ADVANCED PROGRAM MANAGER

AI Enablement Program Leader

We are looking for a people / process / technology leader, able to drive change in a large IT organization. This role will initially manage two projects to implement AI technologies, and support the overall AI Enablement program at Kroger. Subsequent opportunities will involve large enterprise-wide program leadership.

Responsible for the execution of large projects / programs across the company. Lead and direct the work of assigned resources. Provide leadership and guidance to cross-functional teams. Apply project management principles and frameworks to guide and serve teams that deliver technology solutions. Partner to support agile and product centric ways of working. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

Responsibilities

Deliver program management responsibilities using appropriate project management methods and tools whether predictive (plan-driven) approaches or adaptive (iterative / agile) approaches.

Execute programs within accepted disciplines using leading enterprise tools (planning, measuring, and controlling).

Promote and demonstrate collaboration, team accountability and transparency.

Demonstrate expert ability to direct work when priorities shift, facilitate issue resolution, and lead / refine communications.

Provide coaching and mentoring for Project Managers and Program Managers.

Build relationships and partnerships with Engineering, Agile Delivery, Product, Portfolio, Business and 3rd party Application Vendors across assigned domains while leading strategic programs.

Collaborate to create strategy to implement and ensure adoption of Kroger's leading practices.

Partner with key stakeholders in Engineering, Agile Delivery, Product, Portfolio and Business for program definition and execution; to develop resource plan for program execution; and to coordinate creation and definition of 3rd party contract(s).

Partner with Product Management to encourage synergy and alignment in delivery, provide clarity, and foster collaboration with stakeholders in a consistent way.

Facilitate engagement of teams for quality, compliance, and security leading practices.

Lead and direct the work of Project Managers, Program Managers, and assigned resources to strategically address critical and / or complex program(s) / solution(s) / Product Group(s), in partnership with Engineering, Agile Delivery, Product, Business and 3rd party Application Vendors; and effectively leads KTD large scale organizational change initiatives.

Participate in strategic program planning.

Serve as advisor and participates in planning to assess needs and make recommendations on staffing, team structure, forecasting, and communication planning; and oversees team onboarding to program assignments.

Share information with peers and others in the project / program community; leads practices in COE meetings; and participates in special projects.

Lead and participate in sensitive / confidential initiatives using discretion.

Participate in candidate review / recommendation; and ensures PMO leading practices are used by contracted Project Managers and Program Managers in Programs.

Ensure that organizational change impacts are considered and required resources are included in planning.

Partner with Portfolio team to drive consistency in contract execution; and manages the integration of vendor tasks.

Monitor and manage budget / capacity plan variances; and partners with Portfolio team to build, review and adjust forecasts.

Demonstrate organizational awareness, business acumen, and a cohesive, broad view to identify inconsistencies, recognize critical enablers and delivery interdependencies in order to raise awareness and drive conversations.

Create and communicate data-driven reporting to stakeholders to highlight progress and readiness for delivery / rollout; recommends and strategizes plan adjustments; and implements plan changes based on stakeholder alignment.

Demonstrate ability to apply knowledge and efficacy in multiple domains; and identifies, enables and facilitates cross-domain connections.

Document issues, risks, decisions and leads team to develop mitigations and escalations.

Travel to offsite locations as needed.

Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Qualifications

Minimum :

• 4+ years of experience in leadership position delivering large and / or complex projects
• Advanced problem solving and organizational skills
• Expertise and experience in delivering larger and / or complex programs to meet organization objective in a program management capacity with Agile teams
• Advanced ability in team motivation and delegation
• Advanced communication, negotiation and presentation skills to effectively communicate information and influence within the organization
• Advanced knowledge of project management, program management, and portfolio concepts, practices, and procedures and technology / project life cycle
• PMP Certification or Project / Program Management certification equivalent or willingness to obtain

Desired :