Senior Program Manager

Job description

About the Role Clearwater Analytics is looking for a Senior Program Manager to operate at the organizational level — partnering across product and engineering teams to bring structure, velocity, and clarity to complex, multi-stakeholder programs. This is a high-visibility role at the intersection of technology and product, designed for someone who can hold the big picture while keeping the details from falling through the cracks. We are looking for a program leader, not a process follower. While we deeply respect the discipline of agile delivery, this role goes well beyond sprint ceremonies and status updates. You will be expected to build programs from the ground up — defining charters, aligning stakeholders, managing risk, and driving outcomes across the organization. Think of this less as running meetings and more as running programs: you own the outcome, you set the standard, and you bring people along with you. If your superpower is ownership, your instinct is to run toward complexity, and you lead with integrity and a genuine service mindset — this role was built for you. What You’ll Do Own end-to-end program management for cross-functional initiatives across product and engineering — including OEMS, PMS, UI/UX, and other teams depending on program load — from initiation through delivery Build and maintain project charters, program roadmaps, risk registries, and milestone tracking to keep programs on schedule and stakeholders informed Coordinate with product managers and engineering senior development managers to ensure program work is properly prioritized and queued — keeping execution moving without owning team ceremonies directly Proactively identify risks, surface blockers, and drive resolution with a bias toward action Deliver clear, well-structured program reporting to leadership — leveraging AI tools and creative approaches to make status communication efficient and impactful Collaborate with the TPM team to establish, refine, and continuously improve program management processes and frameworks across the organization Partner with engineering leads and product managers to translate business goals into executable program plans with clear milestones and accountability What You’ll Bring Program & Delivery Expertise 9 years of Technical Program Management experience, ideally in a fintech, SaaS, or capital markets environment Demonstrated ability to build project charters and drive programs from ambiguity to delivery with minimal direction Proficiency with program management tooling and artifacts: roadmaps, Gantt charts, risk registries, and milestone tracking (Jira, Confluence, or equivalent) Strong command of agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and familiarity with waterfall delivery where applicable Solid understanding of SDLC and how software moves from concept to production Technical Fluency Working knowledge of engineering fundamentals — infrastructure, architecture, and system design — sufficient to engage credibly with technical teams Familiarity with design principles, APIs, and cloud platforms Comfort with AI tools and a creative, curious approach to using them — especially for reporting, documentation, and program communication Collaboration & Communication Strong cross-functional coordination skills — comfortable managing relationships across engineering, product, design, and business stakeholders Excellent written and verbal communication; able to translate technical complexity for executive audiences without losing the detail that matters High ownership mindset — you treat program outcomes as your own, not someone else’s responsibility Genuine team player who builds trust within your immediate team and across stakeholder groups alike Nice to Have Direct work experience in capital markets, fintech, or front office environments (order management, portfolio management, or trading systems) Experience scaling a TPM function or standing up program management practices in a growing organization Familiarity with DevOps practices — useful for infrastructure or platform-adjacent programs Experience with budgeting and resource management at the program level Familiarity with OKR/KPI frameworks and how to connect program execution to business outcomes Technical background — prior development, platform, or systems experience, or active personal coding projects PMP, PgMP, or equivalent certification Who You Are You thrive in ambiguity and build the structure others need. You ask the hard questions early, escalate with context (not just problems), and know the difference between coordinating work and owning it. Additional Job Description $120,000 -$168,000 (NYC) & $100,000 - $140,000 (CHI). This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, other job-related qualifications/skills, and geographic location (to account for comparative cost of living). The Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. For this role, benefits include: health/vision/dental insurance, 401(k), PTO, parental leave, and medical leave, STD/LTD insurance benefits. Clearwater Analytics is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.