Director Program Management Jobs in Racine, WI (NOW HIRING)

Johnson Outdoors is a global leader in innovative outdoor recreation equipment, dedicated to creating the best possible outdoor experiences for consumers around the world!  With a portfolio of market-leading brands and a passion rooted in adventure, the company designs and manufactures premium products across fishing, diving, camping & watercraft categories. 

Check out each of the unique Johnson Outdoor brands in Fishing, Watercraft, Camping and Diving!

With 1,300 employees, 19 global facility locations and selling into over 80 countries, the Johnson Outdoors team is continuing to grow!   This new role, as Senior Director Enterprise Program Management, leads and sets the vision for enterprise-wide strategic initiatives that shape Johnson Outdoors’ future. Serves as the central driver of organizational strategy by aligning priorities, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring results-driven execution. Guides strategic planning, governance, and change leadership to deliver measurable outcomes, enhance organizational agility, and advance long-term business goals.

Located at our beautiful Headquarters along Lake Michigan in downtown Racine: 555 Main Street, Racine, WI.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Leadership:

• Provides enterprise-wide leadership and strategic direction for planning, execution, and delivery of high-impact programs/projects and initiatives to achieve strategic business objectives.
• Leads and ensures alignment of enterprise priorities, optimized resource utilization, and proactive identification and resolution of conflicts.
• Defines, governs, and continuously improves program management standards, tools and methodologies, ensuring consistency, scalability, and effective resource deployment.
• Partners with engineering project management leadership to align delivery models and to govern, and continuously improve program management standards, tools and methodologies, ensuring consistency, scalability, and effective resource deployment.
• Monitors interdependences across initiatives and proactively resolves risks and constraints to maintain program integrity and timelines.

Strategic Planning Support:

• Partners with executive leadership to lead the annual strategic planning process and translate goals into actionable programs.
• Assists executive leadership with prioritizing and communicating strategic initiatives to ensure clarity and alignment across the organization
• Develops and oversees a strategic roadmap that supports long-term growth and agility.

AI & Best Practices:

• Leads the development and implementation of enterprise-wide program and project management best practices, processes, standards, and tools to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency
• Recognizes and capitalizes on opportunities to harness artificial intelligence (AI) for accelerating, optimizing, and elevating the efficiency of program and project management processes.
• Leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate and optimize enterprise program and project management through predictive risk identification, prioritization modeling, dependency analysis, and delivery forecasting.
• Applies AIenabled insights to enhance strategic planning, portfolio optimization, scenario analysis, and executive decisionmaking across complex, interdependent initiatives.
• Upskill teams, evolve roles, and create a culture of AI fluency and accountability tied to measurable outcomes.

Governance & Operational Oversight:

• Establishes governance frameworks, dashboards, and milestone tracking systems to ensure program transparency and accountability.
• Proactively identifies and mitigates risks, resolves issues, and manages change across initiatives to safeguard program success.
• Ensures consistent application of program and project management methodologies to ensure efficiency and standardization.

Executive & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Serves as a trusted strategic advisor to executive leadership, acting as a liaison between leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Facilitates executive briefings, steering committee meetings, and strategic reviews to drive alignment and decision making.
• Drives alignment and engagement across departments to ensure successful program outcomes.

Change Management Leadership & Continuous Improvement:

• Shapes enterprise-wide change management strategy and drives adoption of new processes, technologies, and organizational transformations through structured transition frameworks.
• Integrates AIsupported insights into enterprise change management planning to anticipate adoption risks, stakeholder sentiment, and organizational readiness across largescale initiatives.
• Leads large-scale change management initiatives to align with corporate vision and strategic priorities.
• Champions a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement across all business units.
• Directs executive communication planning and stakeholder engagement strategies to ensure change readiness and sustained adoption at all levels of the organization.

