Program Manager 2, Operations Business Management - HYBRID (Seattle, WA)

Since 1901, Nordstrom has been committed to providing customers with the best possible service and experience in retail. We have a relentless drive to exceed our customers' expectations. We have long recognized the importance of having strong capabilities in both Physical and Digital retailing and we continue to innovate on how we can help our customers Feel Good and Look Their Best.

Our goal is to be the best fashion retailer in a digitally connected world. 

Operations Business Management (OBM) is a centralized team within the COO organization, encompassing Sales & Operations Execution, Insights & Analytics, Change Management, and operational program management. This role sits within OBM Operations PMO, the central program management arm for the COO organization, delivering trusted insights, AI enablement, and initiative ownership across Inventory Operations, Facilities, Store Operations, Supply Chain, and Transportation. 

We are hiring a Program Manager 2 to join the OBM Operations PMO. You will own and drive large-scale initiatives end-to-end, with enough organizational range to operate across five Operations domains and enough execution discipline to take programs from ambiguity to outcomes without heavy oversight. You will be a key driver of how OBM Operations PMO establishes itself as the central program management hub for Operations. This is an individual contributor role reporting to the Senior Manager of OBM Operations PMO. 

A Day in the Life... 

• Own end-to-end program management of large-scale, cross-functional Operations initiatives, driving from problem definition through planning, execution, and completion with clear accountability for outcomes. 

• Serve as the primary point of contact and coordination hub for assigned initiatives, connecting stakeholders across Inventory Operations, Facilities, Store Operations, Supply Chain, and Transportation to maintain alignment and momentum. 

• Develop and manage detailed program/project plans, milestones, and workback schedules, ensuring visibility into progress, dependencies, and risks across all active workstreams. 

• Partner with Technology and BI teams to keep program work aligned to the broader Ops technology roadmap, connecting decisions and dependencies across all domains. 

• Identify, escalate, and resolve risks and issues in a structured and timely way, maintaining operational continuity and stakeholder confidence across complex, multi-team initiatives. 

• Prepare and deliver executive-ready status updates, program summaries, and leadership communications that clearly convey progress, decisions needed, and path forward. 

• Oversee the intake and prioritization process for new initiatives and requests, ensuring proper scoping, documentation, and routing before work begins. 

• Develop and maintain program management playbooks and frameworks that help OBM PMO operate with consistency and speed across a large, complex stakeholder landscape. 

• Coordinate knowledge-sharing initiatives across the Operations community, including trainings, lunch and learns, and programs that build shared capability across the organization. 

• Flex across initiatives as needed to support OBM’s highest priorities, bringing the same ownership mindset regardless of workstream size or scope. 

You Own This If You Have... 

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or relevant advanced degree a plus. 

• 4+ years of experience in program management, product management, management consulting, corporate strategy, finance, or operations with progressively larger responsibility supporting cross-functional teams. 

• At least 2 years of demonstrated experience owning and driving large-scale, cross-functional programs end-to-end. 

• A strategic mindset and the ability to cut through complexity, balance competing stakeholder needs, and translate ambiguous problems into clear, actionable plans. 

• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate and influence across all levels of the organization. 

• Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously and drive execution independently without heavy oversight. 

• Strong executive storytelling, recommendation development, and presentation skills. 

• Ability to identify, escalate, and resolve risks and issues with structure and urgency. 

• Comfort operating in ambiguity and shifting priorities while staying focused on outcomes. 

• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint. 

• A genuine interest in retail and an understanding of industry and operational dynamics. 

• Demonstrated ability to look at complex, multi-variable problems from multiple angles and develop structured recommendations for leadership. 

A Plus If You Have... 

• Experience with AI tools (such as Claude, Copilot, or similar) in a professional setting, or a demonstrated curiosity about how AI can change the way operations teams work. 

• Familiarity with Looker, Tableau, or other BI platforms. 

• Background in retail, supply chain, store operations, or a related operational domain.