Director, IT Program and Project Management at Estes Forwarding Worldwide

Overview

Estes Forwarding Worldwide (EFW) is a leading domestic and international freight forwarder in the United States, providing customized logistics and warehousing solutions for clients around the world and across all industries via air, ground, and ocean freight. A subsidiary of Estes Express lines with corporate located in Richmond, Virginia, EFW is uniquely backed by Estes Express Lines’ extensive line haul network providing EFW clients with a hybrid transportation network. The company has received industry awards, including Specialty Carrier of the Year and E-Commerce Delivery Carrier of the Year, and has been recognized by Global Trade Americas as a leading 3PL to watch.

We are proud to offer highly competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Short- and long-term disability plans
• Life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Job referral bonus program

Responsibilities

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director, IT Program & Project Management to lead our technology delivery practice across a diverse portfolio of initiatives. This individual will be responsible for overseeing a team of Program and Project Managers who are driving both large-scale implementations and smaller-scale operational technology projects.

As a key member of the technology leadership team, this person will work in close partnership with the Engineering & Data teams, ensuring strong alignment between technical execution and business delivery. This role requires a proven leader who excels at communication, cross-functional coordination, and execution in a dynamic and evolving environment. This position is foundational to the success of our technology organization. The Director, IT Program & Project Management ensures that our most important initiatives are executed with focus and precision while enabling our teams to operate at scale. This person will have the opportunity to build structure, elevate delivery practices, and serve as a key partner in shaping the future of how we deliver technology to the business.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and manage a multi-tiered delivery organization, including both people managers and individual contributors across a diverse range of small-to mid-scale technology projects, system implementations, technology platform migrations, complex application development programs and cross-functional workflow modernization projects.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the Director, Engineering & Data, ensuring tight alignment between project execution, technical delivery, and enterprise priorities.
• Oversee the end-to-end technology project portfolio, ensuring transparency, prioritization, and successful outcomes aligned to organizational goals.
• Implement and refine delivery governance frameworks, intake processes, and portfolio management practices to enable scalable execution and cross-team coordination.
• Ensure large-scale programs are appropriately scoped, resourced, and tracked, with clear milestones, budgets, and accountability structures in place.
• Develop and maintain dashboard-level visibility into portfolio health, risk, and progress for executive stakeholders.
• Standardize project and program delivery methodologies, incorporating best practices from both Agile and traditional project management models.
• Support organizational resource planning, including budgeting, capacity forecasting, and skills development across the delivery function.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement, supporting the professional growth of managers and their teams.
• Comply with company C-TPAT and TSA security procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven experience managing large, cross-functional technology initiatives, including enterprise system implementations and complex business transformation programs.
• Strong understanding of both Agile and traditional delivery methodologies; able to flex across delivery types as needed.
• Demonstrated experience managing and mentoring a blended team of program managers, project managers, and support-level resources.
• Proven ability to oversee a diverse portfolio of projects and programs simultaneously, ranging from enterprise-wide system implementations to smaller-scale operational improvements and technology support initiatives.
• Demonstrated expertise in scoping complex programs, defining workstreams, timelines, and dependencies in collaboration with business, technical, and vendor partners.
• Strong organizational skills with a track record of managing competing priorities, balancing strategic initiatives with day-to-day operational delivery.
• Ability to operate as a strategic delivery partner—not just a process enforcer—ensuring initiatives stay aligned to business outcomes, even as scopes evolve.
• Skilled in navigating ambiguity and change, adjusting plans as needed to ensure program success in fast-paced, dynamic environments.
• Experience developing and standardizing project intake and governance models to ensure consistent prioritization and execution across teams and business units.
• Ability to communicate program-level risks, interdependencies, and trade-offs clearly to both technical teams and executive stakeholders.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical teams, ensuring mutual understanding and shared ownership of project success.
• Deep appreciation for both long-term transformation programs and quick-win delivery opportunities, understanding how each contributes to enterprise value.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience collaborating directly with engineering, product, and business leadership to ensure project success.
• Ability to read and interpret comprehensive and intricate research documents.
• Ability to write scientific reports and technical correspondence.
• Ability to work with executives and communicate abstract concepts.
• Ability to present to a high level of the organization and groups outside of the organization.
• Ability to solve problems with complex variables through non-standardized solutions that require independent judgment and analysis.
• Ability to draw inferences and use deductive reasoning with no prescribed procedures to solve complex problems.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.
• At this time, EFW will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position.
• EFW prides itself on the quality of its employees and as such, candidates who receive a job offer will be required to successfully pass a drug screen and a background check.
• EFW offers an opportunity to grow and develop your career in an environment that provides a fulfilling workplace for employees, creates an environment for continuous learning, and embraces the ideas and diversity of others. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, pregnancy, race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, disability status, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status.

SUPERVISION

The position functions semi-autonomously. Position directly supervises 5-8 employees. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities may include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, Computer Science, or a related field required; Master’s degree or MBA preferred (or equivalent) and 10+ years of progressive experience in IT project and program management, with at least 5 years in a leadership or people management role. Demonstrated experience overseeing large-scale technology initiatives, including enterprise system implementations, migrations, and cross-functional platform deployments. Proven ability to manage and mentor a blended team of program managers, project managers, and support-focused delivery staff. Experience partnering with engineering, data, infrastructure, and business teams in a fast-paced or transformation-driven environment. However, a combination of experience and/or education will be taken into consideration.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

Formal project management certification(s) preferred (e.g., PMP, PgMP, PMI-ACP, SAFe, or equivalent).

TRAVEL

None required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

Typically sitting at a desk or table. Intermittently sitting, standing, walking or stooping.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

Normal office situation.

EFW is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Minorities/Female/Disabled/Veteran.