Director Of Innovation Jobs in Austin, TX

We're seeking a talented Program Manager to own New Program Enablement across all new e-commerce programs at Whole Foods Market. This individual contributor role is the connective tissue across every new initiative the team launches—building the mechanisms, playbooks, and frameworks that allow programs to move faster, with fewer errors, and with greater consistency.
You'll work across all major e-commerce initiatives including Grocery on Amazon Core, Grocery Pickup, automation, and more, ensuring that launch readiness, cross-functional alignment, and operational rigor are consistently applied regardless of program scope or complexity. This role is for someone who thrives on designing flexible systems, eliminating rework before it happens, and enabling others to execute with confidence in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.

Key job responsibilities

• Launch Playbook Development: Build and maintain comprehensive launch playbooks that serve as the operating guide for every new e-commerce program. Ensure playbooks are actionable, adaptable, and adopted across functions.
• Flexible Framework Design: Design and iterate on enablement frameworks that support various programs with very different goals, success criteria, and stakeholder maps. Build for flexibility without sacrificing rigor.
• Launch Error Reduction: Proactively identify and eliminate sources of rework, missed steps, and recurring errors in the launch process. Develop mechanisms that catch issues before they impact timelines or program quality.
• Cross-Functional Launch Readiness: Coordinate readiness across functions—product, tech, operations, merchandising, legal, and more—to ensure every team is aligned and ready to execute before launch.
• Cross-Program Requirements Synthesis: Work with individual program owners to understand the unique goals of each initiative and synthesize shared or conflicting requirements into a clear, unified enablement plan.
• Stakeholder Management: Partner with and influence stakeholders across levels and functions. Navigate complexity, build trust, and drive alignment without direct authority.
• KPI Ownership & Performance Management: Track and report on launch performance metrics including time-to-launch, reduction in rework and defects, playbook adoption rate, stakeholder satisfaction, and number of programs successfully launched.
• Data Analysis & Insights: Leverage SQL and Excel to analyze launch data, identify patterns, and surface insights that drive continuous improvement in enablement processes.
• Process Optimization: Continuously evaluate and improve the enablement workflow. Implement scalable solutions that increase launch speed, reduce friction, and improve quality across the program portfolio.
• Communication & Reporting: Communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing. Provide regular performance updates to leadership on launch readiness, risks, and improvement opportunities.

A day in the life
A typical day in this role revolves around bridging strategy and execution across ecommerce operations. You might start the morning reviewing financial analyses and performance metrics, then shift into cross-functional meetings where you're aligning project timelines, budgets, and creative deliverables with stakeholder expectations. Much of the day involves communication—tailoring updates for different audiences, whether that's a one-on-one with a business partner, a presentation to internal leadership, or a response to an external customer. You're constantly navigating relationships across teams, influencing decisions without direct authority, and ensuring your projects stay on track financially and strategically. Throughout it all, you're keeping one eye on the bigger picture—checking that your team's work ladders up to broader organizational goals—while staying grounded in the details of WFM's product mix, supply base, and retail operations.

About the team
The E-Commerce Innovation team at Whole Foods Market is at the forefront of transforming how customers experience grocery shopping online. We're building the future of grocery e-commerce through initiatives spanning Grocery on Amazon Core, Grocery Pickup, automation, assortment selection, site merchandising, pricing and promotions, under the roof programs, and inbound supply chain optimization. Our team acts as the critical enablement layer for large-scale initiatives across the organization, ensuring seamless operationalization and cross-program support.