Principal IT Program Director

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Job Title: Principal IT Program Director/Manager
Location: Oakland, CA

This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and the Oakland General Office or San Ramon Valley Conference Center in-person two days a week, on average or based on business needs.

Position Summary:
We are seeking a highly skilled and accomplished Principal IT Program Manager/Director to lead and manage multiple strategic programs across our IT organization. This role requires a seasoned professional with a proven track record of delivering large-scale, complex projects within scope, budget, and schedule. The ideal candidate is a strategic leader, adept at navigating complex stakeholder landscapes, fostering seamless cross-functional collaboration, and driving results through innovative problem-solving and disciplined execution.

As a Principal IT Program Manager, you will play a pivotal role in aligning IT initiatives with business objectives, ensuring the effective delivery of programs that enable organizational growth and transformation. You will be responsible for guiding program strategy, driving governance, and ensuring excellence in execution while inspiring and empowering cross-functional teams to deliver measurable business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee multiple IT programs, ensuring alignment with business goals, technology strategies, and organizational priorities.
• Manage interdependencies across projects, allocating resources effectively and ensuring seamless integration between initiatives.
• Develop and execute strategic program plans, defining project goals, timelines, KPIs, and success criteria to drive accountability and outcomes.
• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks, creating and maintaining comprehensive risk management strategies to ensure program success.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration, accountability, and a culture of excellence.
• Build strong relationships with business stakeholders and provide transparent, timely communication on program progress, risks, issues, and opportunities.
• Track and report on key milestones and deliverables, ensuring projects are executed with discipline, transparency, and efficiency.
• Manage program and project budgets, ensuring optimal use of financial resources and delivery within defined constraints.
• Ensure project teams are fully equipped with the tools, technology, and resources necessary for successful execution.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive program documentation, including project charters, roadmaps, communication plans, risk logs, and status reports.
• Uphold rigorous project governance standards to ensure compliance with organizational policies and internal audit requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities for process optimization, adopting industry best practices, and introducing innovative solutions to enhance program delivery.

Qualifications:

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline, or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in technology program and project management, with demonstrated success in leading enterprise-level initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience using PPM tools such as Planisware.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from PMI.
• SAFe Agilist certification.
• SAFe Lean Portfolio Management certification.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Deep understanding of project and program management methodologies, tools, and frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and deliver complex, large-scale IT programs to successful completion.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build trust across all organizational levels.
• Proven expertise in managing budgets, resources, and competing priorities effectively.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, drive clarity, and achieve results in dynamic and fast-paced environments.
• Highly motivated, self-driven, and passionate about driving innovation, excellence, and continuous improvement.

Why Join Us?
This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact by shaping the success of enterprise IT initiatives. As a Principal IT Program Manager, you will be at the forefront of driving technology-enabled transformation, working with senior leaders and diverse teams to deliver critical solutions that support the organization s long-term vision.