Retail Program Manager Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Flexport is building the future of global fulfillment—and we're looking for a Staff Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives who wants to be at the center of that transformation. This is not a traditional management role. You will be the architect of tomorrow's Flexport Fulfillment network: designing processes, building products, and creating the standards that will define how we operate at scale.

You'll sit at the intersection of operations, product, and technology, working across all functions to identify gaps, design solutions, and bring them to life. We want someone who thrives in ambiguity, loves solving highly technical problems, and isn't afraid to get hands-on—whether it's building a new workflow in SQL, prototyping a tool, or architecting the next phase of our operating model.

If you want to make a lasting impact by building something from the ground up—and have the technical, operational, and strategic chops to do it—this is the role for you.

Architect the Future of Fulfillment

• Design, standardize, and codify the processes, products, and tools that will power Flexport's next generation fulfillment network.
• Define operating models that can scale globally, balancing efficiency, cost, speed, and customer experience.

Build, Not Just Manage

• Own initiatives end-to-end: from diagnosing the problem, designing the solution, building prototypes, and driving implementation.
• Develop tooling, dashboards, and models directly—leveraging SQL, Python, BI platforms, and workflow automation.

Leverage Data for Strategic Planning

• Use data to uncover bottlenecks, quantify opportunities, and make recommendations that drive millions in cost savings and unlock new service capabilities.
• Build forecasting and scenario planning models to guide long-term network design and capacity planning.

Be a Cross-Functional Force Multiplier

• Partner with engineering, product, operations, finance, and commercial teams to align on priorities, build solutions, and scale them across the network.
• Translate operational pain points into product requirements and ensure adoption of new tools and processes.

Standardize the Network

• Establish and roll out SOPs, reporting cadences, and KPIs that become the backbone of Fulfillment execution.
• Drive governance and accountability around execution, ensuring every site runs on the same playbook.

Drive Strategic Initiatives at Scale

• Lead high-impact, white-space projects (automation, robotics, B2B/Retail compliance, international expansion) that redefine the limits of what Flexport Fulfillment can deliver.
• Develop and execute multi-year roadmaps in partnership with senior leadership.

• 7–10+ years of experience in fulfillment, logistics, supply chain, or operations strategy—ideally with direct exposure to high-volume networks.
• Extremely strong technical skillset: SQL (expert), Excel/Google Sheets (advanced), BI tools (Looker, Tableau, PowerBI), and preferably Python or R for modeling and automation.
• A proven record of designing and implementing scalable processes/products that delivered measurable business impact.
• Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to connect day-to-day execution to P&L drivers and long-term vision.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: thrives in ambiguity, comfortable building from scratch, and naturally biased toward action.
• Executive-level communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
• Bonus: Experience working with robotics, warehouse automation, or building new fulfillment products (B2B, Prep, Returns, Retail compliance).

This role is one of the most independent, entrepreneurial, and impactful within Flexport Fulfillment. You won't just manage a process—you'll design and build the future of how we fulfill, scale, and serve customers. Your fingerprints will be on everything from the technology we use to the services we offer.

You'll have the mandate to experiment, prototype, and standardize at scale—and the support of a leadership team that knows the success of this role will shape the future of Flexport Fulfillment.