Program Manager II

Partnering with Aquent, a leading talent solutions partner, you have the unique opportunity to join a pioneering autonomous driving technology company that is revolutionizing how people and goods move. In this dynamic role, you will directly influence the safety, reliability, and efficiency of next-generation transportation fleets, making a tangible impact on the future of mobility for millions of people worldwide.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an adaptable, proactive, and operationally grounded professional to drive operational excellence and innovation across cutting-edge autonomous vehicle testing fleets. Working closely with regional validation leaders and third-party operating vendors, you will bridge the gap between strategic program coordination and hands-on operational oversight. This is your chance to thrive in a fast-iterating environment, leverage modern AI tools to streamline workflows, and play a pivotal role at operational depots to ensure critical testing milestones are met safely and on schedule.

What You'll Do

• Analyze Daily Operational Data: Meticulously track shift fulfillment, online vehicle rates, and fleet configuration metrics across dashboards and spreadsheets; conduct in-depth root-cause analyses into performance dips (e.g., staffing gaps or vehicle downtime).
• Leadership Briefings & Performance Reporting: Generate clear, concise daily briefings and performance summaries for regional validation managers, translating raw field data into actionable operational insights that drive decision-making.
• Depot Ground Coordination: Engage directly on-site at operational vehicle depots to observe platform launches, triage operational delays, and inspect fleet rollout bottlenecks alongside vendor leads, ensuring smooth execution.
• Vendor Partner Oversight: Serve as a primary operational point of contact for third-party service vendors responsible for day-to-day driving operations and test execution, fostering clear communication and alignment with program goals.
• Fast-Paced Prioritization & Escalation Handling: Triage incoming operational escalations, ad-hoc requests, and shift changes in real time, exercising sound judgment to swiftly prioritize and resolve time-sensitive field blockers.
• AI-Assisted Workflow Optimization: Proactively utilize modern AI tools (including large language models like Gemini and ChatGPT) to accelerate operational reporting, synthesize complex findings, analyze emerging trends, and automate repetitive administrative workflows, enhancing overall efficiency.
• Hands-On Problem Solving: Adapt to evolving program needs without hesitation, demonstrating a willingness to execute intensive manual reviews (such as auditing daily route prioritization matrices or dispatch plans) when systems require human verification to ensure accuracy.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Partner seamlessly with site operations leads, regional managers, product managers, safety teams, and engineering peers to coordinate seamless vehicle platform rollouts.

What You'll Bring (Required Qualifications)

• Physical Operations Background: Hands-on experience working in environments with physical operations (e.g., fleet operations, logistics, warehousing, delivery fulfillment, transportation, or autonomous vehicle depot environments). Purely digital/software-only project management experience will not suffice for this role.
• Educational Background: An Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Business Analytics, Supply Chain/Logistics, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical operations experience).
• Operational Coordination Experience: Demonstrated experience in operations coordination, program management, logistics tracking, or technical operations, showcasing your ability to manage complex moving parts.
• Spreadsheet Proficiency: Strong hands-on capability with Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel, including experience building formulas, organizing raw datasets, and utilizing pivot tables to detect and analyze operational trends.
• AI Tooling Mindset: Active experience leveraging generative AI tools (e.g., Gemini, ChatGPT, or other large language models) as a daily productivity multiplier to draft documentation, interpret data trends, or streamline personal workflows.
• Adaptability & Resilience: High comfort with ambiguity and rapid organizational iteration; demonstrated self-management skills and ability to balance manual groundwork with high-level stakeholder communication.
• Tooling: Advanced proficiency with Google Workspace applications (Google Sheets, Docs, Slides, and Chat/Meet).

Preferred Qualifications (Nice-to-Have)

• Prior experience within a high-growth autonomous vehicle (AV), robotics, or tech-logistics environment.
• Experience collaborating with third-party vendor operations, staffing agencies, or service supplier points of contact.
• Familiarity with operational dashboards and Business Intelligence (BI) platforms (e.g., Looker, Tableau, Power BI) or basic SQL queries.
• Experience presenting complex operational metrics and project roadmaps to cross-functional and senior leadership teams, effectively communicating insights and progress.