Principal Tech Strategy & Program Leader

Stellarus; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 148,940 - 223,300; Full time

Job summary

Stellarus seeks a Technology Business Management Specialist, Principal to drive strategic planning and execution across IT Applications. You will lead complex programs, align budgets, and partner with Finance, HR, and leaders to advance platform and product operating models.

This role emphasizes executive engagement, governance, and measurable business outcomes. You will report to IT Applications leadership and influence across Product, Engineering, Operations, and external vendors.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Requires at least 10 years of prior relevant experience.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication and program/project management skills, including the ability to communicate effectively at an executive level.
• Ability to deal with highly confidential information and act as a liaison between leadership and internal/external stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize and manage work and trade-offs against critical project timelines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strategic thinker who is self-driven, detail-oriented, organized, and capable of managing multiple programs simultaneously.
• Thought leader and continuous learner who can drive innovation and continuous improvement.
• Excellent influence and engagement skills in building alignment and accountability without formal authority.
• Ability to build strong relationships and interact effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to work cooperatively and strategically with professional, technical, and administrative staff while integrating resources in a timely and organized manner.

Responsibilities

• Be responsible for planning and implementation of complex programs spanning multiple business areas, projects, and initiatives where analysis requires evaluation of intangible variance factors.
• Ensure strategic direction of programs is aligned to organizational goals and objectives.
• Facilitate the annual strategic planning process, including business planning, forecasting, roadmap alignment, investment prioritization, and budget planning.
• Work in conjunction with Finance partners to complete business planning and forecasting.
• Manage budget planning as part of the annual budget cycle.
• Serve as the primary liaison and integrator across business, Product, Engineering, Operations, Architecture, Finance, HR, external vendors, and the IT Applications leadership team to drive alignment, resolve dependencies, and advance strategic priorities.
• Represent the Vice President and IT Applications leadership team in internal and external meetings as appropriate, ensuring continuity of decisions, leadership alignment, and accurate representation of organizational priorities.
• Support IT Applications leadership in the management and implementation of strategic initiatives, including advancement of the Platform and Product operating model, operating model adoption, governance structures, decision rights, and cross-team engagement mechanisms.
• Drive the leadership operating cadence, including executive reviews, decision forums, escalation pathways, follow-up tracking, and accountability mechanisms to ensure work progresses against organizational priorities.
• Establish and manage executive governance processes, including leadership reviews, strategic planning forums, risk reviews, and decision-making bodies.
• Develop executive communications and executive-ready materials that support leadership decision-making, organizational alignment, stakeholder engagement, and major business initiatives.
• Identify emerging risks, delivery gaps, funding misalignments, stakeholder concerns, and operational friction; develop recommendations and drive timely leadership decisions.
• Partner with Finance, HR, and leadership stakeholders on workforce strategy, hiring plans, organizational design, succession planning, vendor strategy, and investment trade-offs.
• Establish and continuously improve dashboards, KPIs, reporting routines, and collaboration mechanisms that improve transparency, accountability, and operational performance.
• Design and facilitate leadership workshops, planning sessions, and organizational forums that accelerate alignment and execution.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Program management

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Stellarus seeks a Technology Business Management Specialist, Principal to drive strategic planning and execution across IT Applications. You will lead complex programs, align budgets, and partner with Finance, HR, and leaders to advance platform and product operating models.

This role emphasizes executive engagement, governance, and measurable business outcomes. You will report to IT Applications leadership and influence across Product, Engineering, Operations, and external vendors.