Director, Program Management, Product Operations

D-Wave Quantum Inc.; Burnaby; On-site; CAD 198,000 - 369,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading quantum computing company in Burnaby seeks a Director of Program Management, Product Operations. This role involves overseeing project managers, managing customer-facing programs, and driving internal processes to ensure operational effectiveness. Candidates should possess a relevant degree and extensive experience in program management, with strong leadership skills. The position offers a competitive salary in a dynamic field.

Benefits

Company ownership

Competitive pay

Meaningful benefits

Qualifications

• 10+ years of program or project management experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Experience managing both customer-facing product operations and internal operational programs.
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of project managers.
• Manage customer-facing programs for product installations.
• Drive internal programs that improve product operations readiness.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Risk management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or Computer Science

MBA or equivalent advanced degree

Job description

Director, Program Management, Product Operations

D-Wave (NYSE: QBTS), D-Wave is a leader in the development and delivery of quantum computing systems, software, and services. We are the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computers, and the only company building both annealing and gate-model quantum computers. Our mission is to help customers realize the value of quantum, today. Our quantum computers — the world’s largest — feature QPUs with sub-second response times and can be deployed on-premises or accessed through our quantum cloud service, which offers 99.9% availability and uptime. More than 100 organizations trust D-Wave with their toughest computational challenges. With over 200 million problems submitted to our quantum systems to date, our customers apply our technology to address use cases spanning optimization, artificial intelligence, research and more. Learn more about realizing the value of quantum computing today and how we’re shaping the quantum-driven industrial and societal advancements of tomorrow: www.dwavequantum.com.

You can read more about our company and our innovations in the pages of The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Fast Company, MIT Technology Review, Forbes, Inc.Magazine, Wired and across many whitepapers.

At D-Wave, we’re helping customers realize the value of quantum computing today and are shaping the quantum-driven industrial and societal advancements of tomorrow.

About the role

The Director, Program Management, Product Operations is responsible for leading a team of project managers and overseeing both customer-facing and internal product operations programs. This includes managing product installations, upgrades, and maintenance activities with customers, driving internal readiness initiatives, process improvements, long-term planning, and improving and scaling the company’s on-call program. The Director will set a high bar for program delivery, foster a culture of operational excellence and accountability, and ensure strong cross-functional alignment to support customer and business objectives.

What you\'ll do

• Lead and develop a team of project managers: hiring, setting priorities, and coaching, to create a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Manage customer-facing programs, including product installations, upgrades, and maintenance activities, ensuring delivery meets quality, schedule, and customer satisfaction goals.
• Drive internal programs that improve product operations readiness, streamline processes, and support organizational scalability.
• Oversee and continuously improve the company’s on-call program, including:
• Establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and escalation pathways.
• Ensuring appropriate coverage models that balance responsiveness with employee sustainability.
• Defining success metrics and tracking performance (e.g., response times, resolution quality).
• Coordinating with internal teams to align on-call activities with incident management and customer needs.
• Driving continuous improvement in tools, processes, and communication for on-call effectiveness.
• Partner with Product Management, HW Engineering, Customer Support, Marketing, and Sales to coordinate planning and execution across both customer and internal initiatives.
• Establish and maintain schedules, milestones, and deliverables for multiple concurrent programs, holding teams accountable for execution.
• Proactively identify and manage risks and issues, ensuring timely resolution and minimal impact to outcomes.
• Deliver clear, consistent communication to stakeholders, including program status, risks, and executive-level reporting.
• Define and refine program management practices, ensuring efficiency, consistency, and repeatability across the organization.
• Contribute to strategic planning efforts, including resource forecasting, capacity planning, and product operations strategy.

About You

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent program management certification or experience.
• 10+ years of program or project management experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Experience managing both customer-facing product operations and internal operational or readiness programs.
• Demonstrated success building and leading teams, with the ability to develop talent and instill a culture of accountability and high performance.
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to build alignment and influence at all levels.
• Expertise in program planning, scheduling, risk management, and reporting.
• Excellent communication skills, with experience engaging executives, customers, and cross-functional teams.
• Background in a technology or product-focused environment.

A D-Waver\'s DNA

• We look at the future and say “why not”; we see possibilities where others see problems or routines. We show the way ahead and are committed to achieving ambitious goals.
• We practice straight talk and listen generously to each other with empathy. We value different opinions and points of views. We ensure that we connect outside as well as inside to learn from others and inspire each other.
• We hold ourselves accountable for delivering results. We make decisions & take responsibility so that we can act & support each other.
• As leaders we motivate & engage our teams to undertake beyond what they originally thought possible, by developing our teams & creating the conditions for people to grow and empower themselves through enabling & coaching.

Our Compensation Philosophy is Simple but Powerful

We believe providing D-Wavers with company ownership, competitive pay, and a range of meaningful benefits is the start of creating a culture where people want to give the best they’ve got — not because they’re simply making money, but because they’ve fallen in love with our vision, mission, values, and team.

During the interview process

During the interview process, your Recruiter will review our total rewards (base, equity, bonus, perks, benefit, culture) offerings. The final offer is determined by your proficiencies within this level.

Inclusion

We celebrate diverse perspectives to drive innovation in our pursuit. Our employees range from distinguished domain experts with decades of experience in their respective fields, to bright and motivated graduates eager to make their mark. Our diverse and innovative team will make you feel appreciated, supported and empower your career growth at D-Wave.

The Fine Print

No 3rd party candidates will be accepted

The policy is to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, local law.

The base pay range

The base pay range for this role is:

141,610 - 262,990 USD (Remote, United States)