Programs Assistant Jobs in Santa Cruz, CA (NOW HIRING)

Company Description
WD is building the infrastructure behind the AI-driven data economy.
As AI scales, so does data. Every interaction, every model, every system generates data that must be stored, managed, and made accessible over time. That's where we come in.
We combine deep engineering expertise with global-scale manufacturing to deliver the storage systems that make AI possible, powering hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide.
This isn't theoretical work. It's real systems, at real scale, people solving some of the hardest challenges in technology today.
We're looking for people who want to build, solve, and operate at that level.
Join us and let's shape the future of data.
Job Description
Job Description
We are building a next-generation PMO that redefines how strategy, execution, and governance intersect across our global supply chain. This role sits at the core of that transformation, designed not just to manage projects, but to architect the structure that drives clarity, speed, and measurable business value across complex, cross-functional programs.
As Program Manager in Supply Chain Center of Excellence, you will lead the evolution of our PMO with a focus on scalability, accountability, and enterprise discipline. You will shape portfolio-level governance, define normalized intake and prioritization frameworks, and enable delivery excellence through rigorous process standardization and tool integration.
This isn't about managing to status; it's about enabling transformation. You'll partner closely with senior leaders across Global E2E Supply Chain, IT, and other adjacent Business teams to stand up the foundational capabilities that fuel strategic growth. Your work will span the full initiative lifecycle from early-stage planning to post-deployment tracking, collaboration, and executive alignment.
You'll be at the forefront of embedding a consistent delivery model that integrates intake, planning, risk transparency, execution oversight, and KPI reporting. Your influence will guide how programs are initiated, executed, and measured ensuring alignment between strategy and delivery while driving scale across the enterprise.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
AI & Automation Enablement

• Support AI/ML use cases such as forecast improvement, route optimization, and predictive maintenance
• Help identify automation opportunities within transactional and operational processes
• Monitor performance of automated workflows and digital tools

Program leadership

• Drive high-priority, cross-functional programs/projects from planning through execution spanning Supply Chain, Digital Transformation, Procurement, IT and Business Units
• Create Jira, Smartsheet, and integrated reporting tools to track program health, dependencies, and delivery velocity across multiple teams
• Own the creation of executive-ready storytelling materials in PowerPoint that translate complexity into clarity
• Co-lead steering and planning reviews with executives to anchor strategy delivery to data-informed KPIs and real business outcomes.
• Contribute to the formalization of PMO processes, helping define "what good looks like" for our future state delivery model

Analytics & Decision Support

• Analyze supply chain data to identify performance gaps and improvement opportunities
• Develop dashboards and reports to support planning, inventory, service, and logistics decisions
• Support predictive analytics initiatives including demand forecasting and inventory optimization
• Assist in building business cases using data modeling and scenario analysis

Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with planning, procurement, logistics, IT, and finance teams
• Work closely with leadership to scale a culture of accountability, value-driven delivery, and operational transparency
• Prepare presentations and status updates for transformation leadership
• Support change management, training materials, and end-user documentation
• Coordinate with external technology vendors and implementation partners

Execution Excellence

• Create PM governance of models, milestone planning standards, and project dashboards that enhance visibility and execution discipline
• Embed best practices into hybrid workstreams and supporting business-side PMs with tools, templates, and coaching
• Develop and lead training and onboarding for initiative leads and program managers on PMO processes
• Drive adoption of strategic frameworks and reinforce a delivery mindset across all initiatives

Process Improvement

• Map current-state supply chain processes and identify digitization opportunities
• Support continuous improvement initiatives using Lean and process excellence methods
• Track KPIs and performance metrics for transformation programs
• Assist in root cause analysis of service, cost, and efficiency issues

Digital Transformation Support

• Support implementation of digital supply chain tools including planning systems, control towers, and automation solutions
• Assist with configuration, testing, and deployment of new systems and enhancements
• Document business requirements, process flows, and standard operating procedures
• Participate in user acceptance testing (UAT) and system validation activities

Qualifications
Required:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Engineering, Operations, Business Analytics, Data Science, Information Systems, or related field
• Minimum of 0-5+ years of program management experience in a matrixed Supply Chain organization
• Strong understanding of E2E Supply Chain experience with emphasis on how supply chain, IT, and Business Functions intersect in roadmap planning and delivery
• Supply Chain corporate experience coupled with blue chip consulting experience preferred but not mandatory
• Experience in Hi-Tech supply chain preferred but not mandatory
• Experience establishing or leading a PMO function from the ground up embedding structure, standards, and scalable frameworks
• Skilled at guiding cross-functional teams without formal authority and adapting communication styles to stakeholder needs
• Hands-on experience leading Supply Chain and Digital Transformation programs
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, Attention to detail and structured thinking, Effective written and verbal communication
• Proficiency in PowerPoint with the ability to turn complex initiatives into clear, visual executive storytelling
• Driven by clarity and enablement, with just enough structure to move fast and deliver real outcomes not weighed down by unnecessary process

Additional Information
WD is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person's gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person's assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" poster. Our pay transparency policy is available here.
WD thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.
WD is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at jobs.accommodations@wdc.com to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.
Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 8/13/2026 (3 months from posting), although we reserve the right to close the application process sooner if we hire an applicant for this position before the application deadline. If we are not able to hire someone from this role before the application deadline, we will update this posting with a new anticipated application deadline.
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Compensation & Benefits Details

• An employee's pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
• The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York. This range may be modified in the future.
• If your position is non-exempt, you are eligible for overtime pay pursuant to company policy and applicable laws. You may also be eligible for shift differential pay, depending on the shift to which you are assigned.
• You will be eligible to be considered for bonuses under either WD's Short Term Incentive Plan ("STI Plan") or the Sales Incentive Plan ("SIP") which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance, depending on your role and your performance. You may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to WD's Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical/dental/vision insurance; life, accident and disability insurance; tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program; employee stock purchase plan; and the WD Savings 401(k) Plan.
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole discretion, consistent with the law.

Notice To Candidates: Please be aware that WD and its subsidiaries will never request payment as a condition for applying for a position or receiving an offer of employment. Should you encounter any such requests, please report it immediately to WD Ethics Helpline or email compliance@wdc.com.