Senior Product Development Program Manager

The opportunity

We are seeking a Sr. Product Development Program Manager to lead the R&D PMO for JIEMS and ensure the successful delivery of R&D program requirements to the Project. This role partners closely with the ESS R&D team, the R&D leader, and cross-functional stakeholders to plan, execute, and monitor development work end-to-end. Key responsibilities include risk management, resource and budget oversight, schedule alignment to project deliverables, and implementing best-practice project management standards. The position works closely with the Global PMO Director and senior leadership to maintain alignment with organizational objectives, drive continuous improvement, and communicate clearly with executive leaders.

How you will make an impact

• Lead JIEMS software development projects end-to-end, ensuring alignment to Project requirements, business objectives, and technical constraints.
• Drive program planning and execution across the SDLC (requirements, design, build, test, security reviews, release), establishing integrated schedules, milestones, and clear definitions of done.
• Lead and influence cross-functional teams, partnering with the R&D leader to ensure a cohesive approach that enables timely decision-making and conflict resolution to keep deliveries on track.
• Establish and enforce program governance and delivery practices, including status reporting, RAID management, change control, and quality gates, using tools such as Azure DevOps/Jira and Confluence.
• Communicate program health to stakeholders and executives, translating technical progress into business impact via metrics (predictability, throughput, quality, reliability) and clear narratives.
• Collaborate with Project and R&D stakeholders on prioritization tradeoffs, staffing plans, and sequencing to meet committed delivery dates.
• Identify, quantify, and mitigate program risks and issues (technical, schedule, security, compliance), escalating with options and recommendations as needed.
• Drive continuous improvement through retrospectives, root-cause analysis, and workflow optimization to increase delivery predictability, reduce defects, and improve team effectiveness.
• Plan and coordinate release readiness (testing completion, documentation, support plans, training, rollout/rollback), partnering with Project and R&D stakeholders to ensure a smooth release transition and post-release stabilization.
• Manage stakeholder expectations and external dependencies, ensuring requirements clarity, timely decisions, and alignment across product, R&D, and business teams.
• Track and manage program financials (vendor SOWs, forecasts, burn), ensuring transparency and adherence to approved budgets.

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent project management certification required (or ability to obtain within 12 months of employment).
• Minimum of 20 years of experience in project management, or an equivalent role leading cross-functional teams in a development environment, required.
• Proven track record of successfully managing large-scale projects and programs; focus on strategic programs preferred.
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies, tools, and techniques.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficient in project management software and related tools for management of software development projects (e.g., JIRA, Azure DevOps, Confluence, etc.).
• Global experience working with different cultures across the globe and successfully delivering Projects required.