Senior Manager, Product Portfolio

About this Job

For 25 years, CarMax has led the way with an innovative, customer-right way to buy and sell a used car.  We are the nation's largest retailer of used cars, with 25K+ associates and 200+ locations nationwide.  With best-in-class financial performance, customer satisfaction, and Associate engagement, CarMax is well positioned for continued growth. 

The Sr Manager, Product Portfolio & Business Strategy serves as a strategic linchpin of our Product organization. This role is a high-impact, executive-level partner that drives the Product portfolio's alignment with our boldest company-wide ambitions. The role will shape Product-specific strategies, optimize cross-functional execution, and be highly influential in shaping CarMax's strategic agenda to deliver transformative value. The role demands a blend of analytical rigor, emotional intelligence and bold decision-making to shape the future of an industry leading Product organization.

Essential Responsibilities

• Product-Led Strategic Vision: Partner with the Chief Product Officer and Chief Product Technology Officer to craft and execute a multi-year Product roadmap that draws upon the corporate strategy to drive company-wide growth, innovation, and competitive advantage. Break down complex challenges into actionable, product-specific strategies that propel broader initiatives.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Leverage advanced analytics and insights to provide the Product leadership team with real-time recommendations across strategy, investments, operations, and resourcing, anticipating risks and seizing opportunities in an evolving tech and auto landscape
• Executive Influence: Serve as a Product Leadership proxy in high-stakes internal and external engagements, representing Product priorities in negotiations, senior stakeholder reviews, and industry forums
• Portfolio Governance: Develop and maintain a Product governance model, including budget oversight, resource prioritization, and a regular cadence of performance reviews with senior leaders, ensuring the portfolio delivers against strategic goals and scales efficiently
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Act as the connective tissue between cross-functional teams, breaking down barriers and fostering collaboration to accelerate the impact of the Product organization
• Operational Excellence: Oversee and optimize the Product organization's operations, identifying inefficiencies, streamlining workflows, introducing data-driven standards (e.g., enhanced visualization and reporting) and implementing scalable systems that enhance efficiency, productivity, accountability, and flawless execution
• Communication Leadership: Craft and execute a communications strategy that informs executives, cross-functional stakeholders, and internal audiences about the Product vision and performance, tailoring compelling storylines that assert a bold point of view and gain buy-in for ambitious goals
• Talent & Culture Catalyst: Lead a team of associates to deliver these outcomes, fostering their growth and development. Drive initiatives to attract, retain, and develop top-tier talent within the Product organization, embedding a culture of innovation, accountability, and excellence that reflects CarMax's values and ambitions

QUALIFICATIONS:

At CarMax, we dream about "what is possible" with a belief that there is near limitless potential to grow our business.  Ideas drive innovation.  Innovation drives growth.  Growth drives value.  To that end, we're looking for change agents to fuel our next wave of growth. 

• Experience: 7+ years in leadership roles within technology, management consulting, or high-growth startups with a proven track record of influencing outcomes at the executive level
• Education: Undergraduate degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred
• Skills:
  • Exceptional strategic thinking and problem solving, with the ability to distill complexity into clarity
  • Mastery of operational frameworks and tools (e.g., OKRs, Agile, Lean) to drive measurable results
  • Outstanding communication and persuasion skills, capable of commanding a room and aligning diverse stakeholders
  • Deep understanding of technology trends, product lifecycles, and competitive dynamics in the tech ecosystem
  • High EQ and resilience, with a knack for building trust and navigating ambiguity in fast-paced environments

The requirements here are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Upon an applicant's request, CarMax will consider reasonable accommodation to complete the CarMax Job Application.