Principal Product Operations Lead (PDLC)

Qualtrics • Seattle, WA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

This Product Operations team member will play a critical role to run, govern, and continuously optimize the end-to-end Product Development Lifecycle (PDLC) at Qualtrics. In this high-impact role, you will bridge the gap between product strategy and execution—ensuring every stage, from Discovery to Maturation is efficient, predictable, and high-quality. As the primary champion for operational excellence, you will eliminate friction, facilitate strategic decision-making and transparency, and empower our product teams to deliver world-class innovation at speed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree AND 10+ years of work experience in business operations, program management, process improvement OR equivalent experience, including;
• 5+ years working in a SaaS Product, Tech and/or Engineering organization
• Demonstrable experience running enterprise-level programs.
• Experience in effectively engaging, consulting, and informing stakeholders at all levels, ensuring alignment and buy-in.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience using product management tools to create and maintain prioritized product roadmaps and portfolios.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred previous experience managing a Product/Software Development LIfe-Cycle, including experience implementing stage-gates at an enterprise scale.

Responsibilities

• End-to-end Program Ownership: You will be the SME and owner of the PDLC “program” - ensuring that high-quality information is surfaced to make strategic decisions about the innovations we invest in and ensure they are prepared for a successful launch.
• Manage Lean Governance: Manage lean governance and stage-gate reviews to drive fast, high-quality decision-making. Ensure teams are prepared to meet gate criteria and maintain rigorous delivery standards.
• Roadmap & Prioritization: Support Product Leaders by maintaining a comprehensive prioritized product roadmap. Provide executive-level reporting on roadmap progress, in-quarter capacity health, and key delivery milestones.
• Cross-Functional Orchestration: Lead regular syncs and planning sessions across departments to manage interdependencies, resolve blockers, and ensure all teams and key launch organizations are moving in sync.
• Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify risks in the development cycle, such as scope creep, technical debt, resource gaps, or readiness of key launch organization. Partner with teams to develop mitigation strategies before they impact the launch date.
• Ongoing Process Optimization & Metrics: Utilize process mining and quantitative data to identify bottlenecks, waste, and variation in the PDLC; lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance flow, speed, and quality.

Benefits

• Experience Bonus: Qualtrics offers US employees an annual $1,800 “experience bonus” to provide an experience they might not otherwise have—attend a sporting event or concert, travel somewhere new, or even support a nonprofit or infuse funds into a small business in your area.
• Learning and Development: All team members are encouraged to devote 10% of their time to personal learning and development
• The opportunity to work with a diverse range of influential brands.
• medical, dental, vision, life and disability, 401(k) with match, paid time off, a wellness reimbursement, mental health benefits, and an experience bonus.

What This Job Offers

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