Principal Program Manager - ACI Worldwide

If you've ever used an ATM, paid a bill through your phone, sent money to a friend or shopped online, chances are your transaction was safeguarded and processed using our software. Now it's your turn to serve the payment needs of organizations and people the world over

Job Summary:

The Principal Program Manager organizes and coordinates multiple large and/or complex customer facing or internal programs, in accordance with ACI project management methodology, while ensuring the business unit's objectives align with the technology solutions. Demonstrates ability to advocate for the customer on a strategic level. Provides strategic guidance to team and project managers in ways that promote ACI's culture. Coordinates departmental or cross-functional teams, focused on the delivery of new products/systems or upgrade of existing products/systems or solution. Partners with stakeholders' business unit leaders to translate their objectives into manageable programs that will execute upon those strategies. Monitors the program from initiation through implementation and delivery. Accountable for planning and directing schedules, managing resource needs and monitoring budget/spending. Organizes cross-functional activities, ensuring completion of the program on time, with agreed upon scope, within budget and of the highest quality, while managing escalation as well as program level risk and issue resolution. Provides dashboard reporting at a program level and leads update meetings. Must be an excellent leader and with experience in matrix managing staff of different disciplines to produce results in a timely manner. The goal is to ensure that the program delivers desirable outcome for ACI.

Job Responsibilities:

• Takes a leadership role in managing one or more complex, programs critical to the success of the customer and ACI Leads team of project managers allocated to projects within the program. Lead complex programs to create a path forward for the team.
• Manages program scope to ensure what is being delivered is consistent with what was agreed upon with all necessary stakeholders, which includes ensuring proper charter.
• Develops integrated schedule that is inclusive of all program milestones, resources and constraints to ensure timely completion of program to achieve ROI.
• Manages program issues and risks (technical and non-technical) through identification, evaluation, tracking, communication, escalating and mediation in an orderly manner and in accordance with ACI project management methodology.
• Partners with other business unit colleagues, cross-functionally and with third parties to build strong teams that can work through program challenges. Coordinates cross-project activities.
• Facilitates successful negotiations such as resource constraints as appropriate throughout the program. Ensures consensus and agreement across customers and/or internal partners and project managers.
• Coach and mentor junior associates in program and project methodologies, best practices, and build relationships with customers.
• Collaborate with peers to share lessons learned across multiple programs and portfolios and harvest best practices across the organization.
• Aligns resources across functions to improve outcomes, creating greater value for each group, the program and for the organization.
• Create an environment where team members feel secure sharing their opinions, skills, and knowledge without fear of being treated as insignificant.
• Understand the strategic value of common program and cross-program goals and objectives. Makes it a priority to define, document and disseminate strategic goals and values.
• Negotiates for understanding and consensus and facilitates understanding and resolution of conflicts.
• Communicates effectively across all levels of the organization to drive progress and keep leadership and all project stakeholders informed of program updates and status through dashboard and risk register, etc.
• Formulates, organizes and monitors inter-connected projects and manage deadlines, budget and other activities.
• Implement suitable strategies and objectives for program delivery.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Understand and adhere to all corporate policies to include but not limited to the ACI Code of Conduct and Ethics.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience required for the job:

• Bachelor's Degree, or equivalent work experience.
• 10 or more years related program management experience with demonstrated experience delivering high quality results for complex, transformational programs or 15 or more years of project management experience managing complex projects.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Experience needed for the job:

• Excellent communications skills, verbal and written.
• Ability to communicate effectively with C-Level.
• Understand the strategic value of common program and cross-program goals and objectives. Makes it a priority to define, document and disseminate strategic goals and values.
• Demonstrates ability to advocate for the customer on a strategic level.
• Ability to operate as a change agent, influencing and driving action cross-functionally and with external partners.
• Proficient in use of MS Project.
• PMP highly desired, working towards obtaining or approved equivalent.
• Ability to remain optimistic and positive in uncertain, new or complex situations.
• Ability to bring all your capabilities to the moment -knowledge, experience, skill, judgment, intuition to lead the team.
• Ability to view uncertainty as a challenge/opportunity rather than a threat.
• Ability to turn setbacks and failures into a learning opportunity for improved performance.
• Establishes and maintains positive expectations and attitudes that lay the foundation for effective, positive and constructive work efforts.

Work Environment:

• Standard work environment
• Majority of time spent on PC (Phys. Req.)
• Travel required, may be domestic or international

Benefits: In return for your expertise, we offer growth, opportunity, and a competitive compensation and benefits package in a casual work environment.

Are you ready to help us transform the world of electronic payments? To learn more about ACI Worldwide, visit our web site at www.aciworldwide.com Job ID (Requisition #14032).

ACI Worldwide is an AA/EEO employer in the United States, which includes providing equal opportunity for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, and an EEO employer globally

#LI-LF1ACI Worldwide is a global leader in mission-critical, real-time payments software . Our proven, secure and scalable software solutions enable leading corporations, fintechs and financial disruptors to process and manage digital payments , power omni-commerce payments , present and process bill payments , and manage fraud and risk . We combine our global footprint with a local presence to drive the real-time digital transformation of payments and commerce.