Technical program Manager

Hi There,

Day1 Onsite, San Diego CA.

Job Summary - Technical Program Manager

We are seeking a highly skilled Technical Program Manager (TPM) to lead the successful delivery of our technical projects and programs. The TPM will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing technical initiatives across multiple teams and departments, ensuring that projects align with business objectives, technical requirements, and timeframes. This role requires a mix of technical understanding, program management expertise, and stakeholder communication to drive project success from concept to completion.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program and Project Management

• Define, develop, and manage project plans, timelines, and deliverables to ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Break down complex initiatives into smaller projects, define milestones, and establish clear, measurable objectives for each project phase.
• Monitor and track project progress, identifying and resolving issues that could impact timelines, resources, or deliverables.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams spread across North America and India (e.g., Engineering, Product, Design, QA, DevOps) to prioritize and execute tasks effectively.
• Lead risk assessment efforts to identify potential project risks, develop mitigation plans, and communicate them to stakeholders.

2. Cross-functional Team Coordination

• Act as the primary point of contact for technical program coordination across multiple departments and teams, facilitating communication and collaboration.
• Coordinate dependencies and remove blockers to maintain project momentum, adjusting plans as necessary based on evolving requirements.
• Optional - Facilitate agile ceremonies, including sprint planning, stand-ups, reviews, and retrospectives, when necessary, ensuring alignment on goals and tasks.
• Drive alignment on priorities, project deliverables, and timelines by fostering a collaborative team environment.

3. Stakeholder Communication and Reporting

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including Product Managers, Engineering Managers, and Executives, to understand business objectives and ensure alignment.
• Provide regular updates on project status, key metrics, risks, and blockers to stakeholders through reports, presentations, and dashboards.
• Translate complex technical concepts into actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and understanding.
• Facilitate and lead stakeholder meetings, ensuring that all parties are informed of project progress and have the opportunity to provide feedback.

4. Technical Oversight and Support

• Leverage technical knowledge to make informed decisions, understanding the intricacies of systems, architecture, and development processes.
• Work closely with Architect & engineering teams to understand technical requirements, feasibility, and resource needs, and to ensure project designs are realistic and achievable.
• Actively participate in design and architecture discussions to ensure that technical solutions align with project goals and company standards.
• Serve as an escalation point for technical issues, collaborating with engineering leads to resolve challenges quickly.

5. Process Improvement and Best Practices

• Continuously improve program and project management processes by identifying bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for optimization.
• Implement and promote best practices in program management, including tools and methodologies to increase productivity, transparency, and communication.
• Champion agile methodologies, driving agile transformation within teams as needed to improve delivery speed and adaptability.
• Establish and maintain documentation standards for project plans, timelines, risk assessments, and status reports.

6. Budgeting and Resource Allocation

• Work with finance and department leads to manage program budgets, including forecasting resource needs and tracking expenditures.
• Optimize resource allocation to ensure project goals are met within budget constraints, balancing workloads across multiple teams.
• Prepare budget reports for leadership and identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising project quality.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field; a master's degree is a plus.
• 12+ years of experience in program or project management, preferably in a technical or engineering-focused environment.
• Proven experience managing large-scale technical programs or projects from inception through completion, with demonstrable outcomes.
• Strong technical background with a solid understanding of Data platforms, software development processes, system architecture, and technical trade-offs.

Skills and Competencies

• Technical Proficiency: Ability to understand technical details and requirements, including familiarity with cloud computing, data platforms, APIs, microservices, and DevOps practices.
• Project Management Expertise: Skilled in project planning, resource management, budgeting, and risk management. Proficiency in using tools like Jira, Trello, Microsoft Project, or similar.
• Agile Methodologies: Strong understanding of Agile and Scrum methodologies, with experience facilitating agile ceremonies and promoting agile best practices.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders clearly and effectively.
• Problem Solving and Decision-Making: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, capable of making sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Interpersonal and Leadership Skills: Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with cross-functional teams, influence without authority, and resolve conflicts diplomatically.
• Attention to Detail: High level of accuracy and attention to detail, with a focus on quality and consistency in project deliverables.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• On-time Delivery: Percentage of projects completed on time and within budget.
• Stakeholder Satisfaction: Feedback from stakeholders on program management, communication, and alignment with business objectives.
• Risk Mitigation: Success in identifying and addressing risks proactively, minimizing impact on project timelines and resources.
• Agility and Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changing project requirements, maintaining alignment and effective resource management.
• Process Improvements: Implementation of best practices and process improvements that lead to more efficient project delivery and team collaboration.
• Financial Management: Track and report the spent at portfolio level. Ensure that all projects are within budget.