(USA) Director, Program Management

Walmart • Bentonville, AR

9d • $90,000 - $234,000

About The Position

Walmart Data Ventures is seeking a seasoned Director, Program Management to lead and scale enterprise Portfolio & Initiative Governance across a growing portfolio. In this pivotal role, you will serve as the operational backbone ensuring Data Ventures’ strategic initiatives are executed with clarity, transparency, and accountability. You will provide a structured, portfolio-level view of delivery health, cross-functional dependencies, resource tradeoffs, and risk exposure, enabling leadership to make confident, timely decisions. This leader partners across multiple stakeholder groups including Product, Engineering, Data, GTM, Commercial, Marketing, and Finance. Your mandate is to ensure strategic priorities translate into disciplined execution through structured governance, rigorous planning, and a single version of the truth. Data Ventures exists to unlock the full value of Walmart’s data by building and commercializing data products that empower merchants and suppliers to make better, faster decisions while creating high-margin, multi-year revenue streams. The Business Program Management function ensures we operate with structured rigor while maintaining speed and agility. What you'll do... Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Governance Own and continuously evolve the enterprise Portfolio & Initiative Governance framework across Data Ventures. Build and maintain a comprehensive portfolio view across all major initiatives Align portfolio objectives with segment and enterprise strategic priorities Lead monthly portfolio review forums and executive-level reporting Implement structured governance to ensure readiness, risk mitigation, and stakeholder inclusion Surface capacity constraints, cross-functional dependencies, and tradeoffs early Initiative Execution Rigor Institutionalize disciplined execution frameworks across discovery, build, and launch phases. Standardize initiative intake, prioritization, and approval workflows Define milestone checkpoints and exit criteria for strategic initiatives Drive cross-functional engagement across Product, Engineering, Ops, Marketing, Sales, Support, Strategy, and Finance Monitor initiative health, risk indicators, and adherence to planning commitments Facilitate reallocation discussions when tradeoffs are required Success means initiatives move forward with engagement, alignment, and no late-stage surprises. Enterprise Planning & OKR Alignment Lead structured planning processes in partnership with leadership. Drive quarterly planning cycles and roadmap alignment Ensure OKRs tie directly to portfolio priorities Provide visibility into resource allocation across initiatives Create data-backed prioritization models to inform investment decisions Align capacity planning with strategic growth objectives You will ensure strategy translates into executable plans with measurable outcomes. Executive Visibility & Decision Support Serve as the single source of truth for initiative and portfolio health. Build and maintain executive-ready dashboards integrating Jira and portfolio tools Translate data into clear narratives outlining status, risk, tradeoffs, and recommendations Provide structured reporting into forums Enable faster, more confident leadership decisions This role elevates transparency, predictability, and accountability across the organization. Cross-Functional Alignment at Scale Cultivate strong, trust-based relationships across stakeholder groups. Facilitate structured cross-functional forums Manage competing priorities diplomatically Align teams around shared objectives Reduce friction across teams by clarifying roles, responsibilities, and decision rights You will act as the connective tissue across DV’s portfolio. People Leadership & Talent Development Lead, mentor, and scale a high-performing Program Management team. Establish clear performance expectations and development pathways Provide in-the-moment feedback and coaching Build succession depth and scalable team structure Promote a culture of accountability, clarity, and continuous improvement What You’ll Bring... Portfolio & Governance Expertise 5+ years in program management, portfolio operations, or product operations Experience governing complex portfolios in SaaS, analytics, or data organizations Demonstrated ability to design and scale portfolio governance frameworks Experience leading enterprise planning cycles (LRP, AOP, quarterly planning) Strategic & Analytical Rigor Strong prioritization and resource allocation discipline Experience building executive dashboards and performance KPIs Ability to connect initiative health to financial and strategic outcomes Comfort operating in high-growth, high-visibility environments Cross-Functional Leadership Track record of influencing across stakeholder groups Ability to manage ambiguity and competing priorities without direct authority Strong facilitation and executive communication skills People Leadership Proven experience building and mentoring program management teams Experience operating in matrixed, technology-first environments You’ll Sweep Us Off Our Feet If You… Have stood up portfolio governance in a scaling SaaS or data business Bring calm and clarity to ambiguous, high-pressure environments Are known for preventing delivery surprises before they escalate Operate with both strategic foresight and operational precision Have a reputation for creating structure without slowing innovation

