Design Operations - Staff Program Manager

About the role:

Samsara is looking for a Staff Program Manager to own Design Operations for the R&D organization. They will work closely with the Design Leadership team to identify strategic programs and scope, develop, and lead execution for those programs. Examples may include: design system process development, quarterly planning, feature development processes, feature development playbooks, etc. The ideal candidate will have a passion for scaling organizations, streamlining operations, and the ability to lead a variety of projects in a fast-moving environment. Validated project management skills, strong business acumen, the ability to lead cross-functional teams, and deliver impact at scale are required. The role reports to the Head of Product Design.

You should apply if:

• You want to impact the industries that run our world: Your efforts will result in real-world impact—helping to keep the lights on, get food into grocery stores, reduce emissions, and most importantly, ensure workers return home safely.
• You are the architect of your own career: If you put in the work, this role won’t be your last at Samsara. We set up our employees for success and have built a culture that encourages rapid career development, countless opportunities to experiment and master your craft in a hyper growth environment.
• You’re energized by our opportunity: The vision we have to digitize large sectors of the global economy requires your full focus and best efforts to bring forth creative, ambitious ideas for our customers.
• You want to be with the best: At Samsara, we win together, celebrate together and support each other. You will be surrounded by a high-calibre team that will encourage you to do your best. 

In this role, you will: 

• Launch and manage initiatives that improve our design org’s operations, including building, managing, and identifying operational improvements to design workflows
• Manage design execution across the organization, in partnership with Design leadership
• Proactively identify and mobilize process improvements that yield higher output, efficiency, and quality
• Collaborate with design team leadership in key project planning decisions, including requirements gathering, scheduling, resource allocation, and coordinating teams and approval processes.
• Communicate broadly to cross-functional leadership on goal & process
• Teach and advocate for program management best practices throughout the organization
• Mentor other Program Managers
• Champion, role model, and embed Samsara’s cultural principles (Focus on Customer Success, Build for the Long Term, Adopt a Growth Mindset, Be Inclusive, Win as a Team) as we scale globally and across new offices

An ideal candidate has:

• 7+ years in program management in the tech industry
• Track record of delivering results that demonstratively improve operational efficiency
• A natural problem solver and strategic thinker, who has a passion for creating a structured approach to solving complex problems, breaking down ambiguous problems and turning them into actionable solutions
• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail, with an ability to prioritize and manage multiple cross-functional projects with constrained resources and tight deadlines
• Exceptional communication skills. Comfortable presenting to executives, internal stakeholders, and external customers. Able to successfully adapt your style and leverage strong listening skills to inform your approach
• Ability to build strong relationships with cross-functional partners and senior leadership  across Product, Engineering, and Marketing
• Versed in planning and tracking tools such as Airtable, JIRA, and Confluence
• Experience with managing software launches
• Executive-level experience and communication skills