Sr. Project Manager

ABOUT US:

Tire Discounters, the nations largest family-owned and operated tire business, was founded almost 50 years ago. We are dedicated to providing exceptional automotive service with a focus on transparency and care to our nearly 2,300 team members, we offer diverse career paths, industry-leading training, and a commitment to our core values.

As a family-owned tire and automotive service retailer, our mission is to prioritize people and safety above all else. We are dedicated to delivering a WOW experience to our customers and team members, with a commitment to always do the right thing and challenge the status quo.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Manager, Special Projects at Tire Discounters (TD) plays a critical role in managing and driving high-priority projects aligned with TD's strategic goals. This position is responsible for overseeing the operational execution of key projects, providing proactive solutions, and building comprehensive plans to support revenue growth, innovation, customer engagement, loyalty, and operational optimization. The Senior Manager will also provide leadership to team members within the Special Projects group, overseeing their work and ensuring alignment with project objectives.

This role focuses on leading cross-functional and cross-organizational projects, ensuring seamless project management across the entire lifecycle. Responsibilities include identifying and coordinating resources, establishing communication channels, implementing change management strategies, and ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and with thorough post-launch evaluation. Typical projects span business operations, IT, and process enhancements, aiming to support innovative solutions in products, services, customer experiences, marketing channels, and business models.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Efficiently manage the coordination and implementation of projects, many cross-functional, involving varied size, complexity, impact, and technologies.
• Regularly partner with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), both internal and external, to validate project scope, requirements, and budgets for high-priority projects.
• Serve as a thought partner to business stakeholders, leading options analysis and recommendations that enable better decision making.
• Lead project planning sessions and provide professional project management expertise and guidance.
• Team management including hiring, leading, and developing team members by fostering an authentic and inspiring work environment, establishing clear objectives, setting clear direction, and providing effective coaching to maximize individual and collective performance.
• Oversee all stages of the project lifecycle:

• Lead and guide direct reports to effectively execute projects.
• Document requirements, identify budgets and resources needed for project delivery.
• Define scope, schedules, phases, tasks, roles, and responsibilities, ensuring stakeholder adherence.
• Manage communication through detailed reporting and in-person meetings.
  • Types of summaries may include project status dashboards, flow diagrams, financial forecasts, resource-to-expenditure reconciliations, and milestone reviews.
• Identify project issues and risks, develop mitigation plans, and escalate critical issues as needed.
• Ensure successful hand-off to departments, including training and certification.
• Conduct post-launch audits to verify project adoption and correct usage.
• Provide post-mortem reports to business leaders.

• Lead change management initiatives by developing strategies that support smooth adoption and minimize disruption during project transitions.
• Collaborate with the VP of Special Projects to determine project priorities and implement strategies for on-time delivery.
• Document procedures, policies, record-keeping, and duties related to overall project administration.
• Review and ensure that project outcomes are of the highest standard, recommending areas for refinement and improvement. Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for each project, using data-driven insights to measure project success, team performance, and identify opportunities for improvement
• Manage and monitor external vendors and consultants to ensure smooth and effective project deliverables and outcomes.
• Provide thought leadership that supports revenue-driving activities, fosters innovation, drives business transformation, and enhances organizational systems and processes.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements within the project management framework and implement best practices to increase efficiency and effectiveness across all projects.
• Develop and implement team development initiatives that enhance the skills and knowledge of project team members, enabling them to effectively contribute to high-priority projects.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Extensive knowledge of project management concepts, techniques, and procedures.
• Ability to lead and mentor a team of project management professionals, both internal and external, while fostering the growth and enhancing the team capabilities.
• Strong business maturity, professionalism, interpersonal, management leadership, analytical, and communication skills.
• Excellent time management, organization, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Strong and effective relationship building skills; Must be able to develop relationships with multi-functional teammates, internal stores, and external vendors/partners to achieve business results. Must be able to effectively influence and command respect to drive timelines.
• Strong ability to negotiate with stakeholders, vendors, and partners to achieve favorable project outcomes and resource allocations.
• Strong ability to negotiate with stakeholders, vendors, and partners to achieve favorable project outcomes and resource allocations.
• Ability to assertively address conflicts, troubleshoot problems and effectively manage expectations, ensuring a harmonious project environment.
• Demonstrated adeptness in creative thinking, teamwork, problem-solving and decision making.
• Excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to make assessments quickly and determine the best course of action.
• Ability to manage competing projects and priorities to meet deadlines, and function effectively in a fast-paced environment of a high-growth organization.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and project management software.
• Flexible approach, and willing to be on call on weekends and evenings to meet the demands of the role and ensure successful project delivery.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelors degree in Business Administration, Business Management, Communications, Retail Operations, or a related field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5 years experience in business leadership, driving innovation and project development.
• Minimum 3 years experience as a direct manager.
• Experience managing multiple projects concurrently.
• A track record of successful project delivery, including managing budgets, resources, timelines, and stakeholder expectations.
• Preferred but not required:
  • Project Management Certification
  • Experience in multi-tenant retail industry

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Operates in both an office setting, and within our stores and warehouses, p rimarily indoors.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and/or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, handle and/or feel; lift/carry up to 25 pounds, and reach with hands and arms.
• Routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers and phones. Position involves p rolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer