The Principal Program Lead is a senior individual contributor responsible for leading the organization’s most complex, high-visibility strategic programs. Working across business, technology, operations, and external partners, this role drives alignment, governance, execution, risk management, and delivery of initiatives that are critical to organizational success. 

Principal Program Leads are deployed against the company’s highest-priority strategic initiatives and may move between programs over time based on business needs and portfolio priorities. These leaders operate with significant autonomy and are accountable for driving successful outcomes across highly matrixed environments. 

This position will focus on technical delivery and operational readiness associated with major media business upgrades, including new technology implementation, construction and relocation initiatives. Partnering closely with Editorial & Content Creators, Global Real Estate, Engineering, Production Operations, Technology, Security, and external vendors, the Principal Program Lead will coordinate the successful change management and delivery of all operations & technology-related workstreams required to effectively facilitate change, activate, and transition new media facilities to future-states.  

This role does not own facility design, construction, or real estate delivery. Instead, it serves as the strategic program leader responsible for overall program leadership and change management, integrating and coordinating the technology, operational readiness and business transition activities necessary to support successful Program Objectives.  

Level and Scope 

The Principal Program Lead represents one of the highest levels of individual contributor program leadership within the organization. 

The role is equivalent in scope, complexity, organizational impact, strategic influence, and executive engagement to Director and Senior Director-level positions while remaining an individual contributor role. 

Success in this position requires the ability to lead through influence, align diverse stakeholder groups, navigate organizational complexity, and deliver results without direct authority over resources or teams. 

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Program Leadership 

• Lead large-scale, cross-functional strategic programs from initiation through delivery. 

• Establish program governance structures, operating models, and executive reporting frameworks. 

• Develop and manage integrated program plans, milestones, dependencies, and critical path activities. 

• Drive alignment across business, technology, operations, and external stakeholders. 

• Translate strategic objectives into executable delivery plans and measurable outcomes. 

Program Execution & Delivery 

• Coordinate complex workstreams spanning multiple functions, teams, and vendors. 

• Manage program risks, issues, assumptions, dependencies, and mitigation strategies. 

• Drive decision-making processes and issue resolution across stakeholder groups. 

• Monitor program health and proactively address delivery challenges. 

• Ensure successful execution against program objectives, timelines, and business outcomes. 

Executive Stakeholder Management 

• Build trusted relationships with executive leaders and key stakeholders. 

• Prepare and deliver executive communications, status reporting, and decision support materials. 

• Facilitate governance reviews, steering committees, and cross-functional leadership forums. 

• Influence outcomes across teams where no direct reporting relationships exist. 

Organizational Readiness & Change Leadership 

• Drive readiness planning and organizational alignment for major initiatives. 

• Coordinate transition activities required to move programs from planning into operational execution. 

• Ensure business, operational, and technical stakeholders are prepared for implementation and adoption. 

• Support successful realization of intended business outcomes and value. 

Required Qualifications 

• 10+ years of experience leading large-scale, cross-functional programs in complex organizational environments. 

• Demonstrated success delivering strategic initiatives involving multiple business, operational, and technology stakeholders. 

• Strong expertise in program governance, risk management, dependency management, and executive communications. 

• Proven ability to lead through influence in highly matrixed environments. 

• Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, facilitation, and negotiation skills. 

• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities. 

• Ability to operate effectively with executive-level stakeholders. 

• Ability to travel.  

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience leading enterprise transformation, operational change, technology modernization, infrastructure, facility activation, or other large-scale strategic initiatives. 

• Experience coordinating complex technical workstreams across multiple organizations. 

• Familiarity with media, broadcast, production, workplace technology, networking, security, or related technical environments. 

• Experience supporting facility relocation, expansion, or operational transition programs. 

Success in this role will be measured by: 

• Delivery of strategic programs against business objectives. 

• Effective management of risks, dependencies, and stakeholder alignment. 

• Achievement of program milestones and readiness objectives. 

• Executive stakeholder confidence and satisfaction. 

• Successful realization of intended business outcomes. 

• Ability to lead complex initiatives across organizational boundaries. 

This position reports to the VP, Portfolio & Program Management and serves as part of the organization’s strategic program leadership team. 

Additional Information 

Fully Remote: This position has been designated as fully remote, meaning that the position is expected to contribute from a non-NBCUniversal worksite, most commonly an employee’s residence.

This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website. Salary: $185,000 - $200,000 (bonus & LTI eligible) 

 

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