IT Program Manager

• Program Strategy & Planning:
• Define and articulate the overall program vision, scope, and objectives in alignment with the organization's strategic priorities.
• Develop comprehensive program plans, including roadmaps, timelines, budget estimations, resource allocation, and governance structures.
• Identify and define interdependencies between projects within the program and with external initiatives.
• Establish clear program deliverables, success criteria, and KPIs.
• Program Execution & Oversight:
• Lead and manage multiple IT projects concurrently, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.
• Oversee project managers and their teams, providing guidance, mentorship, and support to ensure project success.
• Monitor program progress, identify potential deviations, and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure adherence to established IT standards, methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid), and best practices.
• JIRA-based Project Management & Reporting:
• Utilize JIRA and other project management tools to manage program backlogs, track project progress, and report on key metrics.
• Create and maintain JIRA dashboards and reports to provide real-time visibility into program health, project status, and team performance to all stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Ensure consistency and accuracy of data within JIRA across all projects in the program.
• Stakeholder Management & Communication:
• Act as the primary point of contact for all program-related communication, providing regular updates to senior leadership, steering committees, and key stakeholders.
• Manage stakeholder expectations, proactively addressing concerns and resolving conflicts.
• Foster strong relationships with cross-functional teams, business units, vendors, and external partners.
• Prepare and present program status reports, dashboards, and executive summaries.
• Risk & Issue Management:
• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate program-level risks and issues.
• Develop contingency plans and escalation procedures to address critical challenges.
• Implement lessons learned processes to continuously improve program delivery.
• DevSecOps & Delivery Pipeline Oversight:
• Demonstrate familiarity with modern development and operational practices, including the principles of DevSecOps.
• Provide oversight and guidance on the implementation of CI/CD pipelines, ensuring security, automation, and continuous delivery are integrated throughout the program's projects.
• Collaborate with engineering and security teams to ensure secure coding practices and automated vulnerability scanning are part of the development lifecycle.
• Resource & Budget Management:
• Manage the overall program budget, tracking expenditures and ensuring financial discipline.
• Optimize resource utilization across the program, including internal teams and external vendors.
• Negotiate contracts and manage vendor relationships as needed.
• Quality & Governance:
• Establish and enforce program governance frameworks, policies, and procedures.
• Ensure quality assurance and control processes are integrated into all program activities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the program management function.

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience:
• 12+ years of progressive experience in IT with at least 5-7 years in a dedicated IT Program Manager or Senior Project Manager role, successfully delivering complex IT programs.
• Hands-on expertise with JIRA and other Atlassian products for project tracking, reporting, and dashboard creation.
• Proven experience managing programs encompassing diverse technologies (e.g., software development, cloud migration, cybersecurity, data analytics etc).
• Strong track record of leading and motivating cross-functional teams, including direct reports and matrixed resources.
• Experience working with both agile and waterfall methodologies; practical experience in an Agile/Scrum environment is highly desirable.
• Experience in a global delivery model or working with distributed teams is a plus.
• Experience in vendor management and contract negotiation.
• Technical Acumen:
• Extensive knowledge of using JIRA for complete project management
• Knowledge of CMMi best practices .
• Solid understanding of various IT domains (e.g., software development lifecycle, network infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data management).
• Familiarity with DevSecOps principles, CI/CD pipelines, and automation tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps).
• Familiarity with modern IT architectures and technologies (e.g., microservices, APIs, cloud platforms like AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Certifications (Highly Preferred):
• Program Management Professional (PgMP)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) Agilist or other Agile certifications
• Soft Skills:
• Exceptional leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to inspire and influence.
• Outstanding communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent stakeholder management and conflict resolution skills.
• High degree of emotional intelligence and adaptability.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and sometimes ambiguous environment.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to link IT initiatives to business value.

• Typically an office environment, but hybrid or remote work options may be applicable.
• May require occasional travel, both domestic and international, for stakeholder meetings or vendor engagements.
• May involve working extended hours to meet critical deadlines or manage international time zone differences.

Maruti Suzuki