Principal IT Program Manager & Product Owner 12 Months Oakland, CA (Resource will be remote but needs to be local for needed onsite visits. Can set the expectation of 1 day per week onsite) ** Local candidates only**
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
Applicant Notices & Disclaimers
For information on benefits, equal opportunity employment, and location-specific applicant notices, click here
At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws. This position's pay range is $70.00/hr - $80.00/hr.
