Principal IT Program Manager & Product Owner

Principal IT Program Manager & Product Owner
Oakland, CA - Hybrid
12 Months

Pay Rate: Up to $93.05/Hour

Local candidates only, will be remote and onsite as needed. Can set expecation of one day onsite per week


Position Summary
The Principal IT Program Manager & Product Owner role is responsible for defining product strategy, managing complex multi-year technology programs, and ensuring delivery of business outcomes across a portfolio of IT products and services. This position serves as the bridge between business stakeholders, technology teams, architecture, cybersecurity, operations, and executive leadership.
The role owns product vision, roadmap development, strategic planning, portfolio governance, funding, prioritization, and delivery execution. The Principal IT Program Manager & Product Owner drives modernization initiatives, aligns technology investments with business objectives, and ensures products deliver measurable value, reliability, security, and operational excellence.
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Key Responsibilities
Product Strategy & Ownership
• Define and maintain product vision, strategy, and long-term roadmap.
• Serve as Product Owner for strategic technology products and platforms.
• Develop and prioritize product backlogs based on business value, risk, compliance, and operational requirements.
• Translate business needs into product requirements, epics, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
• Drive product lifecycle management, including modernization, technical debt reduction, and technology refresh initiatives.
• Establish and monitor product KPIs, service metrics, and value realization measurements.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend strategic investments.
Program & Portfolio Management
• Lead large-scale, cross-functional technology programs with enterprise-wide impact.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects and initiatives within an assigned portfolio.
• Develop multi-year strategic plans, investment roadmaps, and delivery schedules.
• Oversee program governance, issue escalation, risk management, and executive reporting.
• Ensure alignment of program objectives with enterprise and IT strategic goals.
• Track benefits realization and drive continuous improvement across the portfolio.
• Lead quarterly and annual planning activities.
Financial & Resource Management
• Develop and manage portfolio budgets, forecasts, and funding strategies.
• Perform resource planning across internal teams, contractors, vendors, and managed service providers.
• Monitor financial performance and ensure effective use of technology investments.
• Develop business cases and investment recommendations for executive review.
• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and service performance.
Stakeholder & Executive Engagement
• Partner with business leaders, IT executives, architecture teams, and operational stakeholders.
• Present portfolio health, strategic recommendations, risks, and funding requirements to leadership.
• Facilitate decision-making and alignment across multiple organizations.
• Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders to ensure product and program success.
• Lead communication and change management activities for complex initiatives.
Delivery Leadership
• Ensure successful delivery of technology solutions from concept through implementation and operational transition.
• Coordinate across product, engineering, cybersecurity, infrastructure, architecture, and operations teams.
• Remove organizational barriers and resolve complex program issues.
• Establish delivery standards, governance processes, and performance expectations.
• Drive Agile, Hybrid, and Waterfall delivery methodologies as appropriate.
Leadership & Mentoring
• Provide mentorship and guidance to Program Managers, Project Managers, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and emerging leaders.
• Promote a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert across the organization.
• Lead strategic initiatives and special assignments requiring executive-level judgment.
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Required Qualifications
Education
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.
• Master's degree preferred.
Experience
• 12 years of technology program, portfolio, project, or product management experience.
• 8 years leading large-scale enterprise technology initiatives.
• Proven experience managing complex, cross-functional programs with significant budgets and executive visibility.
• Experience serving as Product Owner, Product Manager, Program Manager, or Portfolio Manager.
• Demonstrated success leading digital transformation, infrastructure modernization, cloud migration, application modernization, or technology lifecycle management initiatives.
Certifications (Preferred)
• PMP (Project Management Professional)
• PMI-ACP
• Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
• SAFe Product Manager/Product Owner (POPM)
• SAFe Program Consultant (SPC)
• ITIL Foundation or higher
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Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
• Advanced understanding of product management and Agile methodologies.
• Expert knowledge of program and portfolio management principles.
• Strong financial planning, forecasting, and budget management capabilities.
• Exceptional executive communication and presentation skills.
• Strategic planning and roadmap development expertise.
• Strong stakeholder management and influence skills.
• Experience leading in a matrixed organization.
• Risk management, governance, and compliance expertise.
• Vendor and contract management experience.
• Ability to balance business priorities, operational requirements, and technology strategy.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change and drive adoption.
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Key Deliverables
• Product Vision & Strategy
• Multi-Year Technology Roadmap
• Portfolio Investment Plan
• Product Backlog & Prioritization Framework
• Financial Forecasts & Budget Plans
• Executive Status Reports
• Benefits Realization Dashboard
• KPI and Service Performance Metrics
• Risk & Issue Management Plans
• Governance and Compliance Reporting
• Lifecycle Management Plans
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Success Measures
• Delivery of strategic business outcomes
• Product adoption and customer satisfaction
• Portfolio financial performance
• On-time and on-budget program execution
• Reduction of technical debt and operational risk
• Achievement of service reliability and operational targets
• Stakeholder satisfaction and executive confidence
• Successful execution of lifecycle initiatives