Requirements

• 5+ years in program management, portfolio operations, or product operations
• Experience governing complex portfolios in SaaS, analytics, or data organizations
• Demonstrated ability to design and scale portfolio governance frameworks
• Experience leading enterprise planning cycles (LRP, AOP, quarterly planning)
• Strong prioritization and resource allocation discipline
• Experience building executive dashboards and performance KPIs
• Ability to connect initiative health to financial and strategic outcomes
• Comfort operating in high-growth, high-visibility environments
• Track record of influencing across stakeholder groups
• Ability to manage ambiguity and competing priorities without direct authority
• Strong facilitation and executive communication skills
• Proven experience building and mentoring program management teams
• Experience operating in matrixed, technology-first environments
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or related field
• 5 + years of experience in program management, portfolio governance, or business operations
• 5+ years of people leadership experience
• Experience supporting enterprise strategic planning cycles
• Strong executive communication and reporting capability

Nice To Haves

• Have stood up portfolio governance in a scaling SaaS or data business
• Bring calm and clarity to ambiguous, high-pressure environments
• Are known for preventing delivery surprises before they escalate
• Operate with both strategic foresight and operational precision
• Have a reputation for creating structure without slowing innovation
• 10+ years of experience in program management, portfolio governance, or business operations
• Master's degree in Business Administration, Program Management, or a related field
• PMP, PgMP, and/or CSM (Certified ScrumMaster) certification
• Familiarity with Walmart's internal systems, planning processes, and business units
• Experience leveraging Gen AI tools to accelerate analysis, reporting, and decision support

Responsibilities

• Own and continuously evolve the enterprise Portfolio & Initiative Governance framework across Data Ventures.
• Build and maintain a comprehensive portfolio view across all major initiatives
• Align portfolio objectives with segment and enterprise strategic priorities
• Lead monthly portfolio review forums and executive-level reporting
• Implement structured governance to ensure readiness, risk mitigation, and stakeholder inclusion
• Surface capacity constraints, cross-functional dependencies, and tradeoffs early
• Institutionalize disciplined execution frameworks across discovery, build, and launch phases.
• Standardize initiative intake, prioritization, and approval workflows
• Define milestone checkpoints and exit criteria for strategic initiatives
• Drive cross-functional engagement across Product, Engineering, Ops, Marketing, Sales, Support, Strategy, and Finance
• Monitor initiative health, risk indicators, and adherence to planning commitments
• Facilitate reallocation discussions when tradeoffs are required
• Lead structured planning processes in partnership with leadership.
• Drive quarterly planning cycles and roadmap alignment
• Ensure OKRs tie directly to portfolio priorities
• Provide visibility into resource allocation across initiatives
• Create data-backed prioritization models to inform investment decisions
• Align capacity planning with strategic growth objectives
• Serve as the single source of truth for initiative and portfolio health.
• Build and maintain executive-ready dashboards integrating Jira and portfolio tools
• Translate data into clear narratives outlining status, risk, tradeoffs, and recommendations
• Provide structured reporting into forums
• Enable faster, more confident leadership decisions
• Cultivate strong, trust-based relationships across stakeholder groups.
• Facilitate structured cross-functional forums
• Manage competing priorities diplomatically
• Align teams around shared objectives
• Reduce friction across teams by clarifying roles, responsibilities, and decision rights
• Lead, mentor, and scale a high-performing Program Management team.
• Establish clear performance expectations and development pathways
• Provide in-the-moment feedback and coaching
• Build succession depth and scalable team structure
• Promote a culture of accountability, clarity, and continuous improvement

Benefits

• At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet.
• Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage.
• Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance.
• Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting.
• Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more.
• You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes.
• Live Better U is a Walmart-paid education benefit program for full-time and part-time associates in Walmart and Sam's Club facilities. Programs range from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, including English Language Learning and short-form certificates. Tuition, books, and fees are completely paid for by Walmart.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director