Associate Program Manager

Every day, millions of vehicle owners depend on dealership service departments to keep them on the road. We build the software that helps those service teams communicate with customers, schedule repairs, approve work, collect payments, and deliver a better experience from start to finish.

myKaarma is a leading SaaS platform serving dealerships across North America. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, with a global team, we're growing by solving real operational problems with practical technology.

We believe the best ideas come from people who take ownership, question how things can be improved, and care deeply about the customer experience. If you're excited to build products that have measurable impact, we'd love to meet you.

Role Description

As an Associate Program Manager at myKaarma, you will be the execution backbone of our OEM-facing programs, strategic partnerships, and internal process improvement initiatives. While senior Program Managers own program strategy and client relationships, you will own the day-to-day machinery that keeps programs moving, coordinating across teams, tracking deliverables, preparing reports and analyses, and resolving first-line technical issues. This is a growth role: you will gain direct exposure to OEM programs and the automotive SaaS ecosystem, with a clear path toward independently managing programs as a Program Manager.

Key Requirements

• Finding a Way Through: Every program hits walls, a blocked integration, a stalled approval, a stakeholder who has gone quiet. You treat “stuck” as a puzzle, not a status: you find the workaround, the right person, or the reframe that gets things moving again.
• Systematic Project Planning: Run the project plan as a living system - milestones, dependencies, owners, and risks mapped and always current - so senior Program Managers and stakeholders know exactly where a program stands and what is coming next.
• Stakeholder Expectation Management: Understand what each stakeholder - OEM Account Executives, engineering, product marketing, clients - actually needs versus what they are asking for, and keep everyone’s expectations aligned with reality. Early bad news always beats late surprises.
• Everyday Negotiation: Negotiate constantly - timelines with engineering, scope with clients, priorities across teams - looking for the trade that leaves both sides better off, not the compromise that leaves both worse.
• High EQ, On Purpose: Read the room. Sense frustration before it becomes escalation, adapt your communication style to each audience, and stay composed when a program gets messy - because it will.
• Reporting & Data Analysis: Build and maintain operational reports and data analyses for OEM clients and Account Executives, turning raw data into insights that help mK sell and retain business.
• Meeting Preparation & Support: Prepare the data, materials, and pre-reads for business review meetings with manufacturers; attend alongside senior Program Managers and present designated sections as you build experience.
• Learning & Continuous Improvement: Learn and apply Lean/Toyota Production System (TPS) principles in daily work; maintain risk logs and status reports, flagging emerging issues early rather than hoping they resolve themselves.
• Fresh Perspective: Bring ideas from customer interactions, data, and new technology into program discussions - an associate’s outside view is expected, not optional.

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering with a strong background in programming and MBA in Operations Management
• 2+ years of experience in program/project management, ideally within the automotive industry or SaaS applications.
• Proven ability to build and run a systematic project plan - breaking work down, mapping dependencies, assigning owners, and keeping the plan honest as reality shifts.
• Demonstrated ability to manage the expectations of multiple stakeholders with competing priorities - clients, engineering, and leadership - without losing anyone’s trust.
• A resourceful problem-navigator with a track record of getting things unstuck - finding the right person, the creative workaround, or the missing piece of information - and quick to learn new systems.
• High emotional intelligence: self-awareness, empathy, and composure under pressure - you notice how people are feeling and factor it into how you work.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate between technical and business audiences.
• Experience with project management tools such as SmartSheet, Jira, Asana, or Monday.com.
• Strong negotiation skills, comfortable trading scope, time, and priorities at every level, and able to hold a position without damaging a relationship.
• PMP, Agile, or Scrum certifications are a plus.

How to Stand Out

At myKaarma we value individuals who think beyond traditional account management and partnership strategies. Here’s what sets exceptional candidates apart:

• Honeycomb Innovators: You approach challenges with the “honeycomb” mindset-filling knowledge gaps, uncovering overlooked opportunities, and driving breakthrough solutions.
• Customer-Centricity: You embody the “working backward” philosophy, designing strategies and solutions prioritizing the end-user’s experience.
• First Principles Thinking: You break down complex problems into fundamental truths, rebuilding smarter, simpler solutions.
• Relentless Iteration: You’re not afraid to experiment, learn, and refine rapidly to achieve better outcomes.
• Visionary Leadership: You inspire teams with bold goals, like transforming dealership service lanes or rethinking customer engagement models.
• Storytelling Mastery: You craft compelling narratives that highlight the value of myKaarma’s products and services, resonating with diverse stakeholders.

We value diverse experiences and backgrounds, so we encourage you to apply if you meet some but not all of the listed qualifications.

Total Rewards at myKaarma

At myKaarma, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that extends beyond the base salary. Our commitment to competitive compensation includes bonuses and benefits that support both personal and professional well-being:

• Flexible Work Environment: We embrace a high-performance, flexible structure that values freedom and responsibility. Our “Highly Aligned, Loosely Coupled” model empowers teams to innovate and continuously improve using data-driven insights.
• Health and Wellness: Comprehensive medical, life, and disability benefits.
• Time Off: Generous vacation time to recharge and balance life outside work.
• In-Office Perks: Work in an agile office space with perks like ping pong and foosball to unwind and connect, and unlimited lunch, snacks, or refreshments on-site.

The starting salary range for this role is annually plus variable compensation, depending on experience and qualifications, reflecting our dedication to competitive industry compensation. Additional details about our Total Rewards package will be shared during recruitment.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

At myKaarma, diverse perspectives drive innovation and success. We are committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive workplace where every employee feels valued and empowered and can do meaningful work. Our mission to deliver exceptional solutions to our clients is strengthened by the unique contributions and perspectives of our team members from all backgrounds.

As an equal opportunity employer, myKaarma prohibits any form of unlawful discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, family or parental status, disability, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable laws in the regions where we operate. We adhere to all EEOC regulations and actively promote an environment that celebrates and supports diversity, equity, and inclusion for all.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. Reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on myKaarma. Please let us know if you require reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process by filling outthis form.

myKaarma participates in theE-Verify Program.

myKaarma considers candidates requiring work authorization on a case-by-case basis. Sponsorship may be available for exceptional candidates depending on role requirements and business need