Principal Program Manager

Job Description:

We are seeking an experienced and highly strategicPrincipal Program Manager to lead portfolio-level program execution and product operational excellence across our Global Capability Center (GCC) in India. This role operates at amulti-program and portfolio scale , partnering closely with U.S.-based leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to drive alignment, predictability, and delivery outcomes.

The Principal Program Manager is anindividual contributor with significant influence, responsible for shaping program strategy, defining and evolving operating models, and mentoring program management talent within the transformation pillar. This role requires strong judgment, executive presence, and the ability to navigate ambiguity while driving structure, clarity, and execution rigor at scale.

Key Responsibilities:

Portfolio & Program Leadership

• Own and oversee execution across multiple complex programs within the portfolio, ensuring alignment to strategic objectives and business priorities.
• Establish, evolve, and scale portfolio-level operating models, governance structures, and execution rhythms.
• Drive cross-program dependency management, risk mitigation, and integrated delivery planning.

Strategy, Planning & Decision Support:

• Partner with senior leadership to shape program strategy, sequencing, and long-range planning (quarterly and annual).
• Provide data-driven insights and recommendations to support trade-off decisions across scope, capacity, funding, and timelines.
• Ensure clear articulation of priorities, commitments, and outcomes across the portfolio.

Stakeholder Management & Executive Communication:

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, with regular visibility and interaction up to VP / Group VP levels.
• Facilitate high-stakes forums such as portfolio reviews, operating reviews, and leadership decision meetings.
• Influence without authority to align Product, Engineering, PMO, and other stakeholders around shared outcomes.

Execution Excellence & Continuous Improvement:

• Ensure consistent application of program management discipline across planning, execution tracking, reporting, and retrospectives.
• Identify systemic gaps or inefficiencies and drive sustainable improvements at scale.
• Champion the adoption of data-driven planning, modern tooling, and emerging best practices.

Ways of Working & Innovation:

• Apply deep, hands-on knowledge of Agile and Scaled Agile frameworks to complex, cross-team environments.
• Stay current on emerging technologies (including Generative AI) and incorporate relevant best practices into program operations where appropriate.
• Play a key role in shaping and maturing the GCC operating model for the transformation pillar.
• Mentor and coach Program Managers, providing guidance on execution rigor, stakeholder management, and problem-solving.
• Establish standards, best practices, and reusable artifacts to elevate program management capabilities.

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in Program Management, Technical Program Management, or Portfolio Management.
• Proven experience leading large, complex, multi-program initiatives in a global, distributed environment.
• Demonstrated success working with senior leadership and influencing outcomes at a portfolio level.
• Experience working in or with Global Capability Centers (GCCs) or similar offshore/nearshore models.

Required Skills:

• Strong portfolio and program execution leadership across multiple workstreams.
• Deep, practical knowledge of Agile and Scaled Agile frameworks and their application in complex organizations.
• Advanced stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
• Ability to analyze complex data, identify trends, and translate insights into actionable recommendations.
• Proven ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across diverse teams.
• Strong risk management, dependency management, and issue resolution skills.

Desired Skills:

• Experience in Retail Technology or similar large-scale digital platforms (preferred but not required).
• Exposure to portfolio planning tools, OKRs, and data-driven prioritization frameworks.
• Ability and willingness to learn and apply emerging technologies such as Generative AI to improve program effectiveness.
• Experience defining and scaling operating models and governance frameworks.

Competencies:

• Strategic thinking with a strong execution mindset.
• Comfort with ambiguity and complexity; ability to create structure where none exists.
• Assertiveness in driving clarity, accountability, and alignment.
• Strong ownership mentality and bias toward outcomes.
• Mentorship and coaching orientation without formal authority.
• High integrity, resilience, and professionalism in fast-paced environments.