When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.
We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.
Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.
We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.
This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.
Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.
We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.
Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.
What You'll Contribute
(Job Summary)
The Director, Program Management manages the cross-functional deployment of large-scale transformational Portfolio Growth Marketing and Enterprise initiatives working with all levels of the organization to ensure defined goals are acheived. The Director, Program Management works closely with Product, Marketing, Technology, Legal, Risk, and Compliance to ensure defined strategies and business values are appropriately accounted for in features and communicates status and results of initiatives through the proper forums. Director, Program Management will work with the appropriate stakeholders to develop requirements that lead to clearly defined outcomes. The Director, Program Management position develops and executes change management plans and initiatives with consideration to the needs of the organization.
What You'll Do
Leadership – 30%
- Oversees programmatic implementation of new Portfolio Growth Marketing and Enterprise initiatives and associated operations (this includes the organization of workstreams to ensure proper focus and accountability for necessary work)
- Manages the roadmap, intake, and prioritization of all new Portfolio Growth Marketing initiatives
- Plans and coordinates the features for each Program Increment (PI) and maintains backlog of all initiatives
- Executes strategies associated with Portfolio Growth Marketing technology epics
- Provides oversight and next level escalation for issues relating to schedule and any misalignment of goals and objectives that could put the overall strategy execution at risk
- Removes roadblocks, as necessary, for project teams
Planning & Management – 40%
- Works closely with Product, Marketing, and Technology to ensure features and PI-planning encompass business vision and strategy
- Leads cross functional working sessions and communications to understand and align business strategies to new technologies and assist in the execution of those strategies
- Manages follow up for issue resolution, task completion, and overall program management
- Reviews status of ongoing initiatives and relays status, roadmaps, risks, and overall vision to varying levels of management through the MarTech Steering Group and status meetings
Program Quality– 30%
- Oversees the development of change management plans and associated communication and training programs
- Manages the overall adoption of new programs across business development
- Works with business leaders and marketing operational teams to ensure value of technology is being realized through appropriate strategic and operational execution
The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job; it is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees in this role.
What You Need to Succeed
Being focused on our customer helps us to deliver a lasting impression and instill trust. Through collaboration and teamwork, we are able to communicate effectively across departments leading to better decision quality. We hold ourselves to the highest standards ensuring accountability in all we do to deliver on our mission and shared values.
What You Have
Minimum education, skills and experience required.
- Bachelor's Degree
- Project management training
- Minimum of 8 years experience in the following: Robust project management experience specifically managing projects with an IT component, demonstrated ability to manage multiple or concurrent projects, and detailed understanding of Lending
- Experience in making presentations to large groups of people.
- Proficient knowledge of various basic corporate PC based software packages (i.e. MS Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Visio, MS Project etc.)
- Excellent organization skills required, including ability to prioritize and organize multiple on-going and overlapping projects in an efficient and effective manner.
- Customer Service orientation and experience
- Detailed knowledge of Sallie Mae's products and marketing technology products
- Procedural/process Analysis
- Change Management
- Issue Management
- Risk Management
- Technology Implementation
- Compliance Management
- Demonstrate efficient time management skills.
- Knowledge of the PMBOK.
- Ability to meet due dates.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills including presentation skills.
- Ability to simultaneously manage and organize multiple projects.
- Ability to coordinate and lead activities of a project group.
- Ability to recognize, analyze, and resolve project and procedural problems.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
- Ability to make recommendations and decisions independently.
- Ability to perform well under pressure and to work independently with a high level of initiative.
- Ability to demonstrate effective reporting of key metrics and status.
- Ability to manage remote staff as required.
- Advanced knowledge in IT, Marketing and Risk management.
The Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination by employers, in compensation and employment opportunities, against qualified individuals with disabilities who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the “essential functions” of a job. A function may be essential for any of several reasons, including: the job exists to perform that function, the employee holding the job was hired for his/her expertise in performing the function, or only a limited number of employees are available to perform that function.
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Sallie Mae is proud to be an equal opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, gender identity, disability, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Click here to view the U.S. Pay Transparency Policy, here for federal job applicant notices, and here to view the California Employee Privacy Notice.
Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please call (855) 756-2007 and choose option 9. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.
