Program Director

Job Title: Program Director

Location: Quincy, MA

Duration: Long Term

Description for Internal Candidates

We are seeking an experienced Program Director with a deep technical architecture background to lead and manage critical programs within the banking domain. This is a unique leadership role where the ideal candidate combines expertise in both program management and technical architecture, driving successful program execution while ensuring alignment with business objectives, IT strategy, and regulatory standards. The individual will be responsible for leading large-scale, complex banking technology programs, overseeing Architecture Review Board (ARB) processes, and managing Technical Review board (TRB) to ensure robust, scalable, and secure IT solutions.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience managing cross-functional teams, navigating the complexities of banking IT architecture, and ensuring that all solutions align with organizational goals. You ll be leading from the front, guiding both technical and business teams, with an emphasis on strategic architecture decisions that support long-term business success.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Program Management:

Drive the end-to-end delivery of large-scale technical programs, ensuring that architecture and infrastructure align with business and IT strategies.

Collaborate with business leaders to understand requirements, then translate those into scalable and secure technical solutions.

Lead all aspects of program execution from inception to delivery, ensuring that each technical component integrates seamlessly into the existing IT landscape.

Manage the technical scope, timeline, budget, and resources, ensuring proper execution and alignment with architectural principles.

Architecture Review Board (ARB) Leadership:

Lead the Architecture Review Board (ARB), providing governance and oversight for technical solutions, ensuring they align with both business objectives and architectural best practices.

Evaluate architectural proposals and decisions from technical teams, assessing risks, compliance, scalability, security, and long-term sustainability.

Work closely with architects, engineers, and senior technical leaders to maintain architectural integrity and ensure that solutions adhere to established frameworks and methodologies.

Technical Review Board (TRB):

Oversee the Technical Review process, identifying and managing risk

s at both the program and project levels, particularly those related to technical feasibility and security.

Ensure all architectural solutions address potential business risks, including data protection, system resilience, regulatory compliance, and business continuity.

Implement risk mitigation strategies, working closely with business stakeholders to ensure alignment and minimize technical and business disruptions.

Stakeholder Management & Communication:

Foster strong relationships with both business and technical stakeholders, including C-suite executives, project managers, architects, and engineers.

Act as a liaison between business leaders and technical teams, effectively communicating complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Provide regular updates to senior leadership on technical progress, challenges, and opportunities, ensuring clear visibility on both program and architecture health.

Technical Leadership & Mentorship:

Provide guidance to technical teams on architectural best practices, emerging technologies, and industry trends, ensuring that teams are well-equipped to make informed technical decisions.

Mentor and develop architects, engineers, and project managers, helping them build skills in both technical architecture and program management.

Lead by example in fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in both program management and architectural design.

Strategic Architecture Planning & Execution:

Contribute to the long-term technical strategy for the organization, ensuring that IT systems and solutions are scalable, flexible, and capable of supporting future growth.

Drive architectural decisions that optimize system performance, reduce costs, and support the organization s broader business and IT goals.

Provide technical leadership during solution design and development, ensuring that systems are designed with the right architecture to meet business needs and future scalability.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

Experience:

15+ years of experience in enterprise architecture and program management, preferably in the banking or financial services industry.

Extensive experience leading technical architecture and managing complex, cross-functional IT programs from conception to delivery.

Strong track record of success in Architecture Review Board (ARB) management, evaluating and guiding architectural decisions.

Deep understanding of key technical domains such as core banking systems, cloud architecture, system integration, cybersecurity, data management, and regulatory compliance.

Technical Expertise:

Extensive hands-on experience with banking technology stacks and deep familiarity with architectural frameworks such as TOGAF or similar.

In-depth knowledge of modern system architecture, cloud technologies, and microservices architectures in a banking environment.

Expertise in designing scalable, secure, and highly available systems that support core banking functions, digital banking services, and regulatory requirements.

Proficiency in integration technologies, API management, data architecture, and automation.

Familiarity with emerging technologies in the banking space, such as AI/ML, blockchain, and open banking APIs.

Leadership & Communication:

Strong leadership abilities, with proven experience mentoring technical teams and driving cross-functional collaboration.

Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical solutions to non-technical business stakeholders.

Comfortable working with senior executives, making decisions that balance business objectives with technical feasibility and security considerations.

Certifications (Preferred):

TOGAF or similar architectural framework certification.

PMP (Project Management Professional) or other project management certifications.

Certified ScrumMaster or Agile certifications.

Certifications related to cloud architecture, cybersecurity, or enterprise architecture.

Desired Attributes:

A forward-thinking leader with a passion for technology and its ability to transform the banking industry.

A hands-on approach to solving technical challenges while ensuring that all solutions are aligned with the business strategy.

Ability to build and maintain a culture of high performance, innovation, and collaboration across business and technical teams.

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment while balancing multiple competing priorities.