Senior principal, tech PM

Northern Trust • Chicago, IL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Principal, Technical Program Manager is responsible for leading delivery and execution across a large, complex Corporate Applications Technology portfolio, including Finance, Risk & Compliance, Marketing, Human Resources, ServiceNow, and Enterprise Technology Tools. This role provides senior program leadership to ensure predictable execution of high-impact initiatives, strong stakeholder alignment, and disciplined risk and issue management across multiple domains. The individual will operate as a portfolio-level program leader, partnering closely with business and technology leadership to drive outcomes, improve delivery maturity, and shape team operating models and culture.

Requirements

• 12+ years of experience in technology program or project management, including leadership of large, complex initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional, enterprise-scale programs in a regulated environment.
• Strong experience in program governance, financial management, risk management, and executive reporting.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment across business and technology partners.
• Deep understanding of Agile and traditional delivery models and how to apply them effectively.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience.

Nice To Haves

• Background in financial services or other highly regulated industries.
• Prior responsibility spanning multiple functional portfolios, not a single application or product.
• Experience supporting portfolio management and investment governance processes.
• PMP, PgMP, SAFe, or similar certifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise-scale, multi-workstream programs with complex dependencies across platforms, teams, and regions.
• Own integrated program plans, milestones, dependencies, financials, and delivery outcomes.
• Ensure disciplined execution using the appropriate delivery approach (Agile, hybrid, waterfall), aligned to program risk and complexity.
• Drive transparency and delivery predictability through strong planning, tracking, and reporting.
• Act as a primary program interface for senior business and technology partners.
• Lead executive and senior-level governance forums, including steering committees and delivery reviews.
• Provide clear, concise communication on progress, risks, decisions, and trade-offs.
• Proactively identify and manage program-level risks, issues, and cross-initiative dependencies.
• Drive timely escalation and resolution in alignment with enterprise risk and control expectations.
• Partner with architecture, security, risk, and compliance teams to ensure delivery meets required standards.
• Support portfolio planning, prioritization, and capacity management across Corporate Applications.
• Contribute to demand intake, investment governance, and roadmap alignment across functional areas.
• Track and communicate delivery health, financials, and capacity at a portfolio level.
• Provide leadership and direction to program and project management resources across the portfolio.
• Establish clear roles, operating rhythms, and accountability models across delivery teams.
• Foster a culture of execution discipline, ownership, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Coach and mentor delivery leaders, contributing to overall program management maturity within Corporate Applications Technology.

Benefits

• retirement benefits (401k and pension)
• health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability)
• paid time off
• parental and caregiver leave
• life & accident insurance
• other voluntary and well-being benefits
• discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component

What This Job Offers

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