Program Manager

Program Manager (Replacement Position)

Location: San Ramon, CA (Day 1 On-site)

Duration: Long-term contract

We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead large-scale, technology-driven initiatives within a dynamic and fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will bring strong program leadership, Agile execution expertise, and the ability to collaborate closely with engineering teams while effectively engaging business stakeholders.

This role requires a strong background in Financial Services or Asset Management, particularly supporting Trading and Investment Management platforms.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor s degree in engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Above 12+ years of experience as a Program Manager, Project Manager, or Scrum Master in a technology-driven environment.
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and Agile methodologies.
• Hands-on or working knowledge of: Python, React, Databases (SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or equivalent)
• Proficiency with Program Management tools: Jira, Azure DevOps, MS Project, Confluence, Miro, Power BI, etc.
• Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
• Financial Services/Asset Management background with experience working with Trading and/or Investment Management applications
• Experience working with globally dispersed technology and business stakeholders
• Experience driving estimation processes with development organizations
• Project budget management experience
• MS Project experience required

Program & Project Leadership

• Lead end-to-end program execution, including scope definition, planning, delivery, risk management, and stakeholder communication.
• Work closely with engineering, product, design, and operations teams to deliver large-scale, high-impact programs.
• Establish project milestones, KPIs, success metrics, and manage execution against timelines.
• Develop and maintain program roadmaps, dashboards, and reports using standard Program Management tools.

Agile & Scrum Execution

• Serve as Scrum Master for development teams, facilitating daily stand-ups, sprint planning, backlog grooming, and retrospectives.
• Drive Agile best practices and continuous improvement initiatives across teams.
• Remove blockers and foster an environment of collaboration and high performance.

Technical Collaboration

• Partner with engineering teams to understand system architectures, technical constraints, and development workflows.
• Leverage knowledge in Python, React, and databases (SQL/NoSQL) to engage in technical discussions, understand dependencies, and assess effort and risk.
• Translate technical information into clear business impact statements for leadership.

Stakeholder & Communication Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for program status, updates, and reporting across cross-functional teams.
• Present program updates to leadership and drive alignment on priorities and resourcing.
• Manage expectations and ensure clarity across all levels of stakeholders.

Operational Excellence

• Implement and optimize processes, frameworks, and workflows for improved program delivery.
• Leverage tools like Jira, Azure DevOps, GitHub, Confluence, MS Project, Power BI, or similar.
• Drive postmortem reviews, capturing lessons learned and ensuring action items are executed.