Principal Program Manager - Facilities Refrigeration Systems

The Principal Program Manager (PPM) - Facilities Refrigeration Systems provides subject matter expertise and performance oversight of grocery refrigeration systems, technology and related service provider execution for buildings supported by Worldwide Retail Growth and Development (WWRGD). This position ensures effective refrigeration system performance while supporting jurisdictional compliance, sustainability, and successful Operations. Establishes the effective integration of efforts to operate, maintain, retrofit, and upgrade complex refrigeration engineered systems and related controls. Provides timely and accurate assessments and resources required to maintain the portfolio and relative assets, addressing on-demand response for deficiencies. The PPM of Facilities Refrigeration Systems is an industry subject matter expert (SME) specializing in grocery systems and with a strong understanding overall MEP-R building components, requirements and performance. This position reports directly to the Senior Team Leader (STL) - Facilities Infrastructure Performance, Compliance & Lifecycle Planning. This role is considered Remote by Design due to extensive travel requirements. This TM must be based in a major metro area for efficiency [Seattle, Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Austin, New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area, Washington DC/Baltimore, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta]. Ability to work from a Whole Foods Market support office on non-travel days may be available, subject to leadership approval and office capacity.

Responsibilities:

• Key contributor in programmatic development, ensuring successful implementation of effective grocery refrigeration systems, including standard and low (natural) GWP refrigerants, and all related controls.
• Monitors execution to ensure adherence to project plans, effective change management, cost management, and timely / effective milestone and completion reporting.
• Provides guidance and support to the Regulatory Compliance and all Facilities Maintenance programmatic functions.
• Engages with the functional and operational leaders as required to coordinate jurisdictional compliance and critical refrigeration system(s) repair and replacement efforts across all WWRGD business units.
• Addresses escalated refrigeration issues and concerns, leading cross-functional deep dive efforts to identify and implement sustainable solutions when required.
• Sources, evaluates, and negotiates refrigeration vendor contract expectations to ensure strength of Service Level Agreements (SLAs), cost controls and compliance with jurisdictional requirements for critical system(s) repair and replacement, and related activities.
• Monitors compliance to contractual and regulatory policy, ensuring accountability and consistency across the enterprise.
• Inspects and ensures quality work product (when required) with vendors and 3P consultants who provide monitoring, technical support, and regulatory support for grocery store refrigeration systems including related building system controls.
• Ensures team performances align with best practices in facilities maintenance and application of lessons learned.
• Coordinates directly with regulatory agencies and jurisdictional authorities as required.
• Supports scope of planning and execution of facility refrigeration system(s) lifecycle strategy.
• Engages with financial stakeholders to establish, monitor, and manage budgets and resource allocation.
• Leads initiatives to reduce expenses, assists on maintaining and managing relationships with our refrigeration system service providers and works to improve their performance and coverage within all geographical areas.
• Drives continuous improvement for Facilities functions related to refrigeration performance and jurisdictional compliance.
• Develops and implements consistent state-of-the-art best practices to preserve company assets and extend the useful working life of our equipment.
• Provides direction for the facilities teams that monitor refrigeration equipment repair history and recommend replacement when costs exceed present value.
• Promotes team member safety in our stores and facilities.
• Ensures 100% jurisdictional compliance for all store and facility refrigeration systems, including but not limited to: Local, State, Federal AHJ’s, EPA, OSHA, Jurisdictional Codes and mandates, Life Safety, Inspections, Certifications, etc.
• Reduces unplanned expense impacts and alleviate unscheduled shutdowns and repairs.
• Extends equipment life, to maximize facility and equipment life cycle expectancy.
• Fosters and participates in a continuous improvement environment.
• Provides assessment of 3P service providers for savings opportunities, and areas for service-level improvement; recommends contract changes and/or termination(s) where warranted.

