It Program Manager

Job Description: Program Manager For Head IT

Location: Chennai, India

About Us

The Opportunity

We are seeking an exceptional and highly organized Program Manager to directly assist our Chief Information Officer (CIO) in steering critical technology programs within our fast-paced BFSI product development environment. This pivotal role requires a professional with outstanding communication skills, a meticulous approach to program management, and a highly pleasing personality to effectively engage and manage stakeholders at all levels. You will be instrumental in driving strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment across a large, diverse team operating in both on-premise and cloud infrastructures.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Strategic Program Management & Execution:

• Work directly with the CIO to define, plan, and execute strategic technology programs that align with the company's business objectives and BFSI product development roadmap.

• Oversee multiple, concurrent projects and initiatives, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.

• Develop and manage comprehensive program plans, including scope, objectives, schedules, budgets, and resource allocation.

• Cross-Functional Leadership & Coordination:

• Facilitate seamless collaboration and communication across various technology teams, including product development, infrastructure (on-premise and cloud), security, and operations.

• Act as a central point of coordination for the CIO's initiatives, ensuring all relevant stakeholders are informed and aligned.

• Expertly manage relationships with both senior and junior leaders reporting into the CIO, ensuring their understanding of program goals, progress, and interdependencies.

• Agile & Operational Oversight:

• Support the CIO in fostering an agile mindset and practices across the technology organization.

• Track program performance using relevant KPIs and metrics, providing regular, concise updates and dashboards to the CIO and executive leadership.
• Identify and mitigate program risks and issues proactively, developing contingency plans and escalating as necessary.

• Ensure adherence to governance frameworks, security standards, and compliance requirements inherent to the BFSI sector, across both on-premise and cloud deployments.

• Communication & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical and business concepts clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, from technical teams to executive leadership.

• Cultivate strong working relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels with a pleasing personality and professional demeanor.

• Prepare and present high-quality reports, presentations, and dashboards for internal and external stakeholders.

• Documentation & Best Practices:

• Maintain meticulous program documentation, including charters, status reports, risk logs, and decision logs.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of program management processes and best practices within the organization.

Skills Requirements

• Program Management Expertise:

• Proven experience as a Program Manager, managing complex technology programs, preferably within a large enterprise setting.

• Strong understanding of program management methodologies (e.g., PMI, Agile, Scrum, Lean) and practical experience applying them.

• Experience with program management tools (e.g., Jira, Azure DevOps, Asana, MS Project).

• Communication & Interpersonal Skills:

• Exceptional verbal communication skills, capable of engaging, influencing, and building rapport with senior executives, technical leaders, and diverse teams.

• Outstanding written communication skills, with the ability to draft clear, concise, and impactful reports, emails, and presentations.

• A pleasing personality and strong interpersonal skills, demonstrating empathy, active listening, and conflict resolution abilities to effectively manage diverse personalities and seniority levels.

• Technical Acumen:

• Solid understanding of technology concepts relevant to BFSI product development, including software development lifecycles, infrastructure (on-premise and cloud environments - AWS, Azure, GCP), cybersecurity, and data management.

• Familiarity with the challenges and opportunities of migrating and operating services in hybrid cloud environments.

• Financial Services Industry Knowledge:

• Experience working in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector, with an understanding of its regulatory landscape, compliance requirements, and business processes.

• Leadership & Stakeholder Management:

• Demonstrated ability to lead without direct authority, motivate cross-functional teams, and manage expectations across a broad range of stakeholders.

• Proven ability to manage and engage effectively with both senior leadership (C-suite, VPs) and junior leaders/team leads.

• Problem-Solving & Analytical Skills:

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify program risks, issues, and dependencies, and develop effective mitigation strategies.

• Proactive and results-oriented approach to problem-solving.

Candidate Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field. MBA or relevant Master's degree is a plus.
• [8-12+] years of progressive experience in project and program management roles within a technology-driven organization.
• [3-5+] years of direct experience managing programs within the BFSI sector.
• PMP, PgMP, CSM, or other relevant program/project management certifications are highly desirable.
• Proven track record of successfully delivering complex technology programs on time and within budget.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, agile environment.