Operations Manager Project Manager Jobs in Santa Ana, CA

PROGRAM MANAGER/PROJECT MANAGER

Seeking a strong Program Manager/Project Manager.

You are to lead and deliver both customer-facing and internal strategic initiatives, with a proven ability to operate decisively in fast-paced environments while effectively managing multiple priorities and rapidly context-switching across projects.

HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW

Tillster is seeking an experienced, technical, customer-focused Program Manager/Project Manager to lead strategic client initiatives and enterprise-level project delivery across global markets. This role will serve as a key liaison between Tillster and some of the world’s largest restaurant and hospitality brands, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned to customer expectations and business goals.

The Program/Project Manager also understands the impact of delivery on Tillster’s revenue, reputation, and growth.

The ideal candidate has a strong program/project background in large, complex projects spanning across multiple teams and functions and is a structured, polished communicator; a relationship builder who can confidently engage with executive stakeholders, lead cross-functional teams, build trust with multi-national organizations and customers at all levels (brand and franchisee), and drive successful outcomes in a fast-paced environment. You will partner closely with Product, Engineering, Sales, Account Management, Marketing, and Design teams to ensure seamless execution and exceptional customer experience.

This role is about skills, learning Tillster’s platform and products, program and project leadership, coordination, communication, customer engagement, and operational excellence.

DAY OVER DAY

Strategic Customer and Project Leadership

• Serve as a trusted partner and primary point of contact for enterprise customers throughout the project lifecycle.

• Build strong relationships with multinational, multi-billion-dollar organizations through professionalism, communication, accountability, and consistent execution.

• Lead customer-facing meetings, presentations, executive updates, and project reviews with confidence and clarity.

• Experience coordinating with distributed global teams across multiple time zones.

Project Planning and Delivery

• Develop and manage comprehensive project plans, timelines, milestones, deliverables, and resource coordination across multiple concurrent projects.

• Own project execution from kickoff through deployment and post-launch stabilization.

• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned to customer expectations and business objectives.

• Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure alignment, accountability, and successful execution.

• Drive accountability across internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely delivery, issue resolution, and successful customer outcomes.

• Track project risks, dependencies, action items, and deliverables while proactively identifying solutions and mitigation strategies.

• Adapt project plans and priorities as business needs and customer requirements evolve.

Communication and Stakeholder Management

• Provide consistent, professional communication to internal leadership teams and external customer stakeholders.

• Prepare and present project status reports, executive summaries, timelines, and risk assessments.

• Facilitate project meetings, drive action items, and maintain momentum across teams and stakeholders.

• Build alignment and trust across departments, customers, and executive leadership.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure project documentation, deliverables, and communications are organized, accurate, and accessible.

• Maintain a strong focus on customer satisfaction, execution quality, and continuous improvement.

• Support process optimization and operational efficiencies through modern tools, automation, and AI-enabled workflows where appropriate.

AI First, AI Native

• Opportunity to help drive Tillster’s evolution into an AI First/Native company focused on innovation, automation, and intelligent customer experiences.

ABOUT YOU

• Bachelor’s degree required.

• Experience in project management and developing and delivering plans that meet the needs of large, multi-national customers. This is not a standard, SaaS environment.

• 5+ years of experience in a project/program management, client services, program management, account management, or customer-facing delivery role.

• Proven success managing large-scale customer initiatives and delivering projects in fast-paced environments.

• Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate effectively with customers, leadership teams, and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Excellent presentation, organizational, analytical, and relationship management skills.

• Demonstrated ability to build trust and credibility with enterprise-level customers and stakeholders.

• Experience of creating and managing project plans, timelines, deliverables, and status reporting.

• Comfortable managing multiple priorities and adapting quickly to changing business needs.

• Demonstrated AI knowledge or learning ability about modern AI tools and platforms (e.g., Copilot, OpenAI, Claude, automation, analytics, and workflow optimization technologies) to improve project delivery and to enable communication.

• Experience in consultative sales, SaaS, hospitality, restaurant technology, digital commerce, or enterprise software environments is a plus.

• Agile/Scrum experience preferred, not required

WHY JOIN TILLSTER

Tillster is a global organization that powers digital ordering and customer engagement for some of the world’s largest restaurant brands. At Tillster, you will have the opportunity to work with innovative technology, collaborate with talented global teams, help shape the future of intelligent customer experiences, and be part of moving to an AI Native enterprise.

We are a growth phase, venture funded company where you have the opportunity to make impact and to collaboratively work with and gain knowledge from colleagues at all levels, all of whom are ground engaged.

Pay and Benefits (USA)

• Expected base salary range $110,00- $135,00 DOE . Total starting compensation will be determined based on all lawful criteria, Company policy and best practices.

• Equity: All employees within the U.S. are eligible to participate in the Stock Option Plan.

• Health Benefits: All full-time, regular employees and their dependents are eligible for medical, dental, vision and FSA benefits. Additional health benefits include Healthcare and Dependent Care reimbursement programs, Employee Assistance Program (“EAP”) and Optum Care 24-hour confidential medical counseling services.

• Holidays: The company observes ten (10) paid holidays per calendar year.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Full-time, regular employees earn 15 days of PTO in the first 12-months of continuous service, and 22 days in subsequent years. Eligible part-time employees earn pro-rated PTO.

• Retirement: Effective with your employment start date, you will be eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan.

• Education, Learning & Development: We offer college tuition and education assistance programs; LinkedIn Learning courses; and ongoing learning and development opportunities.

Local Candidates Strongly Preferred
No Visa Sponsorship
Principals only – no Agencies or calls pleaseTillster is proudly an Equal Opportunity Employer

No Visa Sponsorship

Principals only – no Agencies or calls please

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Tillster cares about the safety of all our employees—even those we’ve yet to hire

RECRUITMENT FRAUD WARNING
We want to help you stay safe during your job search. Tillster will never:

• Request personal/financial information during recruitment

• Require payment or fees

• Ask for sensitive PII before a formal job offer

• Collect information via email or phone (only through secure channels)

• Extend offers without in-person or virtual interviews

Red flags: All official communications come from @tillster.com addresses only
Suspicious activity? Report immediately to Tillster HR, Legal, or Cyber Security teams.

Compensation Range: $110K - $135K