Professional Knowledge:

• Expert-level knowledge of grocery refrigeration and related building control systems.
• Experience managing all grocery facilities refrigeration and related build control systems.
• Understands importance of ensuring reduced impact to grocery operations while maintaining sales.
• Expert understanding of cost-effective preventative maintenance programs to maintain all applicable building and facilities components, systems, and equipment.
• Understanding of grocery and prepared food store operations, merchandising, equipment and engineering.
• Experience with managing budgets and tracking expenses.
• Ability to manage multiple Service Trades in a diverse environment with a focus on customer service.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment- fostering a culture of excellence and accountability.
• Clear understanding of servant leadership, providing outstanding response and follow-through.
• Self-directed and ability to problem solve.
• Strong work ethic and high standard of service.
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, Project, etc.), Access, web-based applications and ability to learn custom applications.
• Proficiency in Corrigo and Procore.
• Strong knowledge of Amazon and Whole Foods Market brand integrity.

Leadership & Navigation:

• Engages with the other leaders to design, maintain, and champion the mission, vision, values, and strategy of the organization.
• Defines, develops, and implements initiatives to enhance business efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensures the effective succession, replacement, and individual / team development within the function.

• Ensures program alignment between the Facilities ‘boots on the ground’ team and the organization’s overall vision, values, mission, and business strategies
• Ensures team services adapt and change as the business evolves.
• Supports individual development and replacement planning efforts within the construction project management function.
• Ability to pivot, excel, and lead in an environment with dynamic and competing priorities.

• Excellent planning, organizational, communication and leadership skills.
• Ability to effectively organize and handle multiple projects at one time.
• Tact in handling challenging situations.

Consultation:

• Develops deep, credible relationships with stakeholders, both inside and outside current areas of responsibility.
• Serves as a trusted advisor internally and externally from a Facilities Operations perspective.
• Engages with the senior-level stakeholders to define, clarify and resolve issues arising through project design, development, execution, or implementation.
• Consults with business leaders on functional and operational processes, challenges, and related issues and trends on project plans designed to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Strategic Impact:

• Defines strategies and approaches to empower and equip leaders to be effective in their interactions with internal and external stakeholders.
• Identifies the gaps in strategic understanding, formulates resolution recommendations, and delivers clear and compelling communications.
• Shifts comfortably between big picture strategic thinking and the tactics required to achieve outcomes.
• Translates strategic objectives into clear, actionable steps at the local and operational area level.
• Identifies risks / threats in current or emerging operational strategies and outcomes.
• Understands how risks / threats may impact operational effectiveness, resources, and costs.
• Collaborates cross-functionally to ensure the implications inherent in Construction Project Management analyses are understood and form the basis for sound decision making

Task & Project Management:

• Plans, estimates, organizes, and monitors significant tasks and project activity.
• Identifies risks and vulnerabilities; creates contingency plans.
• Conducts regular and ad-hoc reviews with the team, stakeholders, partners, and customers.
• Oversees and advises the other leaders on task and project-related issues and assists with overcoming barriers.
• Leads detailed task / project planning, including cost, schedule, and resource requirements.
• Ensures planning incorporates data and information from customer, supplier, partner, and company perspectives
• Collaborates with task / project stakeholders to identify, evaluate, and resolve emerging and anticipated issues
• Leverages data-driven insights to recommend and implement task / project management and delivery methodology of continuous improvement

Industry & Business Acumen:

• Demonstrates nuanced understanding of the Amazon and WFM business, retail food industry, and the business models of key strategic partners and competitors.
• Assesses how the key functions, processes, and operating models impact business and financial performance then delivers recommendations on how to optimize them.
• Able to “connect the dots” across the markets, customers, partners, and programs to identify interdependencies and long-term growth opportunities.
• Professional understanding of building systems and infrastructure requirements for retail grocery environment
• Understands how changes in customer expectations, competition, new businesses, new markets, and evolving strategies impact the company’s competitive position and long-term prospects.

Education & Experience:

• BA/BS degree and 6-8 years’ relevant experience OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Mechanical Engineering degree preferred.
• Graduate degree preferred.

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions:

• Ability to physically perform general office requirements, as well as those required on construction site.
• Must be able to perform essential responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations.
• This position requires travel of up to 80%, across enterprise.

At Whole Foods Market, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all Team Members and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Whole Foods Market hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs. Whole Foods Market works with job sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter to promote opportunities at our company. Please be aware that other career sites may not be accurate or up to date and may even be fraudulent. We encourage and recommend all candidates to apply via our site.