Senior Technical Program Manager

To excel as a Senior Technical Program Manager at Tatari, candidates should possess over 5 years of experience in Technical Program or Product Management specifically within software and SaaS development. Being well-versed in Agile and Scrum methodologies is essential, along with a thorough understanding of project management tools like JIRA and Confluence. Candidates should also demonstrate excellent communication and technical writing skills, and previous experience in ad tech is considered a significant advantage.

In the role of Senior Technical Program Manager at Tatari, you'll be responsible for leading the planning and execution of our product and engineering projects. You will create alignment among teams, develop project charters, and drive multi-phase schedules encompassing various dependencies. Essentially, your role is to reduce ambiguity, manage risks, and keep teams informed with effective communication, all while ensuring projects are completed on time and within scope.

Tatari provides a dynamic startup environment where collaboration across various teams like engineering, product, and design is encouraged. As a Senior Technical Program Manager, you’ll work closely with executives and have the opportunity to shape the TPM function within the organization. With a hybrid work model that requires just two days in the office each week, you will enjoy flexibility along with vibrant team-building events and an inclusive workplace culture.

Preferred qualifications for the Senior Technical Program Manager position at Tatari include certifications such as Certified Scrum Master and Product Owner from Scrum Alliance, along with the Atlassian Certified Professional for managing JIRA projects. While not mandatory, experience in establishing or growing a Software PMO function can be beneficial. Candidates with strong technical understanding and customer obsession will have an edge.

Tatari offers an attractive benefits package for Senior Technical Program Managers, including a competitive salary range of $150,000 to $190,000 annually, equity compensation, health insurance for you and your dependents, unlimited PTO, and various wellness initiatives. Additionally, team members can expect catered lunches, a continuing education benefit, remote work reimbursements, and a supportive hybrid work structure promoting a balanced work-life.

When prioritizing tasks as a Senior Technical Program Manager, it's essential to use a combination of project impact and urgency criteria. Begin by analyzing project goals and stakeholder inputs to align your priorities with broader organizational objectives. Communicate with team members to get their insights and use agile methodologies to adjust priorities based on real-time feedback. Finally, ensure transparency with all teams about how tasks are prioritized.

In your response, emphasize specific Agile practices you’ve implemented in past roles. Discuss how you've used Scrum frameworks, facilitated sprint planning, and daily stand-ups. Highlight your adaptability in applying Agile principles and how you've fostered a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement within your teams.

To mitigate project risks effectively, you should focus on thorough planning and proactive communication. Conduct regular risk assessments and maintain an updated risk register. Encourage a culture in which team members can voice potential concerns early on. Provide training and create contingency plans, ensuring the team knows the protocols for potential setbacks.

Share a specific scenario demonstrating how you assessed the situation, communicated with stakeholders, and prioritized tasks effectively. Discuss the process you used to facilitate discussions that led to resolution, ensuring that all team members felt heard and valued while moving towards a solution.

Emphasize the importance of establishing structured communication channels like regular meetings, sharing progress reports, and utilizing collaboration tools such as Confluence and JIRA. Tailor your communication style to your audience – for technical teams, use precise jargon, while for non-technical stakeholders, clarify terms for better understanding.

Discuss your strategy for onboarding new team members, including workshops and training sessions that highlight key methodologies and tools. You can also mention ongoing initiatives like lunch-and-learn sessions or creating internal resources such as playbooks that outline best practices and project management frameworks.

As a Senior Technical Program Manager, ensuring stakeholder alignment begins with creating comprehensive project charters. Host kick-off meetings to communicate goals and obtain buy-in from all parties involved. Regularly check in and adapt based on stakeholder feedback while maintaining open lines of communication throughout the project lifecycle.

Share your familiarity with project management tools like JIRA and Confluence, highlighting how they support tracking work progress and facilitating collaboration. Explain your preference for visual tools that enhance the team's ability to manage tasks effectively, as well as your adaptability to incorporate new tools based on team needs.

When a project is falling behind schedule, first assess the reasons and consult with the team to identify roadblocks. Encourage transparent communication and involve the team in brainstorming solutions. Reallocate resources or adjust deadlines if necessary, but do so while keeping stakeholders informed to manage expectations.

Key metrics you should track include project timelines, budget adherence, stakeholder satisfaction, and quality of deliverables. Discuss how you use these metrics to gauge success and inform decision-making throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives.