Director, Engineering Program Management

Adobe•San Jose, CA

1d•$171,900 - $326,800

About The Position

We are hiring a Director of Program Management and Operations to lead the execution of Search, Discovery, and Content AI's (SDC) most important initiatives and to own the operating foundation of the business. You will manage a team, partner closely with Product and Engineering leadership, and help ensure the organization is focused on the right priorities. This role has real ownership and impact, shaping not just what gets delivered, but how the organization operates and scales over time.

Requirements

A strong operator and people leader who brings judgment, empathy, a bias for action, and demonstrated ownership of outcomes.
10+ years of experience leading technical programs, business operations, or both within a product organization
A Bachelor's degree or relevant experience equivalent to a degree is required
Proven people management experience, ideally leading senior program managers or cross-functional teams
Comfort working closely with engineering teams on complex systems and platforms
Experience operating in a matrixed environment with multiple senior partners and stakeholders
A track record of delivering meaningful outcomes through influence and collaboration
Ability to bring clarity to ambiguous situations, communicate directly and thoughtfully, and help teams focus on what matters most.
Cares about building strong teams and creating an environment where people can do their best work.

Responsibilities

Lead and scale technical program management: Own execution across SDC's highest priority, cross-functional initiatives, including complex technical programs that span the broader organization across multiple geographies. Work with leaders to translate strategy into clear plans, align teams around outcomes, surface risks early, and drive decisions when tradeoffs are required. Bring clarity and momentum to work that would otherwise be slowed by ambiguity, competing priorities, or organizational complexity.
Build and lead a high-performing team: Manage and develop a team of senior and principal technical program managers. Set expectations for impact and ownership, coach individuals through complex challenges, and create clear growth paths for people at different stages of their careers. Play a key role in hiring and onboarding new talent, with an emphasis on developing internal candidates and building a strong leadership bench. Create a culture of accountability, trust, and continuous improvement.
Own the operating rhythm: Own the operating rhythm of the SDC business: planning and tracking work across quarters, partnering with Finance on headcount and investment decisions, managing headcount allocation, spot bonuses, and annual performance calibration, and ensuring leadership has clear insight into progress, risks, and dependencies. Design and maintain operating mechanisms, including planning cycles, reviews, and execution tracking, that are effective without being heavy.
Be a trusted partner to leadership: Act as a trusted partner to Product, Engineering, and business leaders. Help leaders see around corners, connect dots across teams, and raise issues early when alignment or execution is at risk. Design and facilitate leadership meetings, cross-functional workshops, and team sessions that move work forward, clarifying goals, guiding dialogue, and ensuring clear outcomes and follow-through. Prepare concise materials for leadership forums and decision reviews, and ensure decisions are translated into action across a widely dispersed group. Take initiative when new challenges surface without being told how.