Company

Cox Automotive - USA

Job Family Group

Business Operations

Job Profile

Sr Project / Program Manager

Management Level

Individual Contributor

Flexible Work Option

Hybrid - Ability to work remotely part of the week

Travel %

Yes, 5% of the time

Work Shift

Day

Compensation

Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $98,300.00 - $147,500.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.

Job Description

The Senior Program Manager, Hiring Strategy & Governance owns the Cox Automotive Product Group (CAPTG) wide hiring governance, forecasting, and cross-functional coordination for Engineering and Technology organizations in CAPTG. This role translates workforce strategy into clear, scalable operating models and ensures hiring programs run with strong governance, data integrity, and accountability. Leads and operates enterprise workforce and hiring programs from design through sustained execution. Serves as the primary business owner for CAPTG headcount approvals, Early Career programs, Internal Mobility, and business-driven hiring initiatives in partnership with Talent Acquisition, HR, Finance, and Engineering leadership.

The role combines hands-on operational involvement with program leadership. The Senior Program Manager is actively engaged in day-to-day aspects of the CAPG process, including supporting pre-approval flow, resolving escalations, partnering on in-cycle issue resolution, and soliciting SVP- and EVP-level approvals as needed. At the same time, this role is accountable for defining and maintaining the forecasting, governance model, decision frameworks, intake standards, and escalation paths—using day-to-day signal to identify systemic issues and drive durable improvements to how hiring operates at scale.

What You'll Do:

Hiring Governance & Program Leadership

Own and evolve hiring forecasting, governance frameworks, leadership approvals, intake standards, and approval guardrails.
Define and document clear ownership boundaries between governance and operational execution.
Facilitate cross-functional forums to review demand, trends, risks, and constraints.
Surface systemic issues and recommend data-backed improvements.

Early Career & Internal Talent Programs

Own governance and annual planning for Early Career and intern programs.
Partner with Talent, Finance, HR, and Engineering leaders on approvals, capacity planning, and conversion strategy.

Define decision criteria and resolution paths for non-standard scenarios.
Align Internal Mobility initiatives with hiring governance and workforce constraints.

Forecasting, Analytics & Change Enablement

Lead portfolio-level hiring and headcount forecasting in partnership with Finance and Engineering Operations.
Produce executive-ready insights on hiring trends, risks, and outcomes.

Design and maintain hiring playbooks, documentation, and change enablement materials.

Who You Are:

Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline, and 4 years’ experience in a related field. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master’s degree and 2 years’ experience; a Ph.D. and up to 1 year of experience; or 8 years 'experience in a related field.
5+ years of experience in program management, business operations, workforce planning, or HR-related roles.
Proven success leading cross-functional programs with senior stakeholders.
Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Comfortable operating in ambiguity and influencing without authority.

Preferred

Experience with enterprise-scale hiring or early career programs.
Demonstrated ability to design governance models separate from tactical execution.

Drug Testing

To be employed in this role, you’ll need to clear a pre-employment drug test. Cox Automotive does not currently administer a pre-employment drug test for marijuana for this position. However, we are a drug-free workplace, so the possession, use or being under the influence of drugs illegal under federal or state law during work hours, on company property and/or in company vehicles is prohibited.

Benefits

The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company’s needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.

About Us

Through groundbreaking technology and a commitment to stellar experiences for drivers and dealers alike, Cox Automotive employees are transforming the way the world buys, owns, sells – or simply uses – cars. Cox Automotive employees get to work on iconic consumer brands like Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book and industry-leading dealer-facing companies like vAuto and Manheim, all while enjoying the people-centered atmosphere that is central to our life at Cox. Benefits of working at Cox may include health care insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement planning (401(k)), and paid days off (sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO). For more details on what benefits you may be offered, visit our benefits page. Cox is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer – All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual’s age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law. Cox provides reasonable accommodations when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with disability, unless such accommodations would cause an undue hardship.

EOE, including disability/vets

Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship. No OPT, CPT, STEM/OPT or visa sponsorship now or in future.

Sr. Program Manager, Hiring Strategy & Governance