Jason Kennedy
Arlington,TN
Summary
Transformational leader with a 20+ year track record of driving operational excellence, spearheading strategic growth initiatives, and delivering outstanding business results across diverse industries. Adept at building high-performing teams, fostering a culture of innovation, and leveraging cutting-edge technologies to gain a competitive edge. Proven expertise in program management, supply chain optimization, process engineering, and quality assurance. A respected mentor and influential communicator, skilled in stakeholder engagement and cross-functional collaboration.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Sr. Program Manager
AMAZON
07.2022 - Current
- Established clear performance metrics for tracking program success, enabling informed decision-making processes throughout each project's duration.
- Manage the product development lifecycle, ensuring alignment with local market needs and delivering unparalleled customer experiences
- Provide strategic leadership, risk mitigation, and clear communication to senior stakeholders
- Significant Achievements:
- Developed the first-ever standardized work process for all Amazon operations, establishing a baseline for continuous improvement and driving towards industry-leading standards
- Spearheaded the successful transition to a new platform, influencing teams and advocating for developer resources to address backlogs and deliver critical features ahead of schedule
- Pioneered the implementation of cutting-edge technologies, such as an AI-powered chatbot, leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning to optimize operations and drive efficiency
- Facilitated stakeholder communication, leading to improved alignment between business objectives and program goals.
- Managed cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality products within scope and budget constraints.
Sr. Product Manager – Fulfillment Optimization
AMAZON
07.2022 - Current
- Identified opportunities to enhance technologies and drive initiatives to capitalize on growth opportunities within Amazon's rapidly evolving transportation and delivery networks
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and deploy innovative solutions with significant customer impact
- Key Contributions:
- Monitored the impact of global supply chain and transportation performance on customer experience, conducting sophisticated quantitative analyses and producing actionable insights
- Established product visions, managed feature backlogs, prioritized competing initiatives, and provided clear direction to data science, engineering, and senior leader stakeholders
- Leveraged data architectures and business intelligence to drive scalable solutions, consistently improving customer confidence and trust in Amazon's delivery capabilities
- Increased product adoption by identifying customer needs and developing innovative product features.
- Improved user experience by collaborating closely with design and development teams on UI/UX enhancements.
Operations Manager
AMAZON
11.2019 - 03.2021
- As an Operations Manager at Amazon, I spearheaded transformative initiatives that optimized processes, drove operational excellence, and delivered outstanding results
- With a relentless focus on continuous improvement, I pursued variation reduction, streamlined standard work, and built mechanisms to foster compliance with industry-leading standards
- I evaluated performance metrics across regions, identified opportunities, prioritized efforts, and bridged gaps with benchmark performance
- Through my expertise in data interpretation and leadership, I delivered tangible productivity and efficiency gains
- I developed standard operating procedures, partnered with operational leaders to implement process improvements, and drove stabilization and standardization across the network
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams, I delivered network-wide initiatives that elevated performance
- Key Achievements:
- Served as the Subject Matter Expert for the outbound ship dock, building an arc flow and staffing model that doubled Associate direct rates
- Reconstructed the inbound dock, increasing throughput from 140 to 700 pallets per 10 hours
- Restructured the outbound dock flow to accommodate a surge from 140 to 700 pallets
- Successfully launched a new building and a new building type, one of only two in Amazon's fleet
- Achieved the best outbound rates globally
- Streamlined problem-solving processes, combining various tools into a single process for totes
- Built a problem-solving process for automated sorters (UIS) and increased throughput through process improvements
- Conducted multiple Kaizen events to optimize flow, resource allocation, staffing models, and create maximum staffing and reduction models
- Supervised operations staff and kept employees compliant with company policies and procedures.
- Empowered employees to take ownership of their responsibilities, leading to increased accountability and improved performance outcomes.
