Associate Vice President - Program Manager

Diageo; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 3,000,000 - 5,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Diageo, Bangalore, is seeking a seasoned Program & Transition Lead to own end-to-end delivery for large-scale transformations. You will drive readiness across people, process, and technology, manage governance with senior stakeholders and coordinate cutover activities.

The role demands leadership across cross-functional teams and a proven track record in delivering complex programs. You will work in a global environment with opportunities to influence business outcomes, manage risk, and ensure

Qualifications

• 15+ years of meaningful experience leading complex cross-functional transformations.
• Proven ability to manage end-to-end program delivery including scope, schedule, budget, risks and dependencies.
• PMP/PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent; Agile/Scrum certs (PSM/CSM/SAFe) beneficial.

Responsibilities

• End-to-End Program & Transition Delivery: own delivery against scope, schedule, budget and milestones; orchestrate dependencies and ensure end-to-end outcomes.
• Transition & Operational Readiness: drive integrated readiness across people, process, tech, knowledge and controls; ensure readiness criteria are evidenced.
• Governance & Leadership: establish program governance, steering committees and decision forums with clear visibility of health and risks.
• Customer & Change Coordination: align sponsors, leaders, operations and tech; drive change management and adoption.
• Cutover & Go-Live: coordinate integrated cutover and launch; ensure readiness criteria are met and issues managed.
• Stabilization, Warranty & Handover: lead hypercare, stabilization and handover to operations.
• Business Outcomes & Benefits: track outcomes against approved measures and drive formal closure.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Change management

Job description

About the Function

Global Business Operations keeps our business moving, connecting markets, streamlining processes and keeping everything running smoothly at scale. With teams across Bangalore, Budapest, Bogotá, Gurugram, and Manila, GBO delivers the essential services that support our day-to-day performance, from finance to operations and beyond. It’s a truly global environment, where collaboration across time zones and cultures is part of everyday life. You’ll gain exposure to different markets, build skills for the future and develop a broad understanding of how a business operates at scale. It’s a great place to learn, grow and see the bigger picture.

About the role

1. End-to-End Program & Transition Delivery Own delivery against agreed scope, outcomes, schedule, budget and landmarks. Translate the reason and strategic objectives into an integrated delivery and transition plan. Drive execution from initiation and design through build, deployment, stabilization and closure. Maintain overall accountability for delivery health and proactively intervene where outcomes are at risk. Orchestrate dependencies across process, technology, data, operations, infrastructure, change, risk and controls. Establish clear achievements, critical paths, dependencies, owners and decision points. Ensure individual workstreams collectively deliver the intended end-to-end business outcome. Proactively identify and manage program and transition risks, issues, assumptions and dependencies. Drive mitigation and resolution with clear accountable owners.
2. Transition & Operational Readiness Own the integrated readiness framework across people, process, technology, knowledge and controls. Drive knowledge transfer, resource onboarding, training and business simulation readiness. Coordinate process documentation, technology/infrastructure readiness, testing, access, controls and BCP requirements. Ensure readiness criteria are evidenced and critical gaps are resolved ahead of launch.
3. Governance & Leadership Establish effective program governance, RACI, Steering Committee and decision forums. Drive readiness for toll‑gate and governance reviews. Ensure decisions, actions and issues happen at the right level and time. Provide leadership with clear, concise visibility of delivery health, landmarks, readiness, risks, dependencies and decisions required. Maintain adherence to agreed project methodology and governance requirements.
4. Customer & Change Coordination Create alignment across business sponsors, functional leaders, operations, technology teams and enabling functions. Partner with Change Management to integrate customer engagement, communications, training and adoption into the overall program. Drive timely customer decisions required to maintain delivery momentum.
5. Cutover & Go‑Live Own and coordinate the integrated cutover and launch plan. Ensure critical business, technology and operational readiness criteria are achieved. Facilitate launch readiness assessments and support Steering Committee decision making. Coordinate cross‑functional execution during cutover and deployment. Ensure effective issue and issue‑management mechanisms are in place during release.
6. Stabilization, Warranty & Operational Handover Lead delivery through hypercare, stabilization and warranty. Monitor operational and process performance against agreed measures. Ensure business stabilization criteria are achieved before transition closure. Complete structured handover to operations and secure appropriate operational sign‑off.
7. Business Outcomes & Benefits Keep delivery anchored to the approved reason and intended outcomes. Track delivery against agreed business, operational and financial measures. Ensure the program delivers measurable outcomes rather than simply completing project activities. Support validation of benefits and performance against the reason. Drive formal outcome sign‑off, lessons learned and program closure.

Experience / skills required

15+ years of meaningful experience, with significant experience leading complex, cross‑functional transformation, transition or technology‑enabled programs. Tried ownership of end‑to‑end program delivery across scope, schedule, budget, risks, dependencies, governance and business outcomes. Demonstrated experience orchestrating multiple workstreams across business, process, technology, data, people/change and operations. Strong experience handling business readiness, knowledge transfer, testing, cutover, go‑live, hypercare, stabilization and operational handover. Tried ability to operate with senior leadership and Steering Committees, influence cross‑functional stakeholders, manage ambiguity and drive decisions and accountability PMP, PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent program/project management certification Agile/Scrum certification such as PSM, CSM, SAFe Prosci / Change Management certification beneficial for roles with significant people/change complexity.

Working with us

Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you, so that you’re supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.

We recognise and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package including:

Our purpose is crafting iconic drinks chosen for life’s moments. And it’s our people, with their different experiences, perspectives and talents, who make that possible. We value diversity in its broadest sense and want everyone to feel they can belong, give and strive for their personal best. You’ll work alongside people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives — challenging, supporting and learning from one another as one outstanding team. Together, we’re constantly learning and improving, combining the strength of our people, capabilities and iconic brands to improve, grow and win. Wherever you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to give an impact and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more.

Ready to bring your best? This could be your opportunity. If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you gain this information when you submit your application.

Worker Type :Regular Primary Location:Bangalore Karle Town SEZ Additional Locations :

Job Posting Start Date : 2026-10-20

With more than 200 brands sold in over 180countries, we are home to a diverse portfolio of drinks enjoyed around the world. Every day, our talented colleagues bring creativity, expertise and passion to the brands people know and love. From established favourites to exciting new launches, the brands we build are shaped by culture, connected to local communities and made for life’s moments. By understanding our consumers and building strong, trusted relationships with our customers, we help our brands remain relevant, distinctive, and accessible. Our founders, including Arthur Guinness, John Walker and Charles Tanqueray, were visionary entrepreneurs whose ambition and ingenuity helped shape the drinks industry. Today, that pioneering spirit lives on through our people.

Join us and you’ll work alongside talented colleagues from around the world, bringing together different perspectives, experiences and specialist skills. Together, you’ll challenge convention, explore new possibilities and help shape a more inclusive and sustainable future. You’ll be empowered to learn, grow, thrive, and make a lasting impact.

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