Data Product Manager

Ford’s Global Data, Insight and Analytics (GDIA) team is looking for a highly skilled and experienced Technical Program Manager to lead cross-functional efforts within our Big Data ecosystem for analytics and AI. In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in driving the execution of complex, cross-functional technical programs that span multiple product teams and/or product lines. You will be the orchestrator of technical delivery, ensuring seamless collaboration, efficient execution, and successful achievement of strategic outcomes. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, possess exceptional leadership and communication skills, and have a proven track record of delivering impactful technical projects, we encourage you to apply.

• Lead Cross-Functional Execution: Drive complex, cross-functional technical programs and initiatives across multiple product teams, ensuring efficient, coordinated delivery and the achievement of defined outcomes and key results.
• Strategic Partnership with Product: Partner closely with Product Managers to translate high-level product strategy into detailed technical requirements and foster a shared understanding of project goals and objectives.
• Engineering Collaboration: Collaborate effectively with Engineering Managers to define technical delivery components, develop accurate effort estimates, and create comprehensive, actionable delivery plans.
• Capacity & Scope Management: Work in conjunction with Product Line Program Managers to ensure optimal resource allocation, capacity planning, and appropriate scope distribution across all participating teams.
• Holistic Project Planning: Develop, maintain, and proactively manage comprehensive project delivery plans, complete with clearly defined milestones, timelines, and team responsibilities.
• Risk & Issue Mitigation: Implement robust project tracking mechanisms, continuously monitor progress, and proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks and issues to ensure successful and timely project completion.
• Facilitate & Unblock: Act as a central point for issue resolution, address project-related inquiries, and proactively remove impediments to keep teams focused and on track.
• Impact Analysis: Conduct thorough analyses of project plans to identify potential cross-product or platform impacts, proposing strategic adjustments to mitigate negative consequences.
• Stakeholder Communication: Serve as the primary liaison for project communications with external teams and stakeholders (outside of DPE, if applicable), ensuring clear, consistent, and timely information flow.
• Documentation & Knowledge Sharing: Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation, fostering effective collaboration, communication, and knowledge sharing across diverse teams.
• Executive Reporting: Prepare and deliver concise, insightful project status reports and presentations to senior leadership and key stakeholders, highlighting progress, critical risks, and key decisions.
• Change Management: Own and manage the change control process for individual projects, collaborating with program and product line managers to define, estimate, and prioritize proposed changes.

Basic Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field; 
• 5+ years of experience in technical program management, project management, or a similar role, specifically managing complex software development projects.
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall).
• Experience with GCP (Google Cloud Platform) technology

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Identified technical dependencies or solution misalignment across multiple products
• In-depth understanding of both the business outcomes and technical solutions
• Capable of discussing highly complex, ambiguous problems from beginning to end with senior architects, engineers or other stakeholders.
• Can deep-dive into complex technical issues to understand root cause, evaluate trade-offs, and propose strategic solutions
• Can quickly develop technical depth in any given technology to be able to understand and propose solutions and highlight risks/concerns
• Demonstrated experience with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Rally)

• PMP, CSM, or other relevant certifications are a plus