Director, Engineering Program Management

Adobe · San Jose

onsitefull-time10+ years

posted 10 Aug

We are hiring a Director of Program Management and Operations to lead the execution of Search, Discovery, and Content AI's (SDC) most important initiatives and to own the operating foundation of the business. You will manage a team, partner closely with Product and Engineering leadership, and help ensure the organization is focused on the right priorities. This role has real ownership and impact, shaping not just what gets delivered, but how the organization operates and scales over time. What you'll do Lead and scale technical program management You will own execution across SDC's highest priority, cross-functional initiatives, including complex technical programs that span the broader organization across multiple geographies. You will work with leaders to translate strategy into clear plans, align teams around outcomes, surface risks early, and drive decisions when tradeoffs are required. Your role is to bring clarity and momentum to work that would otherwise be slowed by ambiguity, competing priorities, or organizational complexity. Build and lead a high-performing team You will manage and develop a team of senior and principal technical program managers. This includes setting expectations for impact and ownership, coaching individuals through complex challenges, and creating clear growth paths for people at different stages of their careers. You will play a key role in hiring and onboarding new talent, with an emphasis on developing internal candidates and building a strong leadership bench. Creating a culture of accountability, trust, and continuous improvement is central to this role. Own the operating rhythm You will own the operating rhythm of the SDC business: planning and tracking work across quarters, partnering with Finance on headcount and investment decisions, managing headcount allocation, spot bonuses, and annual performance calibration, and ensuring leadership has clear insight into progress, risks, and dependencies. You will design and maintain operating mechanisms, including planning cycles, reviews, and execution tracking, that are effective without being heavy. Be a trusted partner to leadership You will act as a trusted partner to Product, Engineering, and business leaders. This means helping leaders see around corners, connecting dots across teams, and raising issues early when alignment or execution is at risk. You will design and facilitate leadership meetings, cross-functional workshops, and team sessions that move work forward, clarifying goals, guiding dialogue, and ensuring clear outcomes and follow-through. You will prepare concise materials for leadership forums and decision reviews, and ensure decisions are translated into action across a widely dispersed group. When a new challenge surfaces, you take it. You do not wait to be told how. What we're looking for A strong operator and people leader who brings judgment, empathy, a bias for action, and demonstrated ownership of outcomes. 10+ years of experience leading technical programs, business operations, or both within a product organization A Bachelor's degree or relevant experience equivalent to a degree is required Proven people management experience, ideally leading senior program managers or cross-functional teams Comfort working closely with engineering teams on complex systems and platforms Experience operating in a matrixed environment with multiple senior partners and stakeholders A track record of delivering meaningful outcomes through influence and collaboration You bring clarity to ambiguous situations, communicate directly and thoughtfully, and help teams focus on what matters most. You care about building strong teams and creating an environment where people can do their best work. About Adobe Adobe empowers everyone to create through innovative platforms and tools that unleash creativity, productivity and personalized customer experiences. Adobe’s industry-leading offerings including Adobe Acrobat Studio, Adobe Express, Adobe F