IT Technical Program Manager

Job Type

PetSafe Brands, formerly known as Radio Systems Corporation, is headquartered in Knoxville, TN. It has been named “The Marble City” and "Scruffy City", names we have embraced for our unique charm. We are the home of 1982 World’s Fair and we boast of 21 craft breweries around the city (click here for the Ale Trail). If you like to hike or camp, visit the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. Take your pick of outdoor activities from walking, tubing, running, or biking in our Urban Wilderness. Knox County has an amazing public-school system, no state income tax, low property taxes and cost of living. We host Music and Shakespeare on the Square as well as Family Movie Nights on the Square during the summer months in downtown Knoxville.

Our Company: PetSafe Brands is the world leader in pet products through our family of brands:Pet Safe® Brand, Sport DOG® Brand, Invisible Fence® Brand, Kurgo and Premier Pet. Pet Safe® Brand makes every product from leashes and harnesses to water fountains and and litter boxes. We have an ambitious goal of touching over 21 million pets, people, and communities around the world each year. We serve a broad range of pet owners from providing the hunter the best gear for a successful hunt to accommodating the “Not-So-Crazy Cat Lady” with all the entertaining toys and effective solutions she could ever imagine. We do this by creating a culture of enthusiasm, resilience, adaptability, and teamwork every day in the office. We work hard to be our community’s employer of choice as we all live our purpose: We exist to unleash freedom for pet parents by keeping their pets happy, healthy and safe. 

Summary of Position:

As the IT Technical Program Manager at PetSafe Brands, you will be instrumental in driving the strategic execution of our technology initiatives and overseeing the CIO's project portfolio. Leveraging your deep expertise in technology and software development, you will manage multiple technology projects simultaneously, ensuring they are delivered efficiently, on time, and within budget. Your key responsibilities will include portfolio and vendor management, technical delivery oversight and reporting, financial management of IT projects and overall IT expenditures, and leading IT communications and stakeholder engagement.

In this leadership role, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather requirements, define project scopes and technical design, and establish comprehensive program and resource plans. Your meticulous organizational and documentation skills will ensure that teams are equipped with clear expectations, resources, and support to achieve project goals.

Your engagement with company goals and strategies is critical, as you ensure that all technology efforts are aligned with business objectives and priorities. This role will also involve participation in other tactical and strategic initiatives, contributing to the overall success and innovation of PetSafe Brands.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Management:

• Oversee IT initiatives by managing scope, deliverables, and timelines in collaboration with the technology team leaders and senior management.
• Ensure key milestones and deliverables are met while adhering to established processes.
• Lead and manage the portfolio view for all IT projects and initiatives.
• Oversee total costs for the IT department and programs, schedules for IT initiative delivery, process improvements, and successful project deliveries.
• Continuously evaluate and communicate risks and impacts.
• Proactively develop mitigation plans and drive key decisions to address potential issues.
• Partner with technology managers on program delivery to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Be firm and fair in judgment; push back when scope creeps or suggested timeframes/budgets are unrealistic while understanding stakeholder goals.

Mastery of Data and Communication:

• Create robust and realistic cost/budget documents for IT projects and initiatives.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of project finances.
• Know the intimate details of projects, including timings, key milestones, budgets, resourcing, and risks.
• Provide regular and timely updates on status, milestones, and key performance indicators to senior management.
• Serve as the central point of communication for IT programs and projects.
• Maintain regular contact with internal teams and external partners to ensure alignment and progress.

Team Leadership:

• Lead across all disciplines to ensure coordination, collaboration, and alignment across multiple initiatives.
• Eliminate inefficiencies and ineffective processes or meetings.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the IT team.
• Embrace change and encourage adaptability within the team.
• Foster strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including clients, partners, and vendors.

Technical Leadership:

• Stay informed about industry trends and emerging technologies.
• Incorporate relevant advancements into the IT delivery strategy and portfolio view.
• Implement practices to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• In collaboration with department leaders and the SQA team, enforce testing processes and quality control measures to ensure the reliability and performance of IT solutions.

Qualifications:                  

• 6+ years of proven technical program management experience, successfully leading and delivering complex programs in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong understanding of current technologies and software development methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic plans aligned with business objectives.
• Expertise in program management methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• Experience implementing change and knowledge of organizational development methodologies and practices.
• Exceptional analytical aptitude with the ability to mine, interpret, and communicate data effectively.
• Exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a strategic mindset.
• Solid foundation in budget management, resource allocation, and risk management.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience working with remote and global teams.
• Comfortable with change and able to navigate through ambiguity.
• Proactive in identifying solutions and driving positive outcomes.

Relationships:

• Reports to CIO
• Sits on IT Leadership Team
• Works directly with Executive Sponsors

#LI-RC1

BENEFITS:

Working for PetSafe Brands definitely has its benefits. We offer a collaborative and creative team-oriented work environment where we encourage you to take risks to learn and grow! We offer a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and 401K match. In addition we offer a rich wellness program which includes an onsite health clinic, workout facility and of course, we encourage you to bring your dog to work, which is our whole reason for what we do!

PetSafe Brands is dedicated to offering equal employment opportunity for all teammates and fostering a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. At PetSafe Brand, our teammates are our greatest strength. We strive to build a workforce as diverse as the customers we serve by hiring great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression and talent. We recruit and reward teammates based on capability and performance and together we are building a culture that welcomes all dimensions of an individual’s identity including race, color, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, educational background, national origin or ancestry, religion, veteran status, or physical ability. We embrace these differences and the unique contributions each teammate brings not just because it is the right thing to do but because it makes our company stronger. While we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and a culture of belonging, we recognize that we still have more work to do and a lot more to learn.