VP, Portfolio and Program Delivery
About The Position
Happen Bank is seeking a VP, Portfolio and Program Delivery to lead the team that turns Product and Engineering strategy into shipped outcomes. The role leads Portfolio and Technical Program Managers who enable product and feature delivery across the company and is accountable for reliability, predictability, and transparency in delivery practices. The VP will guide how the company plans, sizes, sequences, and delivers strategic initiatives, supporting Product and Engineering-led work across the company. The position owns the end-to-end view of the Product and Engineering portfolio, aligning investment, capacity, and priorities and making them visible to leadership. It establishes consistent delivery planning, tracking, project sizing, and cost-estimation practices; provides reporting on portfolio health, risks, and dependencies; and partners with Business, Product, Engineering, Compliance, Risk Management, and Finance. The VP also supports Program Increment planning, personally drives select high-priority cross-functional projects, and owns the Internally Developed Software (IDSW) control framework and related software capitalization processes. The role builds and develops a high-performing team of Portfolio Delivery Leads and Technical Program Managers, establishes common operating rhythms and tools, and partners with senior leaders to translate complexity into clear decisions. It is based in San Francisco under a hybrid model, with in-office attendance on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Remote placement will not be considered. The role primarily works local Pacific Time hours, with flexibility across time zones when needed, and requires travel to Happen Bank offices or other locations as needed.
Requirements
- 13+ years of experience in program, portfolio, or delivery management, including leading large-scale, multi-team software delivery.
- 8+ years of proven experience managing and developing managers and large teams of program or project managers.
- Bachelor's degree or higher, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Hands-on fluency with the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and Program Increment (PI) planning, including experience running planning at scale.
- Experience in a regulated industry, ideally financial services, with a working understanding of software development lifecycle processes, controls, audit, and compliance expectations.
- Track record of delivering Product and Engineering-led initiatives and products.
- Strong command of project sizing and cost estimation, scope management, risk management, and executive-level reporting.
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to influence senior leaders and Engineering teams.
- Interest in using AI to improve planning, prioritization, and delivery, while maintaining sound judgment and accountability.
- In-person attendance at the San Francisco office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; remote placement will not be considered.
- Ability to work primarily local Pacific Time hours and flex across time zones when necessary.
- Ability to travel to Happen Bank offices or other locations as needed.
Nice To Haves
- Relevant certifications such as SAFe, Project Management Professional (PMP), or similar credentials.
Responsibilities
- Own the end-to-end view of the Product and Engineering portfolio, aligning investment, capacity, and priorities and ensuring visibility to leadership.
- Set standards for planning and tracking delivery timelines, encourage realistic commitments, and ensure clear communication when dates change.
- Partner with Business, Product, Engineering, Compliance, and Risk Management teams to align scope, manage changes, and maintain focus on agreed outcomes.
- Establish consistent project sizing and cost-estimation approaches to support informed investment and trade-off decisions.
- Report on portfolio health, risks, and dependencies, and maintain a disciplined escalation process that surfaces issues early.
- Support Product and Engineering in preparing for and running Program Increment (PI) planning, providing capacity, dependency, and risk insights.
- Personally drive delivery of selected high-priority cross-functional projects requiring coordination across multiple teams.
- Own the Internally Developed Software (IDSW) control framework and manage software capitalization processes in partnership with Finance.
- Build, coach, and develop a high-performing team of Portfolio Delivery Leads and Technical Program Managers.
- Establish common operating rhythms, tools, and templates to support consistent delivery practices across product areas.
- Act as a trusted partner to senior leaders in Product, Engineering, and the broader business, translating complexity into clear decisions.
- Foster transparency, ownership, and continuous improvement in planning and delivery.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision plans for employees and their families.
- 401(k) match.
- Health and wellness programs.
- Flexible time off policies for salaried employees.
- Up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave.
- Long-term awards (equity) may be available.
- Annual bonus may be available, based on company performance, employee performance, and eligible earnings.
- Relocation assistance based on actual job level.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
