Program Manager, Data Initiatives

Job Title: Program Manager, Data Initiatives

Location: New York City, NY
Industry: Financial Services / Asset Management

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Program Manager, Data Initiatives to lead strategic, enterprise-level data programs from planning through execution and delivery. The ideal candidate will combine strong program management expertise with hands-on knowledge of data platforms, data engineering, pipelines, data governance, and analytics.

This role requires close collaboration with engineering teams, data stakeholders, product leaders, and business executives to ensure successful program delivery, manage risks and dependencies, and achieve measurable business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of complex, cross-functional data programs, ensuring alignment with business objectives and expected outcomes.
• Develop and manage program roadmaps, project plans, milestones, budgets, resource allocation, and delivery timelines.
• Coordinate across data engineering, technology, product, governance, and business teams to drive execution and resolve dependencies.
• Identify delivery risks, competing priorities, and resource constraints; recommend solutions and escalate critical decisions to leadership.
• Track program performance, delivery milestones, financials, and business outcomes, providing clear status reports to senior stakeholders and executives.
• Translate business requirements into actionable delivery plans, measurable success criteria, and execution strategies.
• Work closely with technical teams on data platforms, data pipelines, data quality, data governance, and analytics initiatives.
• Demonstrate sufficient technical depth to understand data architecture, challenge engineering estimates, and evaluate implementation approaches.
• Identify opportunities to leverage AI and automation to improve data investigation, reporting, operational efficiency, and product delivery.
• Drive accountability, continuous improvement, and timely delivery across multiple teams in a dynamic environment.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in program management, project management, or delivery leadership, preferably managing enterprise data initiatives.
• Proven experience leading complex data programs from initiation and planning through implementation and business outcome measurement.
• Strong understanding of data engineering concepts, data platforms, data pipelines, data quality, data governance, or analytics.
• Ability to engage in technical discussions around data architecture, dependencies, engineering estimates, and implementation trade-offs.
• Experience managing budgets, resources, timelines, risks, dependencies, and competing priorities across multiple teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience presenting program status, risks, and outcomes to senior executives.
• Financial services industry experience is required; asset management experience is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with practical AI and automation use cases that support data operations, investigation, reporting, or delivery.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with asset management firms or investment management organizations.
• Exposure to enterprise data platforms, modern data architecture, cloud data ecosystems, data governance, and analytics programs.
• Experience driving enterprise transformation or strategic data modernization initiatives.
• Experience introducing AI-enabled workflows or automation to improve operational efficiency and delivery outcomes.