Program Director
The Program Director leads and sets the direction for executing cross-functional and regional programs from initiation to completion. He creates portfolio roadmaps, defines and/or modifies portfolio processes and procedures, develop the portfolio risk management plan, and monitors performance of portfolios. He/She partners with business leaders and determines program goals that support business objectives and strategies. He directs a team of professionals and third-party vendors or service providers towards reaching organisational goals related to programs. He manages risks that affect the delivery of outcomes. He designs, develops and implements operating policies. He also drives the adoption of Agile practices and values for projects and programs within the organisation, including the implementation of Scrum process framework. He works in a team setting and is knowledgeable of Agile practices and methodology, project management methodologies and tools, as well as Scrum process framework. As one who directs multiple programs, the Program Director adopts a broad, global perspective and is confident in making critical decisions and handles competing resource needs with implications on various projects and stakeholders. He is an excellent leader who has a passion for mentoring and developing professionals in the team.
What Does a Program Director Do?
Key Responsibilities & Tasks
Establish the organisation’s program management framework
- Act as Subject Matter Expert on program management by defining framework, templates, tools and systems to deliver on cost, time and quality metrics
- Create portfolio roadmaps prioritisation, inter-dependency analysis, and organisational constraints to validate and communicate the portfolio components sequencing, dependencies, and strategic alignment
- Develop systems to measure conformance of the application for program management framework and take the necessary corrective action
- Define and establish a governance model and structure, policies, and decision-making roles, responsibilities, rights and authorities to support decision-making and achieve strategic goals
Develop program plans
- Monitor the portfolio performance using reports, conversations, dashboards, and auditing techniques
- Evaluate portfolio effectiveness and efficiency and maintain strategic alignment
- Set expectations for periodic milestone reviews including status reports, program risk identification and other dashboards
- Oversee the adoption of Agile practices and values for projects and programs
- Analyse and optimise the consolidated allocation and/or re-allocation of capacity using supply and/or demand management and scenario analysis techniques to ensure
Oversee program implementation
- Develop the portfolio risk management plan, using governance risk guidelines, processes, and procedures and other organisational assets to capitalise on opportunities and respond to risks
- Develop, monitor, and maintain portfolio-level risk register, strategic goals and objectives, to business value, and escalated from portfolio components, using risk management processes
- Resolve escalated issues to ensure deliverables meet with program objectives
- Manage and escalate issues by communicating recommended actions to decision makers for timely approval and implementation of proposed solution(s)
Manage people and organisation
- Review operational strategies, policies and targets across teams and projects
- Develop strategies for resource planning and utilisation
- Review the utilisation of resources
- Oversee the development of learning roadmaps for teams and functions
- Establish performance indicators to benchmark effectiveness of learning and development programmes against best practices
- Implement succession planning initiatives for key management positions
Do You Have the Skills for This Role?
A Program Director needs 4 core competencies. Here's what's required and at what level.
Must-Have Skills (Advanced)
Collaboration
AdvancedInteracting with Others
Self Management
AdvancedStaying Relevant
Transdisciplinary Thinking
AdvancedThinking Critically
Developing People
AdvancedInteracting with Others
SkillsFuture Skill Levels
3 levelsBasic
Recognise and understand fundamental concepts. Apply skills in routine situations with guidance.
Intermediate
Apply skills in varied situations independently. Analyse problems and adapt approaches as needed.
Advanced
Lead and innovate in complex situations. Evaluate strategies, guide teams, and drive improvements.
Technical Skills & Competencies (TSC) Levels
6 levelsFollow
Carry out routine tasks under close supervision. Follow established procedures and guidelines.
Assist
Perform tasks with some independence. Assist in non-routine situations and apply established techniques.
Apply
Apply skills and knowledge independently in varied situations. Analyse problems and adapt approaches.
Analyse
Analyse complex situations and develop solutions. Guide and mentor junior colleagues.
Strategise
Set strategic direction and drive innovation. Evaluate trade-offs and make high-impact decisions.
Transform
Lead industry transformation. Establish standards, shape policy, and provide expert advisory.
