Overview
Essense of Australia is an international bridal wholesaler with key offices based in Lenexa, Kansas, Perth, Australia, and Zug, Switzerland. Our organization also operates in the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, and New Zealand. We have been a global leader in bridal fashion for over 20 years and our designs are currently sold in nearly 1,000 stores worldwide. With innovative designs and a strong customer service approach, Essense of Australia is a dynamic company that rewards excellence, drive, and collaboration.
Responsibilities
About the Job
We’re looking for a Program Manager who loves process as much as they love people. This role is part program/project manager, part coach and mentor, and part systems thinker - driving clarity, building practical ways of working, and helping enterprise-level cross-functional teams deliver their best work.
Based in Lenexa, KS and reporting to the Director of the Project Management Office, this person will bring energy, planning expertise, and strong organizational skills to the business every day, while fostering the collaborative, positive, and entrepreneurial environment that makes us Team Essense.
You’ll have a proven track record of building and improving processes for teams that are equal parts strategic and creative. You’ll oversee the day-to-day flow of key cross-functional initiatives, keeping projects moving seamlessly from intake through execution - managing timelines, aligning stakeholders, streamlining workflows, clearing roadblocks, and helping teams stay focused on the right priorities at the right time. This role works collaboratively across the business to define project inputs, identify dependencies, create structure, solve problems, and keep work moving forward in a way that optimizes efficiency and drives results.
This role is ideal for someone who is highly adaptable, comfortable in ambiguity, and able to shift gears quickly as business needs evolve. You know when to bring structure, when to simplify, and how to keep momentum without overcomplicating the work.
We’re especially excited to meet someone who sees AI as a meaningful opportunity to work smarter. You do not need to be an AI expert on day one, but you should be curious, eager to learn, and motivated to apply AI and other emerging technologies in thoughtful, responsible ways that improve workflows, efficiency, decision-making, and team effectiveness.
We’re seeking a team player who thrives in an entrepreneurial culture, brings positivity to work each day, and helps us keep our environment creative, inspiring, productive, and fun. If you love structure, collaboration, continuous improvement, adaptability, and empowering teams to do great work, this role is for you.
What You’ll Do
- Partner and collaborate with stakeholders to define project scope, inputs, timelines, milestones, deliverables, and success measures for assigned work.
- Create and maintain project management documentation and reporting, including project briefs, requirements, charters, status reports, meeting agendas and notes, risk logs, and lessons learned.
- Lead assigned projects through all phases, ensuring deliverables, approvals, decisions, and follow-up actions are completed on time and within agreed scope.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with team members and stakeholders across the organization to support alignment, accountability, and successful project outcomes.
- Bring the right level of structure to each initiative by proactively identifying, managing, and communicating issues, risks, dependencies, and changes, while adapting plans, timelines, and approaches as priorities shift and keeping stakeholders aligned.
- Facilitate discussions, resolve conflict diplomatically, and help teams make decisions that keep work progressing.
- Develop strong relationships across the organization and build confidence and trust with project teams and partners.
- Effectively communicate, influence, and listen to input from stakeholders to drive alignment and continuous improvement.
- Coach and support team members through the project lifecycle, reinforcing accountability to agreed timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
- Take ownership for independent work on assigned projects by creating plans, frameworks, and practical next steps that keep work moving forward.
- Actively create, optimize, document, and standardize processes that help teams work more efficiently and effectively.
- Help teams navigate ambiguity and change by providing clarity, organization, and practical next steps, while identifying opportunities to use AI-enabled and other emerging tools to improve workflows, increase efficiency, and support smarter ways of working.
- Leverage PMO tools, templates, and best practices to strengthen project execution and support consistency across the organization.
Qualifications
What You’ll Need
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business or related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
- At least 7 years of professional work experience, with a minimum of 3 years leading cross-functional work in a project management, program management, operations, or similarly structured role.
- Strong understanding of project and program management best practices, with the judgment to apply the right level of structure to different types of work, teams, and business needs.
- Proven ability to think end-to-end and translate complex or ambiguous work into clear plans, timelines, dependencies, and next steps.
- Demonstrated success building, improving, documenting, and socializing processes that increase team efficiency and effectiveness.
- Strong leadership capabilities, including leading cross-functional teams, influencing without direct authority, and prioritizing work based on business impact.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong empathy, patience, and professionalism when collaborating with colleagues.
- Strong analytical aptitude with the ability to connect information, ask thoughtful questions, and synthesize feedback from multiple sources.
- Ability to work on multiple priorities and projects simultaneously while meeting agreed deadlines.
- Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to establish trust and credibility across the organization.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Highly adaptable and comfortable working in ambiguity, with the ability to shift direction, reprioritize, and respond effectively to changing business needs.
- Process-oriented, naturally curious, and motivated by continuous improvement.
- Strong curiosity about AI and other emerging technologies, with a willingness to learn quickly and apply new tools thoughtfully to improve efficiency, problem-solving, decision-making, and process improvement.
- Demonstrated openness to experimentation, continuous learning, and finding innovative ways to improve how work gets done.
- Experience with Wrike or other project management tools; strong Excel skills preferred.
- Ability and willingness to occasionally work outside of standard business hours to support global business needs.
What We Offer
Essense of Australia is a company with heart. We value creativity, innovation, and dedication, and we’re looking for someone who shares our passion for delivering exceptional bridal fashion to brides and partners alike. In return for your skills, we offer you the opportunity to join an international industry leader and be part of a creative and collaborative culture that empowers its people and promotes teamwork. We recognize and reward excellence, innovation, and loyalty. As such, we provide competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package. If you have the skills, spark and drive to help us further our growth, please go to https://www.essensedesigns.com/careers/ and follow the prompts to submit your cover letter addressing the above criteria along with a resume and salary expectations.
Join Essense of Australia and be part of a passionate team dedicated to helping brides around the world find their dream wedding gowns. If you're ready to make an impact and drive success in a global bridal fashion powerhouse, apply now and let's shape the future of bridal together!
