Fanatics · 3 days ago
VP, Automation & Operational Strategy
Portland, OR
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
15+ years expFanatics Collect is a global product and technology group dedicated to revolutionizing the world of collectibles. They are seeking a visionary VP of Automation & Operational Strategy to lead the development and scaling of transformative automation programs, driving operational evolution through next-gen automation, robotics, and intelligent systems.
eSportsManufacturingRetailSporting GoodsSports
Responsibilities
Own the end-to-end automation strategy across physical and digital operations, including warehouse systems, live shopping fulfillment, and trading workflows
Serve as a key member of the operations leadership team, advising the C-suite and driving cross-functional alignment on automation priorities
Design and lead multi-year automation and infrastructure roadmaps to enable operational scale, speed, and precision
Evaluate, select, and implement advanced technologies including robotics, AI/ML-driven process automation, and IoT-enabled systems
Oversee high-stakes cross-functional programs that span Engineering, Product, Operations, and external partners
Build and mentor a team of automation engineers, technical program managers, and operations analysts
Optimize systems through Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies
Lead vendor strategy and negotiations with automation providers and robotics integrators
Define and monitor KPIs for automation performance, cost savings, and operational throughput
Champion a culture of innovation, agility, and operational excellence across the organization
Qualification
Required
15+ years of progressive leadership experience in automation, operations strategy, industrial engineering, or supply chain innovation
Proven success leading enterprise automation strategy in ecommerce, logistics, or tech-driven operations environments
Expertise in warehouse management systems, robotics, systems integration, and smart fulfillment technologies
Advanced understanding of operational modeling, data analytics, and process optimization
Deep experience in cross-functional leadership and influencing executive stakeholders
Demonstrated ability to architect and scale end-to-end automation systems from concept to implementation
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, or a related technical discipline; MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred
Experience with live commerce, collectibles, or high-velocity DTC businesses is a strong plus
Strategic thinker with the ability to execute with urgency in fast-paced environments
Preferred
MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred
Experience with live commerce, collectibles, or high-velocity DTC businesses is a strong plus
Company
Fanatics
Fanatics is a sports merchandise retailer that manufactures fan gear and jerseys across retail channels. It is a sub-organization of Kynetic.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Fanatics has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2021 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$4.9BKey Investors
Clearlake Capital GroupNational Football LeagueAlameda Research
2022-12-06Private Equity· $700M
2022-03-02Private Equity· $1.5B
2022-01-01Series Unknown· $10M
Leadership Team
J
Joseph Bozich
Advisor to Chief Executive Officer
Michael Mahan
CEO
Recent News
Rochester Business Journal
2025-12-24
2025-12-24
Company data provided by crunchbase