Expert Cloud Program Manager

Job Title: Expert Cloud Program Manager
Location: Oakland, CA

Job Description:
Position Summary
We are seeking a highly skilled and accomplished Expert Cloud Program Manager to lead and drive strategic cloud platform transformation initiatives across AWS, Azure, Azure Local, and hybrid infrastructure environments. This role will be responsible for managing a portfolio of enterprise cloud programs including Enterprise AMI/Image Factory, Multi-Cloud Auto-Patching, Universal CI/CD Pipelines, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Platform Automation, and Cloud Governance .
The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with a proven track record of delivering large-scale cloud transformation programs from conception through production deployment. This individual will work closely with Cloud Architecture, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, DevOps, Application Teams, and Executive Leadership to ensure successful delivery of complex initiatives while maintaining alignment with business objectives, security requirements, compliance standards, and operational excellence.
The successful candidate will drive Agile delivery practices, manage stakeholder expectations, remove delivery roadblocks, and ensure value realization through automation, standardization, and continuous improvement.

Job Responsibilities
Cloud Program Leadership

• Lead enterprise cloud platform initiatives including Enterprise AMI/Image Factory, Multi-Cloud Auto-Patching, Universal CI/CD Pipelines, and Cloud Automation programs.
• Define program strategy, roadmap, milestones, dependencies, risks, budgets, and success metrics aligned with business and technology objectives.
• Drive delivery of cloud transformation programs across AWS, Azure, Azure Local, and hybrid infrastructure environments.
• Ensure successful end-to-end execution from intake, planning, design, implementation, pilot, rollout, and operational transition.

Agile Program & Portfolio Management

• Lead large-scale Agile programs utilizing SAFe, Scrum, and Lean Portfolio Management practices.
• Establish program governance, cadence, sprint planning, release planning, executive reviews, and quarterly planning activities.
• Coordinate multiple workstreams, vendors, cloud engineers, platform teams, cybersecurity teams, and business stakeholders.
• Monitor program health, delivery metrics, velocity, dependencies, and risk mitigation activities.

AMI/Image Factory & Automation Programs

• Drive implementation of enterprise image lifecycle management solutions supporting AWS AMIs, Azure Images, Azure Compute Gallery, Azure Local Images, and VMware Templates
• Lead automation initiatives focused on image creation, testing, certification, publishing, governance, and lifecycle management.
• Ensure standardization of golden images, security baselines, compliance controls, and operational processes across environments.

Multi-Cloud Auto-Patching Programs

• Lead initiatives focused on automated operating system and middleware patching across AWS, Azure, Azure Local, and hybrid infrastructure platforms.
• Collaborate with architecture, security, and operations teams to establish enterprise patch governance and compliance reporting.
• Drive adoption of automation capabilities utilizing Azure Arc, Azure Update Manager, Azure Policy, AWS Systems Manager, Terraform, and DevOps pipelines.

Stakeholder & Executive Management

• Build strong partnerships with executive leadership, engineering teams, cybersecurity organizations, operations teams, and business units.
• Communicate program status, issues, risks, dependencies, budget performance, and delivery outcomes to senior leadership.
• Develop executive presentations, dashboards, business cases, and strategic recommendations.

Financial & Resource Management

• Manage program budgets, forecasts, vendor engagements, and resource allocation.
• Ensure efficient utilization of personnel, technology, and consulting resources.
• Track program financials and demonstrate measurable business value and ROI.

Risk, Compliance & Governance

• Establish robust governance frameworks to ensure compliance with cybersecurity, audit, and regulatory requirements.
• Identify program risks proactively and drive mitigation plans across technical and organizational areas.
• Ensure adherence to cloud architecture standards, security controls, operational readiness, and enterprise policies.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Drive adoption of platform engineering, automation, Infrastructure as Code, DevSecOps, and cloud-native practices.
• Champion process improvements that increase delivery velocity, operational efficiency, reliability, and scalability.
• Promote a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Required Skills

• Expertise in Cloud Program and Portfolio Management.
• Strong understanding of AWS, Azure, Azure Local, Hybrid Cloud, and Platform Engineering concepts.
• Experience managing enterprise-scale cloud transformation initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of Agile, SAFe, Scrum, and Lean delivery methodologies.
• Proven experience driving complex cross-functional programs from strategy through execution.
• Experience managing large budgets, schedules, dependencies, risks, and executive communications.
• Strong stakeholder management and influence skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, facilitation, negotiation, and presentation abilities.
• Ability to operate effectively in highly complex and ambiguous environments.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities.

Preferred Technical Knowledge

• Enterprise AMI/Image Factory solutions.
• Multi-Cloud Auto-Patching platforms.
• Azure Arc and Azure Update Manager.
• Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions.
• Terraform and Infrastructure as Code.
• Cloud Governance and Compliance.
• DevSecOps and Platform Engineering.
• CI/CD Pipeline Automation.
• Cloud Operations and Reliability Engineering.

Qualifications
Minimum

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of Program and Project Management experience in technology organizations.
• 5+ years leading Cloud, Infrastructure, Platform Engineering, or DevOps transformation programs.

Desired

• PMP Certification.
• SAFe Agilist (SA).
• SAFe Lean Portfolio Management (LPM).
• PMI-ACP certification.
• Experience with Azure DevOps, Jira, Planisware, or similar PPM tools.
• Experience delivering cloud migrations, platform modernization, automation, or infrastructure transformation initiatives.
• Experience managing enterprise-scale cloud programs spanning AWS, Azure, and hybrid environments.