Senior Manager of Program Management

Summary:

The Senior Manager of Program Management is responsible for leading a team of Program and Project Managers while overseeing a portfolio of strategic initiatives that deliver business value, operational excellence, and technology transformation. This leader drives cross-functional execution across Product, Engineering, Operations, Customer Experience, and Corporate Functions to ensure successful delivery of complex programs aligned to organizational priorities. The role requires a highly strategic yet hands-on leader who can establish governance, manage dependencies, remove obstacles, drive accountability, and provide executive visibility into program performance. The Senior Manager serves as a trusted partner to senior leadership, translating business objectives into executable plans while developing a high-performing program management organization.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Portfolio Leadership

Own and manage a portfolio of strategic business and technology programs.

Partner with executive leadership to translate organizational goals into program roadmaps and execution plans.

Establish portfolio governance practices, prioritization frameworks, and investment recommendations.

Ensure alignment between program objectives, business outcomes, and company strategy.

Lead annual and quarterly planning processes for assigned portfolios.

Program Execution

Drive successful delivery of large-scale, cross-functional initiatives from concept through implementation.

Manage scope, schedule, budget, dependencies, risks, and resource allocation across multiple programs.

Define success metrics and monitor progress against business and operational objectives.

Identify execution risks early and drive mitigation and resolution plans.

Ensure programs are delivered on time, within budget, and achieve intended outcomes.

Leadership & People Management

Lead, coach, and develop a team of Program Managers and Project Managers

Establish clear performance expectations and accountability measures.

Create career development plans and succession strategies for team members.

Foster a culture of collaboration, ownership, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Governance & Executive Communications

Design and operate executive-level governance forums, steering committees, and operating reviews.

Develop executive dashboards, status reporting, and business reviews.

Provide regular communications to leadership regarding program health, risks, dependencies, and achievements.

Ensure decisions, commitments, and action items are documented and tracked to completion.

Cross-Functional Leadership

Partner closely with Product Management, Engineering, Operations, Security, Compliance, Finance, and Vendor Management teams.

Facilitate alignment across diverse stakeholders with competing priorities.

Resolve organizational barriers and drive consensus among leadership teams.

Influence without authority across multiple functions and business units.

Operational Excellence

Establish and continuously improve Program Management Office (PMO) practices, standards, and methodologies.

Implement best practices for planning, risk management, resource management, and delivery governance.

Introduce data-driven decision making and process improvement initiatives.

Leverage Microsoft 365, Planner, Power BI, Copilot, and project management tools to improve visibility, efficiency, and execution.

Skills and Competencies:

Expert knowledge of program and portfolio management practices.

Strong business acumen and strategic thinking capabilities.

Exceptional executive communication and presentation skills.

Advanced risk, dependency, and financial management skills.

Ability to influence senior leaders and drive organizational alignment.

Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

Experience leading change management and organizational transformation.

Proficiency with Microsoft Project, Planner, Azure DevOps, Jira, Power BI, and Microsoft 365 platforms.

Drives Results

Strategic Mindset

Organizational Agility

Customer Focus

Builds Effective Teams

Develops Talent

Influences Across Boundaries

Decision Quality

Manages Complexity

Communicates Effectively

Accountability

Continuous Improvement

Minimum Qualifications:

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.

Experience

10+ years of program and project management experience.

5+ years of people leadership experience managing managers and/or senior program managers.

Experience leading large-scale technology, product, operational, or transformation programs.

Proven experience managing multimillion-dollar initiatives and complex stakeholder environments.

Experience presenting to executive leadership and steering committees.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree preferred.

Required Licensing or Certifications:

Preferred Certifications

PMP (Project Management Professional)

PgMP (Program Management Professional)

Lean Six Sigma Certification