, monitor, and oversee multiple Enterprise Technology programs to meet defined business specifications, working closely with the Enterprise Technology Delivery organization as well as Service Area Leaders and IT Owners to guide efforts toward achieving intended business results.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and manage complex enterprise programs involving cross-functional teams and delivery systems in an Agile and matrixed environment.
• Facilitate collaboration, mobilization, and coordination across Enterprise Technology and between Product, Business, and other functions to ensure alignment on scope, timeline, risks, issues, and dependencies.
• Drive AI adoption leveraging clear messaging, benefiting the teams and connecting human / AI value.
• Support all phases of the program lifecycle, including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure.
• Develop and deliver program management deliverables within compliance with approved methodology requirements.
• Communicate program objectives clearly and motivate the project team and delivery systems to achieve them.
• Organize work into manageable work packages or phases and determine an effective approach to completing the work.
• Manage the financial aspects of programs: budgeting, estimate-to-actual variance, and funding channel tracking.
• Analyze risks, establish contingency plans, and identify trigger events and responsibilities for initiating mitigating actions.
• Provide tracking and reporting on progress to plan, cost, and schedule, including change control.
• Manage relationships with program stakeholders, both within IT and with external business stakeholders.
• Proactively manage change to baselined scope, schedule, and cost, communicating impacts and facilitating decisions.
• Identify and elevate bottlenecks, risks, issues, and dependencies to ensure program success and realization of business outcomes.
• Manage vendor relations and procurement activities related to program requirements.
• Drive effective communication, collaboration, and commitment across teams with competing priorities.
• Provide input to refine established PM methodology and alignment with delivery systems.
• Provide performance input to team members’ functional managers.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in technical, business, or management discipline and 4 years' experience in active Program/Project management role.
  • The right candidate may also possess a different combination, such as a master's degree and 2 years’ experience; a Ph.D. and 1 years’ experience; or 12 years’ experience in a Program/Project management role with no degree.
• 3+ years' experience managing Technology/Security/Operations projects.
• PMP certification required or actively in progress.
• 2+ years’ experience leading or supporting SAFe Agile teams, or equivalent program management experience on Agile projects/programs.
• Experience with Smartsheet preferred.
• Strong facilitation, communication, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale, complex technology projects or programs.
• Effective at working in a highly matrixed environment.
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills, both verbal and written.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Analytical Thinking: Applying structured problem-solving and data-informed decision-making to program challenges.
• Budgeting: Tracking and managing program budgets with attention to cost efficiency and variance reporting.
• Managing Multiple Priorities: Balancing concurrent workstreams and adjusting to shifting demands across a program portfolio.
• Program Administration & Management: Using tools and methodologies for planning, tracking, and reporting effectively.
• Collaboration: Building productive working relationships across teams, removing obstacles, and sharing relevant information.
• Communication: Tailoring messages to audiences, encouraging feedback, and presenting clearly at all organizational levels.
• Execution Focus: Following through on commitments, tracking progress against goals, and escalating proactively.
• Adaptability: Navigating ambiguity and changing priorities with a constructive and solution-oriented mindset.

Drug Testing

To be employed in this role, you’ll need to clear a pre-employment drug test. Cox Automotive does not currently administer a pre-employment drug test for marijuana for this position. However, we are a drug-free workplace, so the possession, use or being under the influence of drugs illegal under federal or state law during work hours, on company property and/or in company vehicles is prohibited.

Benefits

• The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company’s needs, and its obligations;
• seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year;
• up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members;
• Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave;
• Benefits of working at Cox may include health care insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement planning (401(k)), and paid days off (sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO).

About Us

Through groundbreaking technology and a commitment to stellar experiences for drivers and dealers alike, Cox Automotive employees are transforming the way the world buys, owns, sells – or simply uses – cars. Cox Automotive employees get to work on iconic consumer brands like Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book and industry-leading dealer-facing companies like vAuto and Manheim, all while enjoying the people-centered atmosphere that is central to our life at Cox. Benefits of working at Cox may include health care insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement planning (401(k)), and paid days off (sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO). For more details on what benefits you may be offered, visit our benefits page. Cox is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer – All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual’s age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law. Cox provides reasonable accommodations when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with disability, unless such accommodations would cause an undue hardship.

EOE, including disability/vets

Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship. No OPT, CPT, STEM/OPT or visa sponsorship now or in future.