Staff Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives (Automation)

Flexport; Illinois; On-site; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Flexport is seeking a Staff Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives (Automation) to architect and build the next generation of the Flexport Fulfillment network. You will own automation projects end-to-end—from whiteboard to go-live—and develop ROI models to size opportunities, driving implementation on the floor and tracking realized returns post-launch.

You’ll collaborate with operations, product, engineering, and finance to define requirements, manage timelines, and scale solutions across

Qualifications

• 8+ years in fulfillment, logistics, supply chain, or operations strategy with automation exposure.
• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Engineering or related field.
• Proven end-to-end ownership of large capital programs with ROI tracking.
• Hands-on automation experience with ASRS, robotics, or goods-to-person systems.
• Strong financial modeling skills; ability to defend CFO-level numbers.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end initiatives from problem to ROI post-launch with no handoffs.
• Build and own ROI models for automation and capital projects; quantify labor savings and throughput gains.
• Define automation requirements from data and manage implementation timelines; ensure go-live readiness.
• Develop tooling, dashboards, and models using SQL, Python, and BI platforms.
• Scale automation and network buildout roadmaps across sites with leadership.

Skills

End-to-end ownership

Executive communication

Problem solving in ambiguity

Strong financial modeling

Hands-on automation

Technical program ownership

Leadership in cross-functional teams

Strategic initiatives

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

SQL

Python

Looker/Tableau/PowerBI

Job description

About Flexport

At Flexport, we believe global trade can move the human race forward. That’s why it’s our mission to make global commerce so easy there will be more of it. We’re shaping the future of a $10T industry with solutions powered by innovative technology and exceptional people. Today, companies of all sizes—from emerging brands to Fortune 500s—use Flexport technology to move more than $19B of merchandise across 112 countries a year.

The recent global supply chain crisis has put Flexport center stage as we continue to play a pivotal role in how goods move around the world. We are proud to have the support of the best investors in the game who believe in our mission, solutions and people. Ready to tackle global challenges that impact business, society, and the environment? Come join us.

Staff Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives (Automation)

Flexport is investing heavily in the next generation of fulfillment—and we’re looking for a Staff Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives who wants to be at the center of that transformation. This is not a traditional program management role. You will be the architect and hands‑on builder of tomorrow’s Flexport Fulfillment network: deploying automation, designing processes, building decision tools, and creating the operational standards that define how we scale.

You will own initiatives from whiteboard to go‑live—and you will own the business case and ROI that justifies every dollar we invest. That means getting into the weeds on automation system design (ASRS, robotics, goods‑to‑person), building the financial models to size the opportunity, driving implementation on the floor, and tracking realized returns post‑launch. You are accountable for the full lifecycle.

You’ll sit at the intersection of operations, product, engineering, and technology—working across all functions to identify gaps, design solutions, and bring them to life. We want someone who thrives in ambiguity, loves solving highly technical problems, and isn’t afraid to get hands‑on—whether that means writing SQL to diagnose a throughput bottleneck, building an ROI model for a $40M automation investment, or standing on the warehouse floor to validate a new workflow before rollout.

If you want to make a lasting impact by building something from the ground up—with full end‑to‑end ownership and the technical, operational, and strategic chops to back it up—this is the role for you.

What You’ll Do

Own the End‑To‑End

• Lead initiatives with full accountability—define the problem, build the business case, drive implementation, and track realized ROI post‑launch. No handoffs.
• Build and own ROI models for automation and capital projects (ASRS, robotics, goods‑to‑person), including labor savings, throughput gains, and payback analysis.
• Track actuals vs. projected ROI post‑implementation and close the loop with leadership and finance.

Lead Automation Programs

• Evaluate, select, and implement warehouse automation solutions (ASRS, AMRs, conveyor systems, goods‑to‑person) across the fulfillment network—as a technical program owner, not just a vendor manager.
• Define automation requirements from operational data: throughput, bin/cube utilization, labor rates, SKU profiles, and peak capacity.
• Manage implementation timelines, construction sequencing, and go‑live readiness—including transition plans to minimize disruption.

Build, Not Just Manage

• Develop tooling, dashboards, and models directly using SQL, Python, and BI platforms. You write the code, not just the spec.
• Use data to uncover bottlenecks, size automation opportunities, and drive capital allocation decisions worth tens of millions.
• Prototype workflows on the floor before scaling. Iterate fast.

Scale the Network

• Partner with engineering, product, operations, and finance to align on priorities and scale solutions across all sites.
• Establish SOPs, KPIs, and reporting cadences that become the operational backbone of fulfillment execution.
• Develop and execute multi‑year automation and network buildout roadmaps with senior leadership.

You Should Have

• 8+ years of experience in fulfillment, logistics, supply chain, or operations strategy—with direct exposure to high‑volume networks and automation or robotics programs.
• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Proven end‑to‑end ownership of large‑scale capital programs: you’ve built the business case, driven implementation, and tracked realized ROI.
• Hands‑on automation experience: you’ve worked directly with ASRS, robotics, goods‑to‑person systems, or conveyor/sortation technology—not just in a vendor management capacity, but as a technical program owner.
• Strong financial modeling skills: you can build an ROI model from scratch, stress‑test assumptions, and defend the numbers to a CFO.
• Extremely strong technical skillset: SQL (expert), Excel/Google Sheets (advanced), BI tools (Looker, Tableau, PowerBI), and preferably Python for modeling and automation.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: thrives in ambiguity, comfortable building from scratch, naturally biased toward action, and not afraid to get on the warehouse floor.
• Executive‑level communication skills: ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, from site operators to C‑suite, and translate complex technical trade‑offs into clear business decisions.
• Experience working with software engineering teams: comfortable partnering closely with engineers on tooling, systems, and technical trade‑offs.

Why This Role is Different

This role carries one of the highest levels of individual ownership within Flexport Fulfillment. You won’t just manage a process—you’ll build the automation infrastructure and operational systems that define the future of how we fulfill, scale, and serve customers. Your fingerprints will be on everything from the robotics systems on the floor to the financial models that guide $50M+ capital decisions.

You’ll own the ROI. You’ll own the implementation. You’ll own the results.

You’ll have the mandate to evaluate, build, and scale automation solutions—and the support of a leadership team that knows the success of this role will shape the future of Flexport Fulfillment.