Sr. Program Manager (Oracle cloud implementation)

Program Background
We are executing a large-scale Oracle implementation involving 300 500 people and a program valued at over $100M. The implementation spans multiple university and hospital functions, with the next major university go-live scheduled for July 2027.

The program includes several workstreams:

• Finance: General ledger, budgeting, chart of accounts, and related financial processes.
• Supply Chain: Procurement, contracting, and invoice payments.
• Research Administration: Sponsored research, grants, and contracts.
• Payroll/UCPath: Payroll-related systems and processes.
• Change Management: Training, communications, and organizational readiness.

Current sprints are expected to wrap up by the end of December 2026, with System Integration Testing (SIT) beginning in January 2027. Approximately 70% of top-tier integrations need to be ready to meet SIT entry criteria. The team must evaluate readiness, identify dependencies and potential deferrals, and develop mitigation plans for leadership.

Hiring Manager's Key Pain Points Please Prioritize These

The hiring manager, needs a proactive program-level thinker who can independently drive decisions and problem-solving. A previous PM was hardworking but focused too heavily on execution and tracking, leaving HM responsible for organizing meetings, making decisions, and driving difficult issues forward.

The ideal candidate must be able to:

• Anticipate and resolve problems: Look beyond the project plan, identify why deliverables are delayed, understand upstream dependencies, and recommend practical solutions.
• Adapt when plans change: Assess risks to SIT readiness, evaluate what can be deferred or conditionally approved, and develop alternative plans rather than simply escalating issues.
• Drive decisions: Recognize which issues require leadership attention, identify the right stakeholders, and help move decisions forward with clear recommendations.
• Hold stakeholders accountable: Build trust with stakeholders including long-tenured university employees and use that trust to establish ownership and follow through on commitments.
• Manage resistance and uncover root causes: Stakeholders may be anxious about the new system and how it will affect their work. They needs someone who listens actively, understands the underlying concern, and addresses the actual problem rather than just the stated complaint.
• Reduce the burden on leadership: The candidate should bring solutions and sound judgment to HM, not rely on to direct every meeting, decision, or next step.

Required / Preferred Background

• Experience supporting or leading an Oracle Cloud/ERP implementation. One completed end-to-end Oracle Cloud implementation is sufficient
• Strong program/project management experience with the ability to manage dependencies, risks, timelines, and cross-functional workstreams.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Higher education or public university experience is strongly preferred and may be more valuable than having extensive Oracle experience alone.
• Candidates with functional leadership backgrounds in university finance/accounting, payroll, supply chain, or research administration may be considered if they also have strong project/program management experience.
• Experience working with senior leadership and navigating complex organizations is important.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• The strongest candidates may come from a university that has completed an Oracle implementation, such as another UC institution. HM specifically mentioned UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, and UC San Diego as potential talent pools.
• An ideal profile could be a university finance or operations leader who helped lead an Oracle implementation and has strong program management and communication skills. However, this is not a strict requirement. A strong Oracle program manager from another complex environment may also be a fit if they demonstrate the right leadership and stakeholder-management abilities.
• HM is flexible on workstream assignment based on the candidate's strengths. The person may oversee other PMs, own a specific portion of the portfolio, or work closely with HM to coordinate priorities and coverage.

Please Avoid Candidates Who:

• Primarily provide status updates, maintain schedules, or chase deliverables without independently solving problems.
• Cannot explain how they handled a project that went off plan or how they mitigated dependencies and delays.
• Rely on escalation instead of developing recommendations and driving decisions.
• Have difficulty building relationships, managing resistance, or holding stakeholders accountable.
• List Oracle implementation experience but cannot clearly explain their specific role and contributions.

Supplier Submission Guidance

Please include a concise summary of the candidate's Oracle implementation experience, their specific role in the implementation, relevant higher-education experience, and a concrete example of how they independently resolved a major program risk or stakeholder issue. The priority is finding someone who can think ahead, adapt, influence stakeholders, and drive solutions with minimal direction not simply another project manager who tracks the plan.

Formal Job Description:

Job Description: Program Manager Oracle ERP & SCM Cloud Implementation

Responsibilities:

• Successfully lead the end-to-end implementation of Oracle Cloud ERP and SCM projects, ensuring project deliverables meet quality, budget, and timeline expectations.
• Collaborate closely with system integrator to ensure alignment on project goals, timelines, and deliverables, while fostering a strong partnership for efficient implementation.
• Develop and manage detailed project plans, including milestones, budgets, timelines, and engagement profitability, ensuring accurate tracking and reporting.
• Proactively manage changes to project scope, schedule, and costs, while maintaining alignment with stakeholders and mitigating risks.
• Monitor and manage customer expectations to prevent scope creep, providing transparency and clear communication throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure proper documentation and approval of Change Requests, adjusting project timelines as necessary to maintain alignment with agreed-upon scope.
• Identify and manage interdependencies among various stakeholder groups, ensuring alignment, risk mitigation, and effective communication across all teams.
• Work collaboratively with all stakeholders and system integrators to monitor workstream progress and ensure successful go-live transitions.

Preferred Skills:

• 15+ years of Oracle ERP experience, with at least 5+ years of hands-on Project Management experience leading Oracle Cloud implementations.
• Proven track record of managing 1-5 end-to-end Oracle Cloud implementations, delivering successful outcomes.
• Advanced knowledge of project management principles, methodologies, and tools, such as Microsoft Projects.
• Strong functional knowledge of Oracle ERP and SCM applications, with the ability to navigate complex business processes and technical environments.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, negotiation, and communication skills, ensuring seamless collaboration across diverse teams, including system integrators.
• Ability to work in highly collaborative environments to achieve significant and impactful results.
• Experience in managing challenging implementations while balancing technical and business priorities effectively.

• Familiarity with working alongside system integrators, including contract management, governance, and coordination to drive project success.
• Expertise in risk identification and mitigation strategies, ensuring smooth project execution and minimal disruptions.