Cengage Work Program Management Lead

Lead Program Initiatives

Work with leads to deliver projects through lifecycle phases. Align key deliverables for program success.

Foster Communication and Transparency

Foster communication and facilitate regular planning / status meetings within workstreams, updating C-level partners on program health and progress. Stay proactive in overseeing critical decisions, monitor their progress, and communicating updates to ensure transparency among all collaborators.

Address Obstacles

Identify and solve obstacles, trade-offs, and key path problems by managing risks, issues, and changes through tools like risk registers and PMO protocols.

Manage Budgets and Resources

Develop and lead all aspects of program budgets, ensuring costs stay within target across all workstreams. Optimize prioritization of resources, including vendor teams, to improve efficiency and delivery.

Ensure Customer Readiness

Ensure customer support expectations are set, training is planned, and validation activities (e.g., UX testing) are implemented effectively to drive a seamless customer experience.

Detail Program Health

Detail program health with actionable reporting on key achievements, metrics, risks, and insights for informed decision-making.

Assist in Planning

Aid in roadmap and initiative planning by aligning with product management objectives and maintaining program focus.

Drive Constant Advancement

Advocate for and drive constant advancements in processes, strategic alignment, and communication to facilitate successful implementation across all workstreams. Assist in transitioning to a Product Operating Model by integrating practices that empower product teams and nurture a focus on market outcomes.

Skills You'll Need for This Role

At least 5 years of experience in technology program management that demonstrate leadership across multiple business functions.

Strong capacity to cooperate with teams in Product, Engineering, UX, Marketing, Content Development, Technology Operations, Sales, and Customer Support to achieve results and address difficulties.

Demonstrable ability to lead complex programs with multiple breakthroughs, cross-functional dependencies, and varying priorities while keeping focus on program goals and outcomes.

Outstanding communication skills and the ability to cultivate positive partnerships and sway collaborators at every level, from executives to team members.

Skilled at facilitating productive meetings, leading decision-making discussions, and ensuring alignment across team members.

Proficient in handling program budgets, prioritizing resources, and supervising vendor teams, emphasizing cost control and streamlined delivery.

Skilled at managing risks and organizational changes, with practical experience using tools such as risk registers and issue logs to track program advancement.

Exhibit proven organizational and critical-thinking abilities to excel in uncertain, dynamic, and innovative settings.

Familiarity with software development practices (e.g., Agile / Scrum, Kanban, SAFe) and tools (e.g., Aha!, JIRA, Confluence, and SmartSheet).

Experience in helping teams transition to new operational models, particularly from a project-based approach to a product-centric one.

Ability to read the room, recognize and manage through misalignment and complex situations.

Preferred Qualifications

PMP or a similar project / program management certification.

Demonstrated accomplishment in spearheading projects encompassing various business departments like Marketing, Technology, UX, and Customer Support.

Familiarity with the Product Operating Model.

Experience in the EdTech or education sector, especially within fast-growth businesses like Ed2Go, InfoSec, or Milady.

About Cengage Group

Cengage Group is a global education technology company serving millions of learners, providing affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

Compensation

At Cengage Group, we take great pride in our commitment to providing a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package designed to support and empower our employees. The full base pay range has been provided for this position. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and geographic location. Sales roles often incorporate a significant incentive compensation program beyond this base pay range. In this position, you will be eligible to participate in the company's discretionary incentive bonus program. This position's bonus target amount, which is not guaranteed and is dependent on individual performance and overall company results among other factors, is provided below. 20% Annual : Individual Target $117,100.00 - $180,000.00 USD.

Cengage Group

Cengage Group is a global education technology company serving millions of learners, providing affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

Warning : Be aware, there has been an increase of targeted recruitment scams perpetrated by bad actors falsely providing job offers on behalf Cengage Group to candidates as a means of obtaining personal information. Note that Cengage will always interview candidates via live in-person meetings, phone calls and video calls before an offer would be extended. Also, be sure to check that communication is coming from an @cengage.com email address.