Salaried Project Manager – Strategic Projects to support Autonomous Vehicle Partner

The Project Manager – Strategic Projects supports AutoNation’s partnership with an Autonomous Vehicle company by leading high-impact, cross-functional initiatives that enable operational readiness, vehicle uptime, and high-quality autonomous vehicle repair operations.

This role partners closely with internal AutoNation teams, Autonomous Vehicle partner stakeholders, and external service providers to support market expansion, new vehicle platforms, and scalable repair processes.

The position is critical to ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient fleet operations as our Autonomous Vehicle partner continues rapid growth across multiple U.S. markets.

Organizational Relationships

•    Directly reports to: Director-level leader within Strategic Operations or Fleet Services
•    Internal interactions: Fleet Services, Aftersales, Operations, Human Resources, Finance, Supply Chain, Safety, and Technical Teams
•    External interactions: Waymo stakeholders, OEM partners, fleet management vendors, charging/cleaning/maintenance providers, and repair network partners

Job Responsibilities

1.    Strategic Program Leadership (25%)
o    Lead cross-functional initiatives supporting Autonomous Vehicle partner market expansion and fleet scalability.
o    Support executive priorities related to operational readiness, technician engagement, and repair quality.
o    Define program scope, success metrics, KPIs, and readiness plans.

2.    Cross-Functional Coordination (20%)
o    Coordinate with internal AutoNation teams to align resources, timelines, and deliverables.
o    Support current and future vehicle platform programs, including new autonomous and EV models.
o    Ensure alignment across technical and non-technical stakeholders.

3.    Project Execution & Delivery (20%)
o    Develop and manage integrated project plans, launch calendars, dependency maps, and risk mitigation plans.
o    Identify and escalate operational risks related to throughput, downtime, parts availability, and infrastructure.
o    Deliver clear, data-driven updates and recommendations to senior leadership.

4.    Partner & Vendor Repair Network Optimization (15%)
o    Collaborate with external fleet service providers supporting charging, cleaning, maintenance, and repairs.
o    Ensure partners meet SLAs, safety standards, and autonomous vehicle service protocols.
o    Monitor partner performance and support continuous improvement efforts.

5.    Repair Process & Tooling Improvement (10%)
o    Drive initiatives to improve parts availability and reduce supply chain bottlenecks.
o    Partner with Operations and Supply Chain teams to support scalable repair processes.

6.    Operational Excellence & Change Management (10%)
o    Improve processes supporting high reliability, safety, and service quality.
o    Facilitate readiness reviews, launch checkpoints, and working sessions.
o    Support workforce and partner training initiatives tied to new platforms and protocols.
 

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Business, Operations, or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years of program or project management experience in automotive aftersales, fleet operations, or related environments.

• Experience managing cross-functional initiatives with technical and operational dependencies.

• Strong communication, problem-solving, analytical, and risk management skills.

• Automotive aftersales experience such as (but not limited to): warranty claims submission, workshop processes, dealer management systems, parts procurement processes.

• Familiarity with OEM service networks and warranty operations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in automotive, EV, or autonomous vehicle repair operations.

• PMP, Agile, Lean, or similar project management certification.

All positions require:

• Must meet company requirements for employment.

• Valid in-state driver’s license and the ability to maintain an acceptable, safe driving record

• Demonstrate behaviors consistent with the Company’s Vision, Mission, and Values in all interactions with customers, co-workers, and suppliers.

• Adhere to all company policies, procedures, and safety standards.

Physical Requirements

• Requires travel to operating ma