Southeast Branch Manager
KONECRANES
05.2016 - 10.2019
- Directed all aspects of the service branch, including budget management, sales goal attainment, customer satisfaction, and delivery of lifecycle care services
- Oversaw staffing levels, employee training, and addressed business-related issues
- Career Highlights:
- Achieved year-over-year growth of 41% in the first year, followed by a 35% increase in the second year while expanding to additional markets in Mississippi and Alabama
- Increased controls modernization projects sold by 12% through strategic relationships and streamlined engineering sales processes
- Implemented cost-saving measures, consolidating operations, and increasing job profitability from 21% to 28%
Quality Manager
MERCEDES-BENZ
03.2014 - 05.2016
- Spearheaded the successful ISO 9001 global certification for Mercedes-Benz, conducted by Lloyds of London
- Led continuous improvement projects to enhance quality levels across multiple international locations, raising performance from 53% to 97%
- Key Accomplishments:
- Established robust inspection programs, integrating industry-specific OSHA and ASME standards, and collaborating with key stakeholders, including NASA, to develop tailored solutions
- Developed and deployed comprehensive quality assurance processes, procedures, and training programs to ensure compliance with customer specifications and regulatory requirements
- Conducted root cause analyses, identified areas for improvement, and implemented corrective actions to drive quality excellence across the organization
- Managed root cause analysis investigations, determining underlying issues in product failures and implementing corrective actions as necessary.
Corporate Crane Inspection Manager
MAZZELLA LIFTING
07.2011 - 03.2014
- Built and launched the company's crane inspection division, establishing processes, training programs, and software integrations to support the new service offering
- Developed retention strategies, pricing models, and industry-specific training curricula
- Notable Achievements:
- Transitioned from a break-even financial position in the first two years to generating $15M in sales with a 7% margin by the third year
- Collaborated with consultants and industry experts to create a robust in-house crane inspection training program, reducing reliance on external vendors and driving long-term cost savings
- Established partnerships with educational institutions to develop comprehensive technician training curricula, ensuring a pipeline of skilled professionals
Program Manager – Rig Moves
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY
02.2006 - 07.2011
- Oversaw and coordinated the efficient relocation of fracking drilling rigs across multiple sites, managing complex logistics, ensuring regulatory compliance, and maintaining close collaboration with stakeholders to ensure seamless and safe rig movements
- Key Contributions:
- Implemented lean methodologies, reducing the move time of a drilling rig from 10 days to 1.5 days, significantly improving operational efficiency
- Recognized as the 'Safety Person of the Year' for two consecutive years, with zero recordable incidents over a three-year span, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to safety and operational excellence
- Served as a consultant for ASME P30.1, providing expertise in planning for load handling activities and dual crane lifting procedures
- Managed and supervised administrative and daily program operations, complying with policies and regulations.
- Established strong relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring support for program initiatives.
INFANTRY E5 SERGEANT
U.S. ARMY
09.2001 - 02.2006
- Served as a principal Non-Commissioned Officer in the Light Infantry section, providing tactical and technical guidance, supervising training and combat operations, and editing tactical plans and training materials
- Key Responsibilities:
- Led teams by personal example, exercising authority over subordinates, and maintaining troop discipline and unity in dynamic combat situations
- Performed the roles of Squad Leader, Weapons Squad Leader, and Squad Designated Marksman, demonstrating expertise in various Infantry roles and responsibilities
- Trained and mentored subordinates, instilling a culture of professionalism, decision-making, and mission accomplishment
Education
Executive MBA -
University of Alabama
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Memphis
Skills
- Operational Excellence
- Problem-solving skills
- Strategic Planning
- Project Leadership
- Training and mentoring
- Strong analytical skills
- Personnel Management
- Strategic goal development
- Effective Decision Making
- Strategic Visioning
- Business Analysis
- Organizational Development
Certification
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – Villanova University
- Python Bootcamp
- AWS Certifications: Day One Machine Learning, Autogluon: Beyond the Basics, ML for Leaders, Generative AI, Introduction to Amazon Sagemaker, AWS IAM, Machine Learning Terminology and Process, The Elements of Data Science, QuickSight Creation
Militarytraining
- Airborne
- Sniper School
- Basic Leader Course (BLC)
Timeline
Sr. Program Manager
AMAZON
07.2022 - Current
Sr. Product Manager – Fulfillment Optimization
AMAZON
07.2022 - Current
Operations Manager
AMAZON
11.2019 - 03.2021
Southeast Branch Manager
KONECRANES
05.2016 - 10.2019
Quality Manager
MERCEDES-BENZ
03.2014 - 05.2016
Corporate Crane Inspection Manager
MAZZELLA LIFTING
07.2011 - 03.2014
Program Manager – Rig Moves
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY
02.2006 - 07.2011
INFANTRY E5 SERGEANT
U.S. ARMY
09.2001 - 02.2006
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Memphis
Executive MBA -
University of Alabama