Program Manager

Description:

Kinaxis, a global leader in end-to-end supply chain management, is seeking a Program Manager, Product Operations to join its dynamic team in Waterloo, Ontario (remote). Since its founding in 1984, Kinaxis has grown from a small team of engineers to a global enterprise of over 2,000 employees. The company powers the world’s supply chains for major brands like Lockheed Martin, Yamaha, P&G, and Honda, helping them achieve agility, efficiency, and resilience while promoting sustainability and innovation.

As a Program Manager in Product Operations, you will play a strategic role in driving efficiency, scalability, and cross-functional alignment across Kinaxis’s Product, Engineering, and Go-to-Market (GTM) teams. You will lead major initiatives that streamline delivery, remove blockers, optimize resource allocation, and ensure successful product launches aligned with business goals. This role offers the opportunity to shape how Kinaxis delivers technology that impacts global industries and millions of people worldwide.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Management

• Lead and coordinate cross-functional engineering and product investments from planning to implementation.

• Ensure alignment of deliverables with strategic business goals and timelines.

• Identify and remove blockers to streamline execution and enhance delivery quality.

• Track milestones, decisions, trade-offs, and dependencies across multiple teams.

• Partner with Finance to monitor P&L performance and investment profitability.

Vision & Strategy

• Collaborate with senior leadership to define investment vision, roadmap, and performance metrics.

• Develop and maintain strategic project plans with clear deliverables and ownership.

• Manage resources effectively to deliver outcomes on time, within scope, and within budget.

Process & Change Management

• Enhance and optimize execution processes to boost efficiency and scalability.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and manage organizational change effectively.

• Support teams in adopting best practices in change management and process optimization.

Relationship Building

• Partner closely with Product Managers, Technical Leads, and GTM leaders to align quarterly and long-term goals.

• Build trusted, collaborative relationships across departments to ensure cross-functional success.

• Operate as a key liaison between management-level stakeholders in Product, Engineering, and GTM functions.

Communication & Collaboration

• Communicate project updates, risks, and progress clearly across technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Ensure transparency through structured reporting, issue escalation, and stakeholder alignment.

• Maintain strong feedback loops for adaptive planning and continuous improvement.

AI & Automation Enablement

• Utilize AI-driven tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Jira AI, and Confluence AI to:

  • Automate reporting and status updates.

  • Generate insights and summaries for leadership reviews.

  • Predict delivery risks and optimize resource planning.

  • Streamline program tracking and dependency management.

Required Experience and Skills:

• 5+ years of program or product operations experience within a fast-paced technology or SaaS organization.

• Proven success in leading large-scale initiatives that require collaboration across Product, Engineering, and GTM teams.

• Deep understanding of software delivery life cycles and cross-functional coordination.

• Expertise in using AI tools (ChatGPT, Jira AI, Power BI) to improve decision-making and operational efficiency.

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, able to engage both executives and technical teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Jira, Confluence, and Aha!

• Experience using AI-powered productivity tools such as Copilot, Notion AI, or Power BI.

• PMP or PgMP certification is an asset.

Why You’ll Love Working at Kinaxis:

• Work on technology that powers global supply chains and impacts everyday life—from keeping store shelves stocked to ensuring essential medicines reach patients on time.

• Collaborate with Fortune 500 clients across industries like aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, and healthcare.

• Thrive in an inclusive and innovative environment where people matter and growth is prioritized.

• Enjoy flexible vacation policies, Kinaxis Days (monthly company-wide day off), and remote work options.

• Access to comprehensive physical and mental wellness programs, mentorship initiatives, training opportunities, and recognition programs.

• Participate in hackathons, sustainability initiatives, and diversity programs that make a real-world difference.

Diversity and Inclusion Commitment:

Kinaxis is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The company ensures fair recruitment practices and provides accommodations for candidates with specific needs or disabilities. The recruitment process incorporates AI for initial screening to identify best-fit candidates, but all final decisions are made by human recruiters to ensure fairness and transparency.