Principal IT Program Manager & Product Owner

Spectraforce Technologies, Inc.; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Spectraforce Technologies, Inc. seeks a Principal IT Program Manager & Product Owner to lead multi-year technology programs from Oakland with occasional onsite visits.

This role bridges business stakeholders, technology teams, architecture, cybersecurity, operations, and executive leadership to deliver measurable business outcomes. The position owns product vision, roadmaps, funding, and delivery execution, driving modernization, cloud adoption, and lifecycle initiatives across IT products and

Qualifications

• 12+ years of technology program, portfolio, project, or product management experience.
• 8+ years leading large-scale enterprise technology initiatives.
• Proven experience managing complex, cross-functional programs with significant budgets and executive visibility.
• Experience serving as Product Owner, Product Manager, Program Manager, or Portfolio Manager.
• Demonstrated success leading digital transformation, infrastructure modernization, cloud migration, application modernization, or technology lifecycle management initiatives.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.
• Master's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain product vision, strategy, and long-term roadmap.
• Serve as Product Owner for strategic technology products and platforms.
• Develop and prioritize product backlogs based on business value, risk, compliance, and operational requirements.
• Translate business needs into product requirements, epics, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
• Drive product lifecycle management, including modernization, technical debt reduction, and technology refresh initiatives.
• Establish and monitor product KPIs, service metrics, and value realization measurements.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend strategic investments.
• Lead large-scale, cross-functional technology programs with enterprise-wide impact.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects and initiatives within an assigned portfolio.
• Develop multi-year strategic plans, investment roadmaps, and delivery schedules.
• Oversee program governance, issue escalation, risk management, and executive reporting.
• Ensure alignment of program objectives with enterprise and IT strategic goals.
• Track benefits realization and drive continuous improvement across the portfolio.
• Lead quarterly and annual planning activities.
• Develop and manage portfolio budgets, forecasts, and funding strategies.
• Perform resource planning across internal teams, contractors, vendors, and managed service providers.
• Monitor financial performance and ensure effective use of technology investments.
• Develop business cases and investment recommendations for executive review.
• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and service performance.
• Partner with business leaders, IT executives, architecture teams, and operational stakeholders.
• Present portfolio health, strategic recommendations, risks, and funding requirements to leadership.
• Facilitate decision-making and alignment across multiple organizations.
• Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders to ensure product and program success.
• Lead communication and change management activities for complex initiatives.
• Ensure successful delivery of technology solutions from concept through implementation and operational transition.
• Coordinate across product, engineering, cybersecurity, infrastructure, architecture, and operations teams.
• Remove organizational barriers and resolve complex program issues.
• Establish delivery standards, governance processes, and performance expectations.
• Drive Agile, Hybrid, and Waterfall delivery methodologies as appropriate.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to Program Managers, Project Managers, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and emerging leaders.
• Promote a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert across the organization.
• Lead strategic initiatives and special assignments requiring executive-level judgment.

Skills

Product management

Agile methodologies

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Leadership

Mentoring

Change management

Budget management

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

PMP

PMI-ACP

CSPO

SAFe POPM

SPC

ITIL Foundation

Job description

Principal IT Program Manager & Product Owner

12 Months

Oakland, CA (Resource will be remote but needs to be local for needed onsite visits. Can set the expectation of 1 day per week onsite)

** Local candidates only**

Position Summary:

The Principal IT Program Manager & Product Owner role is responsible for defining product strategy, managing complex multi-year technology programs, and ensuring delivery of business outcomes across a portfolio of IT products and services. This position serves as the bridge between business stakeholders, technology teams, architecture, cybersecurity, operations, and executive leadership.

The role owns product vision, roadmap development, strategic planning, portfolio governance, funding, prioritization, and delivery execution. The Principal IT Program Manager & Product Owner drives modernization initiatives, aligns technology investments with business objectives, and ensures products deliver measurable value, reliability, security, and operational excellence.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.
• Master's degree preferred.

