IT Agile Program Manager - Corporate & ERP Systems

Ahold Delhaize USA; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 188,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking an Agile RTE & Program Manager II to oversee complex IT programs, manage risks, and drive Agile transformation. This role requires a blend of project management expertise and Agile coaching skills, ensuring successful delivery of projects while fostering collaboration and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in both Agile and Waterfall methodologies, with a focus on financial management and stakeholder communication. Join a dynamic team that values diversity and supports professional growth.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in project/program management in waterfall and 5+ years on Agile projects as RTE.
• Knowledge of Waterfall and Agile methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex Agile and Waterfall programs of $20M or less.
• Develop plans for resource allocation, timelines, and budgets.
• Coach, guide, and mentor project managers and Scrum Masters.

Skills

Agile processes

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Financial acumen

Education

Master's degree in computer science

MBA or advanced business degree

Tools

Jira

Job description

Address: USA-IL-Chicago-300 South Riverside Plaza

Store Code: Office of CIO - Project Management (5145438)

Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands, which includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands - Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. Our associates support the brands with a wide range of services, including Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Commercial, Digital and E-commerce, Technology and more.

The Agile RTE & Program Manager II - IT Agile PMO role will manage waterfall, Agile and hybrid programs. They have responsibility for financial management, scope management, risk management, dependency management, stakeholder management, and communication with executive leadership for their programs / ARTs. The role ensures execution of complex IT programs including full lifecycle execution, risk mitigation, and communication of progress to all major stakeholders. They may lead a small team of internal and external project managers / scrum masters. This role plays a crucial role in the Agile transformation, coaching leaders, teams, and Scrum Masters in Agile processes and mindsets. The ability to pivot between program manager and RTE roles and work in bi-modal fashion is essential.

Our flexible/hybrid work schedule includes 3 in-person days at one of our core locations and 2 remote days. Our core office locations include Salisbury, NC; Quincy, MA; Chicago, IL; Carlisle, PA; and Scarborough, ME.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Actively manage and deliver complex Agile and Waterfall programs of $20M or less while managing risks and issues to minimize scope, budget, and schedule impacts.
2. Partner with finance, project teams, and value stream owners to ensure all financial cadences (e.g., quarterly budgeting cycles, month-end closings, etc.) are supported by and aligned to portfolio financials.
3. Ensure compliance with project delivery methods, tools, frameworks, and IT controls.
4. Develop plans for resource allocation, timelines, and budgets to create an overall project plan.
5. Collaborate with delivery teams and project managers of related projects to map and plan dependencies.
6. Outline and define clear deliverables, roles, and responsibilities for team members to maintain clarity, through the creation of a project charter.
7. Develop blueprints and roadmaps to manage risks and uncertainties associated with launching new solutions.
8. Synthesize and implement technological projects tailored to organizational needs.
9. Report progress, risk mitigation, and updates on resource, timeline, and budget plans to stakeholders.
10. Deliver projects meeting the expectations of IT and business stakeholders.
11. Run periodic meetings to monitor progress, ensuring KPIs are met and procedures followed (e.g., SLAs, timelines, budgets, sourcing, vendor onboarding).
12. Create and maintain project dashboards for transparent communication and operational improvement.
13. Coordinate with other program and project managers to manage dependencies and interdependencies.
14. Manage cross-project tasks for program delivery.
15. Collaborate with solution teams to ensure adherence to release management practices.
16. Hold solution teams accountable for deployment and hypercare plans.
17. Assist in Go/No-Go sign-offs and CAB/TAB approvals.
18. Manage program-level governance and stakeholder expectations.
19. Oversee risk management, including mitigation and resolution.
20. Lead waterfall programs and support Agile transformation initiatives.
21. Facilitate SAFe Lean-Agile processes and ART execution.
22. Facilitate ART events (e.g., PI Planning, ceremonies) and support team value delivery.
23. Drive continuous improvement and collaboration among ARTs.
24. Coach, guide, and mentor project managers and Scrum Masters.
25. Mentor and coach Business Owners, Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and teams to foster an Agile mindset and continuous improvement.
26. Support Scrum of Scrums for visibility and impediment resolution.
27. Assist Product Management and Agile Teams in prioritization and sizing.
28. Manage dependencies across ARTs and collaborate with other RTEs/Program Managers.
29. Hold Product Management accountable for maintaining a healthy backlog.
30. Oversee financial, risk, and dependency management for Agile Teams.
31. PMO Maturity, Process & Tools:
    • Contribute to process improvements and best practices across the PMO.
    • Drive transformation of waterfall projects to Agile.
    • Ensure adherence to PMLC and Agile processes.
    • Ensure proper use of Clarity and Jira tools.
    • Configure SAFe to organizational needs and document practices.
32. Keep the Portfolio Lead informed of progress, risks, issues, and dependencies, seeking help when needed.
33. Ensure operational stability of a 24/7/365 grocery retail environment by supporting deployments during off-hours, weekends, and holidays.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in computer science, Business, or Technical field; equivalent certifications/experience considered.
• 7+ years in project/program management in waterfall and 5+ years on Agile projects as RTE.
• Knowledge of Waterfall and Agile methodologies.
• Experience with PPM and Agile tools (Jira).
• Understanding of enterprise software development lifecycle and ability to apply in a dynamic environment.
• Data-driven decision-making skills.
• Leadership skills to guide teams through ambiguity.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to build credibility with senior executives and technical/non-technical teams.
• Financial acumen and understanding of financial indicators.
• Effective communication skills.
• Collaborative mindset and experience in servant leadership.
• Key Skills: Agile processes, SAFe framework, metrics, Agile Release Train implementation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA or advanced business degree.
• Agile / SAFe certification.
• Experience managing Agile, SAFe, Scrum teams, lean teams.
• Retail experience is a plus.

Salary Range: varies by location, e.g., ME/NC/PA/SC: $108,880 - $163,320; IL/MA/MD: $125,200 - $187,800

#LI-Hybrid #LI-NG1

At Ahold Delhaize USA, we value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We support total wellness and foster a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and continuous learning. We invest in our people for personal and professional growth.