P6P6 — Principal Professional
Director / Head of Upstream PD
Lead the entire upstream PD function or large PD department.
What this level means
Top individual contributor; recognized authority with strategic impact, equivalent to a low executive level
- Scope
- Organization-wide architecture and the hardest problems
- Autonomy
- Defines direction; minimal oversight
- Complexity
- Strategic, open-ended problems shaping the technical future
- Impact
- Organization-wide
- Decision rights
- Sets technical strategy for a major area
- Leadership
- Recognized authority; multiplies many teams
- Typical experience
- 12–18 yrs
What you'd do
- Set long-term vision and strategy for upstream development capability
- Manage resource allocation
- Lead the upstream PD function
- Drive organizational growth and innovation
- Ensure alignment with corporate strategy
- Foster a culture of excellence and innovation
- Represent the organization at industry forums
- Guide enterprise-level decisions
- Mentor senior leaders
- Oversee departmental performance
- Set and communicate strategic vision
- Manage resources effectively
- Lead and mentor senior leadership
Skills, knowledge & tools
- Visionary strategy development
- Resource management
- Leadership of large teams
- Organizational growth strategies
- Innovation leadership
- Corporate strategy alignment
- Industry engagement
- Mentorship of senior leaders
- Visionary leadership principles
- Enterprise-level strategy
- Resource management techniques
- Organizational growth strategies
- Innovation in leadership
- Corporate strategy alignment
- Industry trends and engagement
- Senior leadership development
- Visionary leadership
- Enterprise-level influence
- Strategic foresight
- Organizational growth
- Innovation culture
- Corporate Alignment
- Industry Representation
- Senior leadership mentorship
What good looks like
- 15+ years, typically including significant leadership/managerial experience
- Proven visionary leadership skills
- Experience in managing large departments
Common titles
Director / Head of Upstream PD
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)