Global Program Manager

As a Program Manager, you will be instrumental in driving and delivering Hoya Vision Care’s top strategic priorities from inception to completion. This hands-on role demands exceptional strategic planning, cross-functional coordination, and extensive project delivery experience. Your expertise will ensure that each project meets the highest standards of project management, quality, and performance, achieving its intended value and benefits.

In this global position, you will have the unique opportunity to collaborate directly with senior leadership across various regions. Your contributions will be vital in building a robust project delivery capability within our newly reformed Global Project Management Organization, with a strong focus on value generation. Join our expanding global team of project and portfolio managers at this pivotal moment of transformation. Be a key part of our journey as we shape the future of Hoya Vision Care through the successful delivery of strategic business initiatives.

Project summary: As a Program Manager, you will spearhead multiple AI driven initiatives that have been shortlisted as the top AI-led innovation priority for Hoya Vision Care. You will be responsible for facilitating the business case, mobilization, planning and successful delivery of these projects through strong collaboration with respective subject matter experts. There will be strong focus on value generation and ensuring effective project governance.

The Stakeholders

The following are the key stakeholders for this position:

• Global Functional Leaders and Sponsors: global functional leaders (CXOs) including the sponsors of each AI project
• Global Functional SMEs: global, regional and local subject matter experts from respective functions to develop function specific AI solutions.
• Rapid Application Development (RAD) team: global team responsible for prototyping innovative technology-driven business solutions.
• Global Internal Controls Team: responsible for ensuring that risks are well managed, and controls are in place.
• Regional and Global Chief Information Officers: regional CIOs in Asia, Europe, and the USA.
• The Managing Directors and the local entity leadership team across the four commercial business units. This includes functions such as Finance, Marketing, Operations, and Commercial across the local entities in the CEEME-B region, Western Europe, APAC, and Americas. Pilot will focus on the UK and Italian markets first.
• Global Commercial Excellence, Finance, Marketing, Legal, and HR Teams: select stakeholders responsible for running projects and programs.
• External Implementation Partners, Vendors, and Suppliers: various team members depending on the project requirements.

As a global Program Manager, your role encompasses strategic, operational, and leadership tasks critical for successful project execution across global initiatives. Here are the key responsibilities for this position:

• Project charter: develop comprehensive project charter outlining objectives, scope, deliverables, timelines, and required resources. Align project goals with overall business objectives and strategic priorities.
• Value generation: focus on delivering projects that meet or exceed stakeholder expectations and deliver tangible business benefits. Continuously assess project alignment with strategic objectives and adjust as necessary to maximize value delivery.
• Cross-functional collaboration: coordinate and collaborate with cross-functional teams across different regions to ensure seamless project execution. 
• Decision-making and accountability: facilitate decision-making processes within project teams and escalate issues to project sponsors or steering committees as needed. Ensure accountability among project team members for deliverables and commitments.
• Resource management: identify and align subject matter experts from functional teams, ensuring their availability and ownership of deliverables. Provide necessary tools and support to enable team members to achieve project objectives.
• Stakeholder engagement: build strong relationships with stakeholders to foster trust and collaboration throughout the project lifecycle. Establish clear communication channels to manage expectations, gather requirements, and provide regular project updates.
• Benefits realization: define and track project benefits and outcomes to ensure alignment with expected business benefits and ROI. Monitor and report on benefits realization throughout the project lifecycle to stakeholders and governance bodies.
• Risk management: identify potential risks and develop proactive mitigation strategies to minimize disruptions. Monitor and manage changes in project scope, schedule, and budget effectively. 
• Quality assurance: establish and maintain high standards of project quality and performance. Conduct regular reviews and assessments to ensure adherence to project deliverables and milestones.
• Documentation and reporting: maintain accurate and up-to-date project documentation, including plans, schedules, status reports, and meeting minutes. Prepare comprehensive project reports for governance bodies and senior leadership to demonstrate project status, risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Continuous improvement: foster a culture of continuous improvement within the project team and across the organization. Implement lessons learned from past projects to enhance project management practices and outcomes.

Education

• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field.
• Any relevant Project Management certification from accredited bodies such as Prince and PMP.
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

Experience

• Minimum 12 years of experience overall, with at least 8 years of hands-on experience in project delivery within management or strategy consultancy, or in an in-house consulting environment.
• Experience in managing projects that involve AI, machine learning models, and data analysis.
• Proficiency in project management methodologies such as Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall. Experience with project management tools like Jira, Trello, Asana, or Microsoft Project.
• Deep understanding of best practices in project management and proven track record of leading projects in complex, global, and multi-functional environments.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining strong, positive relationships with stakeholders at various levels, including executives, team members, clients, and external partners.
• Strong experience in preparing and delivering reports, presentations, and updates to stakeholders, ensuring they are informed of progress, challenges, and key decisions. Ability to present complex information in a clear, concise, and compelling manner.
• Cross-cultural working experience in Europe, Asia and in the USA related to digital technology to drive improved user experiences (internal and external).
• Familiarity with ophthalmic lens product development processes or projects is preferred but not mandatory.

Knowledge and hard skills

• Understanding of AI concepts, machine learning algorithms, data science, and related technologies.
• Strong working knowledge of project management best practices with hands-on experience in value realization.
• Strong analytical skills to understand complex data and derive insights. Problem-solving abilities to address technical and project-related challenges.
• Solid understanding of business and financial principles.
• Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in one other Central or Eastern European language is preferred (not mandatory).
• Leadership skills to inspire and mobilize stakeholders towards achieving program objectives.
• Strong time management, prioritization, and task management skills.

Behavioural attributes

• Self-confident with excellent communication and presentation skills, especially when working with senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
• "Can-do" attitude with a willingness to learn, grow, and collaborate.
• Initiative, proactiveness, and the ability to work independently.
• High levels of energy, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude.
• Willingness to work with ambiguity and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Solution-oriented with a bias for action and results.
• Meticulous attention to detail.

Mobility

• Willingness to travel at least 25% of the time, both domestically and internationally. Occasionally, more travel may be required based on business needs