Experience at scale. 5+ years as a Programme Manager, TPM, or Agile Delivery Lead managing complex portfolios spanning multiple parallel teams in a fast-paced software environment.
A well-developed Twinge. You have shipped enough software, with enough teams, that your experience speaks to you when an update is hiding a problem. When a story doesn't stand up to the first three questions, you know there's an issue - and you ask the questions, even when it's uncomfortable.
Structured, strategic problem solving. You can take vague direction and turn it into concrete outcomes. You break intractably large problems into smaller, orthogonal issues that can be solved in turn, and you can explain your thinking and process clearly enough that others can follow it, challenge it, and build on it.
Technical literacy. You don't need to write code, but you must hold your own in a room with Tech Leads and Architects. You understand software architecture concepts, APIs, cloud infrastructure, and technical debt.
Pragmatic delivery kit bag. Deep experience running structured, time-boxed delivery models (e.g. 6- to 12-week cycles, ShapeUp, scaled agile, etc.). We are not looking for a methodology enthusiast: we want someone with a broad kit bag of agile, waterfall, and delivery techniques who draws on whichever fits the problem at hand.
Data and tooling proficiency. Advanced proficiency with project management tooling (Jira, Linear, Asana, etc.) and a proven ability to build clean, scannable reporting. Financially literate: comfortable owning the data behind delivery tracking, capacity planning, and engineering spend.
Clear communication. Able to synthesise highly technical detail into concise, impact-focused updates for executive leadership.
