Sr. Manager, Product and Portfolio Operations - job 5 of 21

The Senior Manager, Product and Portfolio Operations at Visa is responsible for overseeing change management and program management, focusing primarily on value-added services. This includes fostering a culture of continuous improvement, leading strategic projects, and facilitating collaboration across various departments like technology, marketing, and sales. They will also develop a transformation strategy for portfolio operations and ensure effective communication regarding transformation initiatives.

To qualify for the Senior Manager, Product and Portfolio Operations position at Visa, candidates should have over a decade of experience in project management, product management, and change management, preferably within a consulting context. Strong leadership and consensus-building skills are essential, as well as a comfort in working with diverse teams to drive strategic change and foster innovation.

Key skills for success in the Senior Manager, Product and Portfolio Operations role at Visa include excellent leadership and communication abilities, program management expertise, and a strong foundation in change management. The ability to collaborate across various business units, foster innovation, and support commitment to transformation initiatives is crucial for success in this role.

The Senior Manager, Product and Portfolio Operations role at Visa is a hybrid position, meaning that some work will be done remotely while other responsibilities require in-office engagement. The specific number of days required in the office will be confirmed by the Hiring Manager, allowing for a balance that supports both team collaboration and individual productivity.

The Senior Manager, Product and Portfolio Operations at Visa plays a pivotal role in designing and implementing training programs aimed at enhancing product management competencies. This involves creating accreditation pathways, mentoring opportunities, and facilitating knowledge-sharing sessions that ensure ongoing professional development and effective onboarding for new product managers.

When answering this question, focus on a specific example that illustrates your leadership and strategic thinking. Outline the project's objectives, your role, and the steps you took to engage stakeholders, motivate your team, and measure success. Highlight the outcomes and any lessons learned.

Discuss your approach to communication, including regular updates, collaborative tools, and structured meetings. Emphasize the importance of tailoring your message to different audiences and how you gather feedback to ensure understanding and alignment among diverse teams.

Highlight specific initiatives you’ve implemented to encourage creativity and risk-taking, such as brainstorming sessions, hackathons, or forums for sharing ideas. Discuss how you recognize and reward innovative contributions, fostering an environment where team members feel empowered to think outside the box.

Talk about both qualitative and quantitative metrics, such as employee engagement scores, training completion rates, and impacts on productivity or sales. Emphasize the need for adaptability, using data to refine strategies and ensuring that organizational goals are being met.

Explain how you assess the current skills within your team, identify gaps, and create tailored training programs to address those gaps. Emphasize the importance of aligning the competency framework with the organization's strategic goals and ensuring it is supported by ongoing development and mentorship opportunities.

Acknowledge potential challenges such as resistance to change or communication barriers. Present strategies for addressing these issues, such as fostering open dialogues, establishing trust, and promoting the benefits of change to encourage buy-in from various stakeholders.

Describe your methodology for prioritizing projects, whether through scoring systems, stakeholder consultations, or aligning initiatives with larger business objectives. Stress how you balance resource allocation while being flexible enough to adapt to changing business needs.

Share your experiences in creating training programs, mentoring junior staff, and implementing onboarding processes. Highlight specific outcomes, such as enhanced team performance or improved product delivery timelines, that resulted from your training initiatives.

Discuss your techniques for keeping stakeholders informed and engaged, such as regular communication updates, feedback loops, and involving them in decision-making processes. Illustrate your ability to build relationships that encourage collaboration and shared ownership.

Offer a detailed example demonstrating your leadership in bridging different departments. Explain your approach to handling conflicts, facilitating communication, and ensuring alignment on goals, culminating in a successful project outcome that benefited the organization as a whole.