Program Delivery Lead - Horizontal Digital

At Horizontal Digital, we hold ourselves to one key belief: You’re only as good as your worst customer experience. This mantra is what drives our digital consultancy to think beyond the easy answers and instead create websites, apps, portals and other experiences that solve customer needs for Fortune 500 companies in intuitive and empathetic ways. And we make this lofty standard a reality by fusing strategy, data, design and technology together to arrive at solutions that set the bar higher for everyone.

We use these values to fuel superior results:

Lock arms
We forge relationships that make our impact 1,000x stronger. This means working across departments and engaging both our clients and our communities to deliver the greatest good.

Show hustle
We’re not ones to sit on our hands and wait. Instead, we anticipate opportunities, collectively roll up our sleeves and find ways to execute the exceptional.

Embrace change
From new technologies to workplace philosophies, we welcome the unexpected and constantly anticipate what’s next.

Elevate empathy
We listen before we take action. This means understanding a variety of perspectives and holding ourselves to a higher standard of accountability.

Never settle
We motivate each other to push past the easy answers and collectively arrive at bigger, more inspiring ideas.
 

But enough about us. Let’s talk about you. 
 

We are seeking a seasoned Agile Delivery Lead with a consulting mindset to join our growing team. In this role, you will be responsible for cultivating high-performing teams and acting as a trusted advisor to our clients. You will drive delivery excellence and value outcomes with speed and quality on your programs/projects. You will bring your expertise to partner with clients, identify their needs and challenges, and then leverage Agile (and hybrid) practices to deliver exceptional results.

What you’ll do: 

• Delivery Partnership & Strategy: Partner with clients to define program goals, uncover underlying needs and challenges, and ensure program delivery aligns with their strategic objectives (in partnership with internal craft leads). 

• Set the program strategy and adapt Agile / traditional practices to best suit the client's specific needs and program complexities.
• Primary POC with the client sponsor / stakeholders for the overall program / engagement delivery, to include managing client expectations.
• Mitigate risks / blockers and make course corrections.
• Estimate, plan, and deliver through partnering and collectively locking arms across craft areas, practice areas, and client stakeholders.
• Hybrid Program Management: Demonstrate flexibility to work within a hybrid program management method, leveraging both Agile and traditional program/project management approaches.
• Drive timely, value delivery for clients and achieve profitable program results.
• Create, manage and communicate project/program plans and value outcomes. 
• Deliver efficiently and effectively, optimizing program/project delivery processes.
• Managing commercial and financial operations for program/project performance (including related internal tools and systems data).
• Agile Execution: Embracing the Product Operating Model and facilitating Agile and Scaled Agile ceremonies / events, building high performing delivery teams & team health. 
• Plan and drive increment & sprint roadmaps, along with backlog health (in collaboration craft leads).
• Analyze program performance data using a holistic lens, incorporating both Agile metrics (e.g., velocity, cycle time) and traditional project management benchmarks (e.g., earned value).
• Identifying trends and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Communicating performance updates and value outcomes delivered, clearly and transparently, including QBRs.
• Creating and optimizing the use of Agile program management tools for teams to plan and manage work activities.
• Agile Servant Leadership: Cast, empower, enable, and motivate cross-functional / cross-geo Agile teams to achieve optimal performance, plan increment & sprint roadmaps, and deliver value outcomes on time.
• Foster a collaborative work environment where team members can thrive.
• Coach and guide teams (Agile, SAFe, POM)
• Problem-Solving: Proactively identify potential program roadblocks.
• Driving collaboration and dependency planning across crafts, teams, and workstreams
• Working collaboratively with the team(s) to proactively identify mitigation operations and alternative solutions.
• Client-Centric: Actively listen to and understand stakeholder concerns.
• Ask probing questions to identify root causes of issues.
• Provide data-driven insights and recommendations to guide informed decision-making.
• Move from a state of ambiguity to one of clarity.
• Consulting Approach: Act as a trusted advisor to clients.
• Offer strategic recommendations on Agile adoption and program management best practices.
• Connecting clients to subject matter experts in other capability areas and practices.
• Mentorship and Coaching: Mentor junior program managers and Agile team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.

Who you are: 

• Leading and driving complex agile and traditional projects with multiple stakeholders. 
• Strong understanding of and experience with digital business transformation principles.  
• Builds strong, trusting relationships with clients and acts as a trusted advisor on project matters. 
• Proactively identifies and addresses client concerns, fostering long-term relationships. 
• Experience managing stakeholder expectations in a consulting environment. 
• Ability to translate client needs into actionable product development plans. 
• Understands the impact of project outcomes on client business strategies. 
• Uses influencing techniques to manage client expectations and build consensus. 
• Skilled in facilitating effective communication with stakeholders 
• Develops compelling presentations tailored to different audiences (technical, executive) using various tools. 
• Can explain complex project concepts in clear and concise language. 
• Facilitates effective conflict resolution within the team. 
• Possesses strong negotiation and risk management skills 
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills 
• Applies financial knowledge to estimate project costs and value. 
• Ability to coach and mentor agile teams and team members. 
• Experience with Jira/Confluence preferred. 

What you bring:  

• Minimum 6+ years of experience working with digital programs as an Agile Program Manager
• A minimum of 2 years agency/consultancy experience. 5+ years preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Certifications in Agile methodologies (e.g., Certified Scrum Master (CSM), PMI-ACP)
• Experience and certifications in scaling Agile methodologies across an organization (e.g., SAFe Agilist (SA) or SAFe Practice Consultants (SPC)) preferred.