Staff Technology Program Manager

CDK Global•Austin, TX

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

CDK Global is seeking a strategic, highly technical Staff Technical Program Manager to lead complex, enterprise-wide initiatives supporting the company’s modernization efforts and Agentic AI roadmap. The role leads platform programs, including MyInstall and AI-powered initiatives, and partners with engineering, product, architecture, and business leaders to deliver strategic outcomes. The position advances platform capabilities, improves customer installability, and operationalizes Agentic AI solutions in support of CDK’s business objectives. The successful candidate will lead programs from concept through delivery in a fast-paced, highly matrixed organization. They will align cross-functional teams, manage competing priorities, and ensure initiatives meet roadmap commitments, quality expectations, and measurable business outcomes. The role is hybrid, requiring a mix of days in CDK’s Austin, Texas office and remote work on remaining days; candidates must live within commuting distance of the office. Some travel may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Business, or Engineering.
10+ years of experience managing technical programs, projects, and priorities.
Proven experience leading and delivering Agentic AI initiatives, including coordinating cross-functional teams to develop, integrate, and operationalize AI agents that produce measurable business outcomes.
Understanding of project management tools such as JIRA, Confluence, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Office, and Visio.
Strong problem-solving skills, technical aptitude, and automotive experience.
Ability to think and act creatively and strategically.
Exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills, including presenting ideas to senior stakeholders.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, conflict-management, and time-management skills.
Strong estimation, scheduling, budget, and resource-allocation skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to negotiate with and persuade key decision-makers.
Ability to set clear expectations, manage team performance, and build high morale among team members.
Some travel may be required.

Nice To Haves

Project Management or Agile certification, such as PMP, PMI-ACP, SAFe, or CSP.
Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification.
Experience working in an agile software development environment.
Experience collaborating with offshore agile teams.
Strong understanding of technology stacks and product lifecycles.
Experience collaborating across business and product lines and organizational groups.
Ability to navigate ambiguity and competing priorities while leading large or complex initiatives.
Experience leading multiple technical programs across remote, cross-functional teams, meeting KPI metrics and adjusting programs as needed.
Experience building effective business processes for diverse teams.
Ability to partner with cross-functional teams in a highly matrixed and global environment.
Impeccable attention to detail and a strong focus on high-quality execution.
Ability to work with people across the organization, including senior leaders, individual contributors, and support staff.
Ability to translate ideas into clear, high-impact communications.
Ability to maintain good judgment in fast-paced, high-stress environments and triage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

Follow effective processes to optimize delivery within an agile/SAFe environment.
Synchronize portfolio planning, scoping, and execution to deliver projects on time and within budget, in accordance with roadmaps, quality gates, and performance KPIs.
Identify project goals, scope, resources, budget, dependencies, and risks; develop communication, change management, risk mitigation, and governance plans.
Execute and track projects against goals, timelines, quality gates, and performance KPIs.
Identify, escalate, and resolve conflicts.
Implement large, cross-team, multi-year programs and projects.
Manage competing priorities, define processes that improve execution precision, and drive programs to successful completion in a complex, fast-paced environment.
Champion accountability and consistent project management practices to drive business results.
Direct and be accountable for change management within the program domain.
Identify opportunities for continuous business process improvement, streamlining and standardizing workflows, communications, and resource efficiencies.
Conduct project initiation and closure activities, formalize and communicate acceptance and handover documentation, and complete post-implementation reviews.
Work with development leaders to define, collect, and analyze development team portfolio metrics for continuous improvement.
Communicate portfolio scope, roadmap alignment, priorities, and status to governance boards and stakeholders.
Identify and manage portfolio risks and propose mitigation plans.
Maintain awareness of industry trends, business conditions, and internal processes and practices to influence portfolio initiatives.
Mentor project managers on complex projects.
Coordinate and manage cross-functional dependencies across engineering, product, and business teams.
Lead post-project retrospectives and incorporate appropriate improvements into future projects.