Lead Technical Program Manager – Enterprise Data

Northwestern Mutual

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

About the Job: As a Lead Technical Program Manager, you will plan, coordinate, and actively manage the data delivery plans for complex, cross-functional technical solutions that span multiple technical products. You will be responsible for managing the end-to-end roadmap, ensuring all necessary changes to technical products are executed in support of initiative outcomes. In this role, you will play a key role in overseeing the development and optimization of data pipelines and integrating AI capabilities to enhance data-driven decision-making across the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Minimum 6 years of professional experience, with at least five years of project management within technology and/or business functions.
• Demonstrated experience with program management methodologies and governance, with a strong emphasis on managing data dependencies and sequencing.
• Proficiency in project management methodologies and SDLC, with working knowledge of project management/agile tools.
• Strong “influence without authority” management skills.
• Deep understanding of software development, testing, and implementation, as well as technical concepts related to data management and AI.
• Exposure to managing data pipelines and integrating AI tools to enhance data processing and analytics capabilities.
• Ability to work closely with engineers, product managers, and business leaders, fostering collaboration and alignment.
• Experience managing large-scale, cross-functional initiatives using various delivery methodologies (e.g., waterfall, agile, lean, scrum).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on identifying and resolving complex data-related issues.
• Intellectual curiosity and a desire to delve into details, learn, ask questions, and become the "go-to expert" on data-related concepts and topics.
• Proven ability to lead highly visible multidisciplinary project teams or initiatives, providing thought leadership and strategic direction.
• Capability to solve unique problems with broad impact on the business, requiring conceptual and innovative thinking to develop solutions.
• Ability to impact the direction and resource allocation for programs, projects, or services, working within general department policies and industry guidelines.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain difficult or sensitive information and build consensus across diverse teams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in enterprise data management, with a focus on upstream data integration and delivery.
• Familiarity with data governance practices and data quality management.
• Understanding of cloud-based data platforms and AI tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead and align one or more large, complex initiatives consisting of multiple efforts, with a focus on data delivery.
• Establish strong connections across teams and work streams to identify and facilitate interdependencies and establish sequencing.
• Create a cohesive, unified plan to achieve program objectives, ensuring alignment with the interim and target state enterprise data strategy.
• Oversee the development and optimization of data pipelines, ensuring journey towards target state and support of analytics and AI initiatives.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate program risks and issues, proactively removing impediments to ensure smooth project execution.
• Fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees