Overview:
This role serves as the program lead for the Reliability Engineering and Operations (REO) program, providing enterprise level leadership across multiple Enterprise Technology (ET) Operational Excellence capabilities. The program lead is accountable for end-to‑end program execution in partnership with portfolio management, including demand intake and prioritization, business case development, forecasting and budget approval, resource planning, and program/project delivery of prioritized initiatives. By advancing modern service management and operational excellence practices, this role drives measurable improvements in service stability, operational performance, and risk reduction. Through strong governance, communication, and reporting, the program lead ensures alignment and execution across multiple capabilities—including Technical Services and Operations, Platform Reliability and Engineering, Quality and Resiliency, and Reliability Intelligence and Analytics—while providing direction to program and project managers. This leadership reduces disruptions to critical business services, strengthens resiliency, and enables both near‑term operational priorities and long‑term growth objectives.
This is a critical role in driving strategic technology initiatives, and this position is responsible for the successful delivery and oversight of complex programs and projects, ensuring alignment with scope, quality, time, and budget to deliver meaningful business outcomes.
This role requires a seasoned delivery leader with strong strategic thinking, collaboration, and planning capabilities to bridge technology and business functions throughout the development and implementation lifecycle. The ideal candidate will bring a solid foundation in technology and operations.
Key focus areas include:
Strategic thought leadership and cross-functional collaboration
Stakeholder and sponsor communications (internal and external)
Reporting and performance metrics
Risk assessment and mitigation planning
Resource planning
Financial oversight and budget control for program initiatives
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Lead Strategic Initiatives: Independently provide end-to-end leadership, strategic recommendations, and hands-on implementation for complex, high-priority technology programs and projects.
Executive Partnership: Collaborate with senior executives and leaders across technology and business areas to understand and prioritize business goals, ensuring alignment and driving measurable results.
Program Planning & Delivery: Define the overall program approach, including key deliverables, roadmap, and delivery methodology, to achieve desired business outcomes.
Stakeholder Communication: Communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels. Lead regular interactions to inform, alert, negotiate, and maintain a shared vision for the program’s success.
Documentation Oversight: Direct the creation and ongoing maintenance of all required program documentation and artifacts to ensure transparency and traceability.
Budget Management: Develop and control program budgets, ensuring expenditures remain within approved financial plans.
Resource Allocation: Ensure the availability and balance of required skills, competencies, and resources across teams—including internal staff, contractors, and professional service providers.
Advisory & Relationship Building: Act as a trusted advisor while building and maintaining strong relationships across the broader stakeholder community.
Execution Oversight: Lead the monitoring of program and project execution, ensuring progress aligns with the plan and that deliverables are produced as agreed.
Dependency & Conflict Management: Monitor and coordinate interdependencies across programs and projects, proactively resolving conflicts to maintain momentum.
Benefits Realization: Assess the benefits and impacts of initiatives. Develop and implement business cases, benefits realization plans, and stakeholder management strategies.
Change Management Leadership: Lead or consult on the development and execution of change management efforts, especially where adoption is critical to achieving business objectives.
Governance & Compliance: Establish and ensure appropriate governance structures and practices are in place, in accordance with enterprise policies and on behalf of the executive sponsor or senior responsible owner.
Qualifications:
Portfolio, Program & Project Leadership: Minimum of five years managing large, complex programs and projects for strategic technology initiatives, demonstrating excellence in program definition, planning, prioritization, and resource management.
Enterprise Technology Experience: At least five years of experience in the Enterprise Technology (ET) business or industry, with strong business acumen and understanding of organizational dynamics.
Technology Strategy Expertise: Deep understanding of technology modernization, simplification, and application rationalization, with proven ability to lead initiatives that align with enterprise goals.
Data Architecture Knowledge: Extensive experience with optimized storage, access, and enhancement of structured data, ensuring scalable and efficient data solutions.
Solution Development: Strong background in developing scalable and appropriate technology solutions that meet business needs and technical requirements.
Leadership & Consulting Skills: Exceptional ability to lead and consult across diverse teams, including communicating program/project approaches and maintaining alignment with business strategy. Experience managing “upward” among senior leadership is essential.
Team Motivation & Matrix Management: Demonstrated success in leading and motivating cross-functional teams, driving engagement and results through matrixed environments.
Organizational Navigation: High degree of political sensitivity and astuteness, with the ability to leverage informal organizational structures to overcome obstacles and achieve success.
Advanced Consulting Capabilities: Strong facilitation skills for large meetings and complex issues, with expertise in change management and developing sound, research-based recommendations.
Communication & Presentation: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively present to and engage with all levels of management, technology teams, and external partners. Capable of clearly articulating and “selling” program/project goals and objectives.
Financial & Resource Planning: Proven ability to develop and deliver programs/projects within financial and resource constraints, ensuring efficient use of budget and personnel.
Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving: Strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills, with a strategic mindset and execution capabilities.
Methodology Proficiency: Experience with both waterfall and agile methodologies, with practical application in diverse project environments.
Tool Expertise: Proficient in tools such as ServiceNow, JIRA, Microsoft productivity suite, and AI-enhanced tools, with evidence of hands-on use in program/project delivery.
*At Securian Financial, the internal title for this position is Project/Program Management Sr Con.
Securian Financial believes in hybrid work as an integral part of our culture. Associates get the benefit of working both virtually and in our offices. If you’re in a commutable distance (90 minutes), you’ll join us 3 days each week in our offices to collaborate and build relationships. Our policy allows flexibility for the reality of business and personal schedules.
The estimated base pay range for this job is:
$91,700.00 - $169,600.00
Pay may vary depending on job-related factors and individual experience, skills, knowledge, etc. More information on base pay and incentive pay (if applicable) can be discussed with a member of the Securian Financial Talent Acquisition team.
