Program Director

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

• Client and Stakeholder Engagement:
• Proactively engage with clients to anticipate needs, navigate concerns, and take action to resolve issues or provide guidance as needed.
• Serve as the central point of contact for the program, ensuring effective stakeholder management by providing regular executive-level updates and fostering transparent communication channels across all levels.
• Develop, define, and manage program budgets, navigating executive-level budget discussions comfortably.


• Program Oversight:
• Work with the client Director of PMO and Senior Project Managers to track, manage & report on project budgets, timelines, and resource allocations to align initiatives with corporate strategies and priorities.
• Monitor and control progress by meticulously developing and maintaining schedules, timelines, milestones, and performance reports in collaboration with project leads, including Project Managers, Product Managers, and Scrum Masters.
• Collaborate closely with client and internal Account leadership team to contribute to identifying and pursuing account growth opportunities.


• Budget Management:
• Create, track, and report on program budgets and gross margin, ensuring financial accountability and transparency.
• Control scope and manage costs to meet budgetary constraints.


• Risk Management:
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks at the program level, ensuring proactive risk management strategies are in place.
• Develop contingency plans to address potential issues and ensure continuous program progress.


• Process Definition and Improvement:
• Define, implement, and enhance program processes to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in delivery models.
• Develop innovative systems and processes to streamline and simplify program operations.
• Maintain comprehensive project documentation according to PMO standards, continuously proposing improvements for governance, processes, tools, and templates.
• Utilize robust project management and reporting tools to track progress toward goals via dashboards, budget, and resource management systems.


• Project Planning and Resource Management:
• Define and build a team structure with a delivery model that ensures appropriate resourcing and processes for efficient delivery.
• Assess team capacity and resource requirements, effectively allocating resources and monitoring performance against schedule, budget, and quality targets.
• Proactively identify and resolve resource conflicts, escalating unresolved issues to management as necessary.
• Provide guidance and leadership to project teams, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.

QUALIFICATIONS YOU WILL BRING:

• 8-10+ years of demonstrated track record leading teams delivering end-to-end digital solutions in an agency or product organization, ideally with leading global brands, with proven experience delivering web and mobile app product launches.
• Proven track record fostering partnerships with Director, VP or C-suite client and internal stakeholders with the ability to influence, collaborate and align with cross-functional and matrixed partnerships on key programs or projects to drive accountability and project outcomes.
• Previous experience as a senior project or program management role leading large cross-functional, multi-track teams of 20+ employees in software development and/or web technologies. 
• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex political landscapes within the organization, adept at managing relationships and garnering support from stakeholders with diverse agendas.
• Strong understanding of the software development lifecycle, CI/CD and project management methodologies including agile, hybrid-agile, scrum, kanban and others.
• Proficiency using project management software tools and collaboration platforms. (e.g., Jira/Confluence, Slack, Notion, Google Suite, Instagantt, Smartsheet). 
• Experience working with Airtable and/or Jira Product Discovery.
• Experience working with various organizational functions across Marketing, Direct to Consumer, E-commerce, Growth and Data to support project outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead workshops and planning sessions for initiatives that require definition, cooperation and risk mitigation with peers, cross-functional teams, and Senior leadership teams.

WHAT YOU MIGHT ALSO BRING:

• Experience working with enterprise-level companies with a focus on Sports and Media or Entertainment is an asset.
• Professional certifications such as Agile Certification and/or Scrum Master certification are desirable.
• A can-do attitude and the resilience to work in a flexible and fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrable critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and willingness to take on complex challenges.
• A good dose of humour, humility and positivity to drive your relentless pursuit of excellence while working in a fast-paced environment.