Associate Director - Program Management Expert

Career Level
9IC

About the Role

We are looking for a Senior Program Manager with 15+ years of experience to lead strategic programs, drive execution, and align cross-functional initiatives within our organization. This role requires a highly experienced leader with a deep understanding of enterprise-scale program management, stakeholder alignment, and business impact delivery. The Senior Program Manager will work closely with Product Managers, Product Owners, Engineering Managers, Software Engineers, and QA teams to ensure seamless collaboration and execution.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Program Leadership

• Lead and oversee multiple high-impact, cross-functional programs that drive business and product success.
• Develop long-term program roadmaps aligned with business and product strategy.
• Act as a trusted advisor to executives and senior leadership, ensuring programs align with company objectives.
• Drive enterprise-wide transformation initiatives, influencing strategic decisions and execution.

2. Executive Stakeholder & Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work directly with C-level executives, VPs, and senior leadership to communicate program status, risks, and opportunities.
• Partner with Product Managers and Product Owners to ensure alignment of business goals with program execution.
• Collaborate with Engineering Leadership to optimize resource planning, technical delivery, and scalability.
• Build strong relationships with key business units to drive alignment and shared accountability.

3. Enterprise Agile & Operational Excellence

• Implement and refine enterprise Agile frameworks (SAFe, Lean Portfolio Management, or similar) to improve efficiency.
• Define and drive standardization of program execution best practices, governance, and reporting mechanisms.
• Establish and continuously refine KPIs and OKRs to measure program effectiveness and impact.
• Drive process improvement initiatives to enhance delivery speed, quality, and cross-team collaboration.

4. Risk Management & Issue Resolution

• Proactively identify enterprise-level risks and dependencies across multiple programs and teams.
• Develop and implement mitigation strategies to ensure business continuity and program success.
• Act as a key escalation point for critical issues, driving resolution with executive stakeholders when needed.

5. Reporting, Analytics & Business Impact

• Provide data-driven insights and executive-level reporting on program performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Leverage advanced analytics to drive decision-making, process optimization, and continuous improvement.
• Align programs with financial, operational, and customer success metrics to drive business value.

6. Leadership & Mentorship

• Serve as a mentor and coach for project and program managers, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Lead and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority, driving collaboration and accountability.
• Champion a culture of execution, innovation, and continuous learning within the organization.

Key Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in program management, strategic execution, and cross-functional leadership within a product-driven, technology organization.
• Proven ability to lead large-scale, multi-team, enterprise-level programs with direct impact on business growth.
• Extensive experience working with Product, Engineering, and Business teams in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Deep expertise in Agile, SAFe, Lean, and other enterprise frameworks.
• Strong ability to drive executive communication, influence strategic decisions, and manage C-level stakeholders.
• Advanced proficiency in program management tools (JIRA, Confluence, MS Project, etc.).
• Preferred: PMP, SAFe, Lean Portfolio Management, PgMP or equivalent certifications.

Success Metrics

• Program Execution: % of enterprise programs delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with strategic goals.
• Business Impact: Measurable contributions to revenue growth, operational efficiency, and product innovation.
• Stakeholder & Executive Satisfaction: Positive feedback from leadership and cross-functional partners.
• Process & Agile Maturity: Continuous improvement in Agile adoption, cycle times, and efficiency.

Related Skills

Continuous Integration and Deployment, Debugging, DevOps, Enterprise Application Integration, Problem Solving, Programming, Software Development, Software Development Life Cycle, Software Testing, Systems Design/Analysis, Systems Development Life Cycle

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Company Overview

TIAA Global Capabilities was established in 2016 with a mission to tap into a vast pool of talent, reduce risk by insourcing key platforms and processes, as well as contribute to innovation with a focus on enhancing our technology stack. TIAA Global Capabilities is focused on building a scalable and sustainable organization , with a focus on technology , operations and expanding into the shared services business space.

Working closely with our U.S. colleagues and other partners, our goal is to reduce risk, improve the efficiency of our technology and processes and develop innovative ideas to increase throughput and productivity.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. TIAA does not discriminate against any candidate or employee on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, sex, religion, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected status.

Our Culture of Impact

At TIAA, we're on a mission to build on our 100+ year legacy of delivering for our clients while evolving to meet tomorrow's challenges. We equip our associates with future-focused skills and AI tools that enable us to advance our mission. Together, we are fighting to ensure a more secure financial future for all and for generations to come. We are guided by our values: Champion Our People, Be Client Obsessed, Lead with Integrity, Own It, and Win As One. They influence every decision we make and how we work together to serve our clients every day. We thrive in a collaborative in-office environment where teams work across organizational boundaries with shared purpose, accelerating innovation and delivering meaningful results. Our workplace brings together TIAA and Nuveen's entrepreneurial spirit, where we work hard and work together to create lasting impact. Here, every associate can grow through meaningful learning experiences and development pathways—because when our people succeed, our impact on clients' lives grows stronger.

Accessibility Support

TIAA offers support for those who need assistance with our online application process to provide an equal employment opportunity to all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities.

If you are a U.S. applicant and desire a reasonable accommodation to complete a job application please use one of the below options to contact our accessibility support team:

Phone: (800) 842-2755

Email: accessibility.support@tiaa.org

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