Technical Skills & Competencies
A Program Director requires 29 technical skills at specific proficiency levels.
Learning and Development
Level 6People Development
Mentor successors, support organisational learning and develop and engage employees to develop a strong organisational base
Project Management
Level 6Business and Project Management
Direct the management and authorise ownership of multiple large, complex programmes and projects, ensuring alignment with strategic business priorities
Budgeting
Level 5Business Finance
Develop long-term financial plans and budget requirements
Business Agility
Level 5Business and Project Management
Adapt overall processes and create a working environment of business agility
Business Environment Analysis
Level 5Business and Project Management
Monitor business environment to assess internal and external influencing factors that may impact strategy planning and operational plans and recommend response approaches to environmental changes
Business Innovation
Level 5Business and Project Management
Prioritise business innovation opportunities and design digital architectures and processes to facilitate the creation of an innovative business environment
Business Needs Analysis
Level 5Business and Project Management
Lead comprehensive analysis to understand underlying drivers and present a compelling business case for proposed IT solutions
Business Performance Management
Level 5General Management
Formulate organisational performance systems and key performance indicators in alignment with organisation’s vision, mission and values
Business Process Re-engineering
Level 5Business and Project Management
Establish a business process re-engineering strategy, determining the processes to be re-engineered and significantly redefining process flows
Business Requirements Mapping
Level 5Business and Project Management
Define overall strategies, objectives and priorities to underscore business requirement mapping activities and assess alignment between solutions, requirements and eventual outcomes
Business Risk Management
Level 5Business and Project Management
Critically evaluate, review and drive organisation-wide risk mitigation and management initiatives
Change Management
Level 5Business and Project Management
Develop business readiness plan and direct business activities, processes and resources to facilitate changes and transitions, and plan change control procedures for IT initiatives
Contract Management
Level 5Stakeholder and Contract Management
Determine business viability of contracts and establish organisation's expectations of vendors, resolving any escalated performance or contractual issues
Data Analytics
Level 5Business Development
Manage and enhance organisational data science capability by refining financial and other business performance criteria and design data studies.
Data Visualisation
Level 5Development and Implementation
Establish an effective data visualisation architecture and design intelligent and adaptable displays employing optimal delivery modes, mechanisms and timings
Design Thinking Practice
Level 5Design and Architecture
Establish effective design thinking processes, methodologies and frameworks to proliferate design thinking across the organisation
Emerging Technology Synthesis
Level 5Business and Project Management
Establish internal structures and processes to guide the exploration, integration and evaluation of new technologies
Manpower Planning
Level 5Business and Project Management
Formulate organisational manpower plans to bridge gaps between manpower demand and supply based on current and projected needs of the organisation
Networking
Level 5Business Development
Implementing strategies to capitalise on new business opportunities
Organisational Analysis
Level 5Strategy Planning and Implementation
Lead the conduct of functional analysis and recommending areas for enhancement in functional operations
Organisational Design
Level 5Design and Architecture
Design organisational structures, systems and processes
Partnership Management
Level 5Stakeholder and Contract Management
Evaluate and drive inter-organisational initiatives, and negotiate strategic information exchange with key partners
People and Performance Management
Level 5People Development
Establish organisation-wide performance management strategies
Portfolio Management
Level 5Business and Project Management
Plan a portfolio management framework based on business strategy, and manage IT investments
Process Improvement and Optimisation
Level 5Business and Project Management
Devise strategies for the adoption of improvements and optimisation of processes
Solution Architecture
Level 5Design and Architecture
Establish frameworks and determine relevant tools and techniques to guide the development IT solutions
Stakeholder Management
Level 5Stakeholder and Contract Management
Define a strategic stakeholder management roadmap, and lead critical discussions and negotiations, addressing escalated issues or problems encountered
Strategy Planning
Level 5Business and Project Management
Formulate the strategies and policies that are forward- looking and focuses on bottom line results
Strategy Implementation
Level 4Strategy Planning and Implementation
Evaluate strategies for critical business functions to ensure plans are realistic and reflect health of business
European Skills Framework
ESCOSkills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential
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