Leader, SAFe Portfolio Execution & Governance

CNX

6d•Remote

About The Position

The Leader, SAFe Portfolio Execution & Governance, champions the operating rhythm of a global software engineering organization. This role drives portfolio-level Agile (SAFe) transformations, oversees portfolio execution, fiscal planning, executive operations, and contract/SOW management, while leading a high-impact team. The Leader acts as a force multiplier for senior engineering leadership, anticipating needs, closing loops, and protecting focus. The ideal candidate is a strategic, hands-on leader with strong business & financial acumen, impeccable judgment, high confidentiality, and a “do-anything” mindset.

Requirements

10+ years in program/portfolio management within software engineering or technology, including experience in SAFe portfolio management.
3+ years leading managers or leads.
Demonstrated success running SAFe/portfolio operations at scale (SPC or equivalent experience a plus).
Strong financial acumen: budgeting, forecasting, variance/headcount modeling.
Advanced Excel/Sheets (pivot tables, lookups/index-match, modeling); comfort with data visualization tools.
Experience using AI for drafting, analysis, automation, and reporting.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; executive-ready storytelling.
Proven discretion with highly confidential people data.
Experience owning program strategy, end-to-end delivery, and communicating results to senior leadership.
Ability to work effectively with tight deadlines in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
Acute business acumen and understanding of organizational issues and challenges.
Demonstrated experience managing the full lifecycle of contracts and Statements of Work (SOWs), including drafting, negotiation, execution, compliance, and vendor/stakeholder coordination.
Familiarity with legal, procurement, and compliance processes related to contract and SOW management in a technology or engineering environment.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail for maintaining accurate records and ensuring timely renewals, amendments, and deliverable tracking for contracts and SOWs

Nice To Haves

Change management certification or equivalent practical experience preferred.
SAFe Practice Consultant (SPC), Certified Release Train Engineer (RTE), Project Management Professional (PMP), and a risk/change management certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Orchestrate PI/quarterly planning, portfolio intake, dependency/risk management, and release governance across solutions.
Ensure clear OKRs, backlogs, and lean metrics; remove blockers and drive decisions.
Standardize definitions of done, intake, change control, and release readiness (lightweight, outcome-focused).
Manage the SAFe Portfolio Kanban workflow: Oversee the flow of epics and initiatives through the Portfolio Kanban system, ensuring transparency, prioritization, and alignment with strategic objectives. Facilitate Kanban reviews, track progress, and drive continuous improvement in portfolio delivery.
Lead annual/quarterly budgeting, forecasts, variance analysis, headcount planning, and investment cases. Partner with Finance to maintain accurate run-rates, allocations, and ROI narratives.
Run the executive cadence: staff meetings, QBRs, town halls, and leadership offsites. Track and drive completion of executive actions, cross-functional commitments, and escalations. Manage high-priority communications; maintain calendars, Workday tasks, and sensitive staffing workflows.
Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of contracts and Statements of Work (SOWs) for engineering initiatives. Collaborate with legal, procurement, and vendor management teams to draft, review, negotiate, and execute contracts and SOWs. Ensure compliance with company policies, manage renewals and amendments, and monitor deliverables and obligations. Maintain accurate records and documentation for all contract and SOW activities.
Lead a small reporting/ops team (finance, metrics, comms). Set goals, coach, and raise the bar—no micromanaging. Foster a collaborative team environment and empower team members.
Use data and metrics to determine improvements, including key process and procedure development for efficient planning, reporting, and control. Drive process improvements and resolve complex issues with initiative and sound judgment. Build playbooks and documentation that scale globally.
Deliver executive-ready dashboards (financials, portfolio health, risks) and org communications/town halls. Communicate effectively across platforms with remote stakeholders at multiple levels within the organization.
Assist in processes for hiring, terminations, promotions, and market increases with strict confidentiality and compliance.