P5P5 — Expert Professional
Principal Program Manager
Manages a portfolio of projects or a major multi-product program, aligning R&D initiatives with product strategy and business objectives.
What this level means
Expert in field; key problem solver and project leader, authority in multiple areas
- Scope
- Multiple systems or a technical domain
- Autonomy
- Sets direction within the domain
- Complexity
- Novel, high-ambiguity problems; establishes the approach
- Impact
- Org / multi-team outcomes
- Decision rights
- Authority over a technical domain
- Leadership
- Leads cross-team technical initiatives
- Typical experience
- 8–12 yrs
What you'd do
- Managing a portfolio of projects
- Defining project management practices
- Aligning R&D with business strategy
- Leading multi-product programs
- Ensuring strategic alignment
- Manage project portfolios
- Define management practices
- Align R&D with strategy
- Lead multi-product programs
- Ensure strategic alignment
Skills, knowledge & tools
- Portfolio management
- Strategic alignment
- Program leadership
- Business strategy integration
- Leadership
- Portfolio management strategies
- Strategic business alignment
- Program leadership techniques
- R&D integration
- Business strategy
- Leadership & Influence
- Strategic alignment
- Portfolio management
- Program leadership
- Business Strategy Integration
What good looks like
- Advanced degree (MS/PhD) or equivalent extensive experience; 10+ years
- Experience in managing large portfolios
- Proven strategic leadership
Common titles
Principal Program Manager
What it pays
Market-pay benchmarks for this family × level are being recalibrated across all survey sources and will return shortly.
O*NET / SOC: 19-0000 — Life, Physical, & Social Science Occupations (inferred)