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Principal Program Manager

Principal Program Manager

CompanyRakuten
LocationSan Mateo, CA, USA
Salary$156007.5 – $291500
TypeFull-Time
Degrees
Experience LevelExpert or higher

Requirements

  • Expertise in Agile, Scrum, Kanban, and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) methodologies.
  • Strong understanding of modern software development, including cloud computing, SaaS solutions, and DevOps practices.
  • Exceptional leadership and influencing skills, with a proven ability to drive alignment among senior stakeholders.
  • Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to synthesize complex information and make high-impact decisions.
  • Excellent executive communication and stakeholder management skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale, enterprise-wide initiatives with competing priorities and tight timelines.
  • Proven ability to implement and scale program management processes, tools, and best practices.

Responsibilities

  • Lead enterprise-wide, cross-functional initiatives that have a direct impact on business strategy and long-term success.
  • Define and implement program management best practices, frameworks, and tools to enhance execution efficiency.
  • Drive strategic alignment between business objectives, technology roadmaps, and operational execution.
  • Provide executive-level visibility into program health, risks, and dependencies, ensuring proactive issue resolution.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, influencing decision-making with data-driven insights and strategic recommendations.
  • Establish governance models and operating mechanisms to ensure seamless collaboration across teams.
  • Mentor and coach other program managers, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
  • Champion innovation and drive initiatives that enhance agility, scalability, and operational efficiency across the organization.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience driving AI/ML-driven product strategies or leading cloud transformation programs.
  • Familiarity with enterprise tools such as JIRA, Confluence, and project portfolio management software.
  • Background in software engineering or a deeply technical field.