 Performance Measurement & Reporting:

• Establishes and oversees key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure program effectiveness and strategic alignment.
• Delivers Board-ready reporting and insights to inform decisions and optimize performance.
• Analyzes program outcomes to assess ROI and recommends strategic adjustments for sustained success.

Other:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

• May oversee a small team or matrixed resources to ensure the delivery of enterprise initiatives. 

• Accountable for influencing enterprise budgets tied to strategic programs. 

• Develops strong network and oversight with potential external project management partners.

What you need to succeed:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, project management, strategic management or equivalent. Professional certifications such as PMI-ACP (Agile), PMP, CCMP, and Prosci required.

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of leadership experience, including leading enterprise-level programs, shaping corporate strategy, influencing senior executives, and delivering measurable business value across multiple programs.

• Strong business acumen with the ability to shape enterprise strategy and influence organizational priorities.

• Expertise in developing and maintaining strategic roadmaps that guide enterprise-wide execution.

• Advanced program and project management skills, including oversight of multiple concurrent initiatives from planning through delivery.

• Demonstrated experience leveraging AI and advanced analytics to improve enterprise program portfolio management, strategic planning, forecasting, and performance measurement.

• Strong analytical capabilities with the ability to interpret complex data, assess program performance, and inform strategic decisions.

• Exceptional executive communication and facilitation skills; able to influence senior leadership, lead steering committee meetings, and foster alignment across diverse teams.

• Proven ability to identify and implement enhancements to program management processes, tools, and delivery models.

• Skilled in leading change management efforts to support adoption of new technologies, processes, and organizational structures.

• Ability to apply AI tools to augment change management, stakeholder engagement, communications planning, and adoption measurement.

• Proficient in project management and collaboration platforms such as Asana, Smartsheet, MS Project, and milestone tracking systems.

• Advanced data visualization and reporting skills using Power BI and Excel.

A few pointers about our culture:

• Entrepreneurial spirit and innovation are in our bones! We authentically innovate trusted equipment that gets people out in the great outdoors.
• We are laser-focused on our consumers, and passionate about providing superior solutions flexible to meet any event’s needs or mission requirements.
• We strive to create meaningful, healthy change in the world as individuals and as a family of brands.
• We value team members who are willing to wear many hats; who take personal initiative, anticipating what needs to be done, and figuring things out to make them happen; but who are also willing to ask for help, to assist others and work together.

 What you will receive:

• Share in the company’s success with competitive base salary with additional earning potential through participation in the management bonus program, and eligibility for annual pay increases.
• Find work/life balance with generous Paid Time Off and holiday benefits, a full benefits package, and broad range of employee support and fitness and wellness plans.
• Further your career with performance development and training opportunities, including our tuition assistance program.
• Have fun at work, enjoy a collaborative and casual work environment, participating in fun company events, and taking advantage of great employee discounts on all our outdoor recreational products.
• Plan for your future with our 401(k) with company match and deferred retirement contributions, Sons & Daughters Scholarship program, college savings program, life and LTD insurance, and more.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at Johnson Outdoors (and all subsidiaries) without regard to race; creed; color; religion; national origin; sex; age; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; genetic predisposition or carrier status; veteran, marital, or citizenship status; or any other status protected by law.  Johnson Outdoors is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact Human Resources at HRSpecialAccommodations@johnsonoutdoors.com to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global innovator of outdoor recreation equipment and technologies that inspire more people to experience the awe of the great outdoors. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft Recreation, Fishing, Diving and Camping.  Johnson Outdoors' iconic brands include: Old Town® canoes and kayaks; Ocean Kayak™; Carlisle® paddles; Minn Kota® fishing motors, batteries and anchors; Cannon® downriggers; Humminbird® marine electronics and charts; SCUBAPRO® dive equipment; Jetboil® outdoor cooking systems. Founded in 1970 by Samuel C. Johnson, the Company has delivered double-digit compound annual growth over its history, evolving from a single brand into a nearly $663 million global enterprise with around 1,300 employees across 20 countries.