Program Manager (For independent contractors)

The Program Manager is responsible for the governance and E2E program management of several streams of work (or portfolios) within the Flights Department. The Program Manager role will partner with the various teams within Flights Department to support, and proactively work with them, to facilitate the work occurring between them and other business units and centralized functions.

The Program Manager will drive the scoping of the project and eventually support the teams with the Business case creation. The Program Manager will also identify key requirements needed from cross-functional teams and eventually external vendors.

The Program Manager will ensure that the functional workload of the Flight Department is managed in a consistent manner, whilst working externally with the business units & central functions to build engagement and where needed governance over decisions needed for work to be signed off. The Program Manager will support the teams in identifying and managing the relevant dependencies in order to minimize the risks and the challenges.

First and foremost, the Program Manager will ensure that the teams roadmaps/plans focus on agreed business priorities, dependencies and strategies, and they deliver against the shared objectives and main activities with key milestones that have been agreed upon.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Lead independently:

• High complexity (strategic/critical priority) end-to-end (E2E) project

• Multiple medium complexity projects with global impact (cross-functional) from scoping to execution, analysis, recommendation and implementation

Responsible with limited to no supervision to define scope, kick-off, manage and execute every phase of complex department programs, specifically:

• Drive vision for initiative/program towards clear business objectives, scope, requirements & success criteria

• Create clear planning documents and roadmaps together with involved teams and departments including setup and maintenance of dependency management

• Regular tracking and reporting status and progress of all streams of work, highlighting where required, risk/issues to governance groups or team members

• Enables teams & leaders to make quality decisions and support in prioritization exercises

Stakeholder & Business Operations:

• Productively interacts with and manages senior stakeholders (up to VP level).

• With limited supervision, identifies opportunities to improve the impact & experience for our customers (internal or external), partners and our business, translating this into business cases.

• Collaborates with cross-functional team to identify & build action plans to improve the impact & experience for our customers, our business and our people (creating win-win).

• Work in partnership with BUs, Corporate & Business Functions leadership to ensure resources are allocated to the right work, within headcount and P&L budget.

• Lead best practice behaviours within their Department on Project Management methodology and behaviours.

• Strategic planning & Business Operations: Whilst this role does not own the strategy for the function, the Program Manager can be responsible for collating the information and business cases, working with leadership to define priorities and run business operations processes within the department.

Requirements of special knowledge / skills:

• Minimum 8–10 years of relevant experience

• Strong project management skills/experience including experience with a range of different methodologies and techniques. Preferably having a background in Agile Project management, PMI certification and / or LEAN

• Proven track record to independently lead high complexity (end-to-end) projects, drive multiple medium complexity projects and/or manage program portfolio of projects

• Have a solid business understanding, independently use quantitative and qualitative data to drive decision making

• Analytical skilled and mastering data handling and measuring success, ability to tell a clear story with data/insights

• Think holistically and be able to articulate long term vision for the project management craft and own programs

• Change management experience & mindset

• Strong interpersonal skills focused on collaboration. Building and maintaining lasting relationships and connections with diverse teams, across the organisation and outside

• Effectively communicate including large audiences

• Ability to influence and steer leadership, senior management and groups (up to Senior Director level). Can productively interact with VP level

• Ability to break up a complex problem into actionable and easy to understand solutions

• Able to function well within ambiguity and in a constantly changing environment

• Lead best practice behaviours within the department on Project Management methodology and behaviours

• Experience and proven track record to successfully manage people is a plus