Program Manager

Aquent is partnering with a pioneering and innovative technology company that is revolutionizing transportation through advanced autonomous driving solutions. Dedicated to making mobility safe and accessible for everyone, this organization is shaping the future of how people and goods move globally. As a key contributor, you will play a critical role in ensuring the continuous safety and reliability of this groundbreaking technology, directly impacting the future of mobility.

About the Role: Driving Operational Excellence and Innovation

Imagine being at the forefront of mobility innovation, where your strategic vision and hands-on execution directly accelerate the deployment of cutting-edge autonomous technology. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an adaptable, proactive, and operationally grounded leader to drive excellence and innovation within a dynamic team. You will directly impact the reliability and efficiency of advanced vehicle testing fleets, ensuring that groundbreaking technology is validated safely and efficiently, paving the way for a transformative future in transportation. This pivotal role uniquely blends strategic program coordination with essential ground-level operational oversight, offering a chance to truly roll up your sleeves and make a tangible difference. Beyond daily tracking, you will harness the power of modern AI tools to streamline workflows, synthesize critical insights, and automate routine tasks, continually pushing the boundaries of operational efficiency in a fast-iterating environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze Daily Operational Data: Track shift fulfillment, online vehicle rates, and fleet configuration metrics across dashboards and spreadsheets; conduct root-cause deep dives into performance dips (e.g., staffing gaps or vehicle downtime).
• Leadership Briefings & Performance Reporting: Generate clear, concise daily briefings and performance summaries for validation managers, translating raw field data into actionable operational insights.
• Depot Ground Coordination: Spend an average of 1-2 days per week on-site at operational vehicle depots to observe platform launches, triage operational delays, and inspect fleet rollout bottlenecks alongside vendor leads.
• Vendor Partner Oversight: Act as an operational point of contact for third-party service vendors responsible for day-to-day driving operations and test execution, ensuring clear communication and alignment with program goals.
• Fast-Paced Prioritization & Escalation Handling: Triage incoming operational escalations, ad-hoc pings, and shift changes in real time, exercising sound judgment to prioritize time-sensitive field blockers.
• AI-Assisted Workflow Optimization: Utilize modern AI tools (including leading large language models like Gemini and AI assistants) to accelerate operational reporting, synthesize findings, analyze trends, and automate repetitive administrative workflows.
• Hands-On Problem Solving: Adapt to evolving program needs without hesitation, demonstrating a low-ego willingness to execute intensive manual reviews (such as auditing daily route prioritization matrices or dispatch plans) when systems require human verification.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Partner seamlessly with site operations leads, regional managers, product managers, safety teams, and engineering peers to coordinate vehicle platform rollouts. (Note: This role does not involve vehicle driving or mechanical/maintenance repairs.)

Required Qualifications

• Must reside within commuting distance (ideally within 50 miles) of operational vehicle depots.
• Physical Operations Background: Hands-on experience working in environments with physical operations (e.g., fleet operations, logistics, warehousing, delivery fulfillment, transportation, or vehicle depot environments). Purely digital/software-only project management will not suffice.
• Educational Background: 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.
• Spreadsheet Proficiency: Strong hands-on capability with Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel (experience building formulas, organizing raw datasets, and utilizing pivot tables to detect operational trends).
• AI Tooling Mindset: Active experience leveraging generative AI tools (e.g., Gemini, ChatGPT, or similar 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 ("things are always changing"); demonstrated self-management skills and ability to balance manual groundwork with high-level stakeholder communication.
• Mobility & Depot Presence: Willingness and ability to spend an average of 1-2 days per week on-site at operational depots (approx. 15%-30% local travel).
• Tooling: Advanced proficiency with Google Workspace applications (Google Sheets, Docs, Slides, and Chat/Meet).

Preferred Qualifications

• 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 BI platforms (e.g., Looker, Tableau, Power BI) or basic SQL queries (nice-to-have, not required).
• Experience presenting operational metrics and project roadmaps to cross-functional and senior leadership teams.