Experience

• 12+ years of technology program, portfolio, project, or product management experience.
• 8+ years leading large-scale enterprise technology initiatives.
• Proven experience managing complex, cross-functional programs with significant budgets and executive visibility.
• Experience serving as Product Owner, Product Manager, Program Manager, or Portfolio Manager.
• Demonstrated success leading digital transformation, infrastructure modernization, cloud migration, application modernization, or technology lifecycle management initiatives.

Certifications (Preferred)

• PMP (Project Management Professional)
• PMI-ACP
• Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
• SAFe Product Manager/Product Owner (POPM)
• SAFe Program Consultant (SPC)
• ITIL Foundation or higher

Key Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Ownership

• Define and maintain product vision, strategy, and long-term roadmap.
• Serve as Product Owner for strategic technology products and platforms.
• Develop and prioritize product backlogs based on business value, risk, compliance, and operational requirements.
• Translate business needs into product requirements, epics, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
• Drive product lifecycle management, including modernization, technical debt reduction, and technology refresh initiatives.
• Establish and monitor product KPIs, service metrics, and value realization measurements.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend strategic investments.

Program & Portfolio Management

• Lead large-scale, cross-functional technology programs with enterprise-wide impact.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects and initiatives within an assigned portfolio.
• Develop multi-year strategic plans, investment roadmaps, and delivery schedules.
• Oversee program governance, issue escalation, risk management, and executive reporting.
• Ensure alignment of program objectives with enterprise and IT strategic goals.
• Track benefits realization and drive continuous improvement across the portfolio.
• Lead quarterly and annual planning activities.

Financial & Resource Management

• Develop and manage portfolio budgets, forecasts, and funding strategies.
• Perform resource planning across internal teams, contractors, vendors, and managed service providers.
• Monitor financial performance and ensure effective use of technology investments.
• Develop business cases and investment recommendations for executive review.
• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and service performance.

Stakeholder & Executive Engagement

• Partner with business leaders, IT executives, architecture teams, and operational stakeholders.
• Present portfolio health, strategic recommendations, risks, and funding requirements to leadership.
• Facilitate decision-making and alignment across multiple organizations.
• Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders to ensure product and program success.
• Lead communication and change management activities for complex initiatives.

Delivery Leadership

• Ensure successful delivery of technology solutions from concept through implementation and operational transition.
• Coordinate across product, engineering, cybersecurity, infrastructure, architecture, and operations teams.
• Remove organizational barriers and resolve complex program issues.
• Establish delivery standards, governance processes, and performance expectations.
• Drive Agile, Hybrid, and Waterfall delivery methodologies as appropriate.

Leadership & Mentoring

• Provide mentorship and guidance to Program Managers, Project Managers, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and emerging leaders.
• Promote a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert across the organization.
• Lead strategic initiatives and special assignments requiring executive-level judgment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Advanced understanding of product management and Agile methodologies.
• Expert knowledge of program and portfolio management principles.
• Strong financial planning, forecasting, and budget management capabilities.
• Exceptional executive communication and presentation skills.
• Strategic planning and roadmap development expertise.
• Strong stakeholder management and influence skills.
• Experience leading in a matrixed organization.
• Risk management, governance, and compliance expertise.
• Vendor and contract management experience.
• Ability to balance business priorities, operational requirements, and technology strategy.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change and drive adoption.

Key Deliverables

• Product Vision & Strategy
• Multi-Year Technology Roadmap
• Portfolio Investment Plan
• Product Backlog & Prioritization Framework
• Financial Forecasts & Budget Plans
• Executive Status Reports
• Benefits Realization Dashboard
• KPI and Service Performance Metrics
• Risk & Issue Management Plans
• Governance and Compliance Reporting
• Lifecycle Management Plans

Success Measures

• Delivery of strategic business outcomes
• Product adoption and customer satisfaction
• Portfolio financial performance
• On-time and on-budget program execution
• Reduction of technical debt and operational risk