Senior Program Mgr - New Consumer Initiative (Contractor)

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the integrated program plan, including milestones, responsibilities, dependencies, budget, risks, and decision points.
• Translate an early-stage concept into a clear, executable customer offering.
• Cook up coordination work across marketing, product, technology, editorial, operations, customer service, fulfillment, and finance.
• Design and document the end-to-end customer experience.
• Define the business, operational, and technology requirements needed for launch.
• Lead customer research, concept testing, pricing analysis, and launch-readiness reviews.
• Cook up the required e-commerce, customer-management, and reporting capabilities.
• Manage external agencies, vendors, and operating partners where appropriate.
• Establish performance measures and maintain a clear program dashboard.
• Identify risks and operational issues early and drive them to resolution.
• Provide concise and regular progress updates to senior leadership.
• Document the operating model, results, and lessons learned.
• Prepare a final recommendation regarding continuation, modification, further investment, or expansion.

Required Experience

• At least seven years of relevant experience in program management, product launches, e-commerce, consumer businesses, subscription services, publishing, education, retail, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success leading a complex cross-functional initiative from concept through launch.
• Strong program and project-management capabilities.
• Experience coordinating marketing, technology, operations, finance, and customer-facing teams.
• Strong commercial judgment and financial literacy.
• Experience developing and managing budgets, forecasts, timelines, and performance metrics.
• Experience working with external agencies, vendors, or technology partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and effectively in a remote environment.
• Comfort operating with incomplete information, evolving priorities, and tight deadlines.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with consumer subscriptions, gifting, educational products, family-oriented services, books, or physical-product delivery.
• Familiarity with e-commerce platforms, digital marketing, customer acquisition, and conversion analytics.
• Experience with fulfillment, shipping, inventory, or recurring-delivery operations.
• Experience launching a pilot or new business initiative within an established organization.
• Experience working effectively in a matrixed environment.

Compensation

Compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, location, availability, and the final engagement structure.

Definition of Success

• Moves the initiative from concept to launch.
• Establishes clear accountability across all workstreams.
• Delivers the pilot on schedule and within budget.
• Creates a strong and consistent customer experience.
• Establishes reliable operating, customer, and financial data.
• Identifies and resolves the principal barriers to implementation and scale.
• Provides management with a clear, evidence-based recommendation regarding the initiative’s future.