Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Foot Locker is a leading retailer in the athletic footwear and apparel industry. The Principal Program Manager role is responsible for overseeing complex product group initiatives and programs, ensuring successful delivery of value and outcomes. This position involves extensive cross-team collaboration, strategic planning, risk management, and mentoring of program managers to drive business success.
Responsibilities
- Plan and manage the delivery of programs within an area of professional expertise, using an appropriate program management methodology to give assurance that intended outcomes are achieved
- Communicate the action plan; explain how this relates to the function's strategy and action plan, and the broader organization's mission and vision; motivate people to achieve local business goals
- Develop and implement stakeholder engagement plans for programs to identify relevant stakeholders, to develop positive stakeholder relationships, and to ensure that each stakeholder has an appropriate share of voice
- Interpret the business need and identify solution recommendations to business problems at a business unit level. Lead the improvement efforts that are within span of control at this level
- Define the execution plan to disseminate innovative capabilities across the businesses, helping people develop these competencies and enabling them to innovate through solutions such as idea generation platforms, jam sessions, and hackathons
- Manage a transformational change program, ensuring integration with related programs; use structured change management methodologies to build acceptance of change and to embed desired culture and behaviors
- Manage identification of risks, issues, dependencies, and constraints associated with product group initiatives and programs, escalating these where appropriate. Where necessary, develop, agree on, and implement solutions to overcome these
- Develop own and more junior team member capabilities by participating in assessment and development planning activities as well as formal and informal training and coaching; gain or maintain external professional accreditation where relevant to improve performance and fulfill personal potential. Maintain an understanding of relevant technology, external regulation, and industry best practices through ongoing education, attending conferences, and reading specialist media
- Lead the production of and approve program plans, ensuring that all activities are identified, are appropriately organized to deliver program objectives, comply with the organization's program management framework, and comply with the organization's wider governance structure and processes
- Manage the program review process; provide stakeholders with accurate and relevant information and key recommendations at agreed review points to enable them to evaluate progress and agree on change
- Negotiate and manage deployment of program/portfolio resources and budgets, providing forecasts and presenting variances with narrative at appropriate review points to ensure effective utilization
- Leads one or more large cross functional program teams (or multiple medium teams); defines the program vision and communicates the outcomes needed along with guidance to achieve outcome, coordinates team actions across program activities; coordinates flow of additional team members on and off the team as needed; and builds the capability of the team through training, coaching and mentoring
- Ensure that roles and responsibilities are clearly defined within area of responsibility and ensure compliance with the organization's wider program and/or portfolio management decision-making structures and processes
- Plan and manage budget for assigned programs
Skills
- Requires a minimum of 10 years related work experience, with at least 7 years of experience in a project management role
- Strong analytical and strategic mindset capable of understanding the broader picture and resolving complex issues
- Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple programs and across a portfolio simultaneously
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact with various stakeholders at all organizational levels
- Expanded conceptual understanding and practical expertise in project/program management software (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Asana, Monday.com)
- Deep conceptual understanding and practical expertise of project management techniques and methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum, Waterfall)
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence, inspire, and motivate teams
- Strong capability to manage and resolve conflicts within teams
- Experience managing resources in a matrix organization
- Experience in vendor management
- Bachelor's Degree in business administration, Project Management, or related field is preferred
- PMP Certification desired
- Scrum Certification desired
Benefits
- Employee Discount
- Paid Time Off
- Medical | Dental | Vision Coverage
- 401(k) | Roth 401(k)
- Stock Purchase Plan
- Life Insurance
- Flexible Spending Account
- Opportunities for Advancement
- Tuition Reimbursement for Qualified Courses
- Strong Company Culture
- Employee Resource Groups
Company Overview