PROGRAM MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR, STRATEGY & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

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Position Base
UCOP - Franklin Building

Location
Oakland or UC San Diego

Department Overview
UC Systemwide Procurement is the procurement/supply chain hub for the University of California system, with over $10 billion in annual spend. We partner with campus procurement offices to develop and implement systemwide supply chain strategies and policies that leverage UC's vast purchasing power to optimize spend and deliver positive social and environmental impact. Systemwide Procurement is transforming how UC purchases goods and services to maximize benefit to the UC system while improving quality and service to our campuses and beyond. We apply best-in-class sourcing methods with emphasis on sustainability and supplier diversity, invest in leading tools and technology, and cultivate strategic supplier partnerships to source the highest quality products and services for the absolute best value. Nationally, UC Procurement is a public procurement role model. As a lead agency for cooperative purchasing, UC contracts are leveraged by over 3,500 public education and government agencies in all 50 states. These organizations depend on and benefit from UC's expertise, knowledge, reputation, and economies of scale to minimize spend and maximize value. UC Systemwide Procurement fosters an environment for continuous improvement and a growth mindset culture. Our team of approximately 50 dedicated professionals is comprised of specialized portfolio sourcing managers, highly skilled data analysts, efficiency-driven business analysts, knowledgeable functional area administrators, and responsive support staff. UC Systemwide Procurement is a high-performing strategic department essential to the financial and operational health of the University of California, with high impact at the state and national levels.

Position Summary
The Program Management Director, Strategy & Continuous Improvement, serves on the SWP Leadership Team and is responsible for aligning organizational strategy, portfolio execution, governance, and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization. This role leads development of enterprise program and project management capabilities, drives strategic planning and prioritization, oversees execution of critical initiatives, and provides executive leadership with the insights, governance structures, and performance measures needed to achieve organizational objectives. The Director operates as a trusted strategic advisor in a highly matrixed environment and is recognized as an expert in portfolio management, organizational effectiveness, and transformation leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• 25% STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT & PORTFOLIO ALIGNMENT Partner with SWP Leadership to translate strategic priorities into a cohesive portfolio of initiatives and investments. Serve as a key thought partner to leadership on organizational priorities, execution challenges, and transformation opportunities. Design and facilitate strategic planning, ideation, prioritization, and portfolio review sessions that support informed decision-making and resource allocation. Guide leadership through tradeoff discussions and prioritization decisions to ensure alignment with organizational goals and capacity. Help leaders navigate complexity while maintaining focus on outcomes and long-term organizational success. Challenge assumptions, identify tradeoffs, and recommend alternatives when plans, priorities, or approaches require adjustment. Identify emerging risks, opportunities, and trends and provide strategic recommendations that inform organizational direction. Balance strategic vision with practical execution realities.

• 25% PROGRAM & PROJECT MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK LEADERSHIP Establish, maintain, and continuously improve the organization's program and project management framework. Define standards for project intake, prioritization, governance, lifecycle management, decision-making, and accountability. Implement tools, templates, reporting structures, and governance processes that support effective execution. Ensure consistent, scalable, and transparent project and program delivery practices. Establish portfolio, program, and project performance metrics that provide meaningful insights into execution and outcomes. Plan and facilitate both onsite and virtual workshops, training sessions, and stakeholder engagements. Represent the SWP at UCOP and campus meetings and events. Develop executive-level reporting that enables leadership to assess performance, risks, dependencies, and resource implications. Ensure reporting supports strategic decision-making and organizational accountability.

• 25% ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITY & PMO EXCELLENCE Strengthen program and project management capabilities through coaching, mentoring, and practical enablement. Promote adoption of standards, tools, and best practices across the organization. Support project managers in strengthening planning, stakeholder engagement, communication, and execution disciplines. In partnership with leadership, foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, learning, and operational excellence. Partner with SWP Leadership and functional leaders to define, prioritize, and maintain organization-wide key performance indicators aligned with strategic objectives, operating priorities, and desired business outcomes. Establish a consistent KPI framework, including clear definitions, calculation methodologies, targets, data sources, reporting frequency, and accountable owners. Facilitate leadership discussions to set performance targets, evaluate results, identify material variances, and determine appropriate corrective actions or changes in organizational priorities. Design and manage recurring performance reporting processes and leadership review labs that provide a comprehensive view of organizational, portfolio, and operational performance. Coordinate with KPI owners and data providers to ensure performance information is timely, accurate, consistent, and decision-useful. Maintain visibility into performance commitments and facilitate follow-through on actions, decisions, and improvement initiatives arising from leadership performance reviews. Periodically evaluate and refine KPIs, targets, dashboards, and reporting practices to ensure they remain relevant as organizational strategy, priorities, and operating conditions evolve.

• 25% CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT & TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP Lead efforts to improve organizational effectiveness through process improvement, governance enhancements, and organizational learning. Integrate continuous improvement principles into strategic planning, portfolio management, and program execution. Identify opportunities to streamline operations, eliminate inefficiencies, and strengthen organizational performance. Support transformation initiatives by embedding sustainable improvements into ongoing operations.

Experience
Required Qualifications

• Min 10 years Large-scale program and project management experience in a matrixed organization, which is also inclusive of a minimum of 5 years of direct strategic sourcing or procurement process experience.

• Also includes a minimum of 8 years of experience with enterprise-wide performance management.

• Also includes a minimum of 8 years of experience with operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Min 2 years Higher education experience.

Skills and Abilities
Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of strategic planning, portfolio management, governance, and organizational effectiveness.

• Advanced project and program management skills.

• Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and decision-support capabilities.

• Excellent leadership, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.

• Excellent ability to influence without direct authority in a matrixed environment.

• Advanced skills in executive communication, reporting, and presentation development.

• Advanced knowledge of continuous improvement, organizational change, and transformation methodologies.

• Able to interpret and communicate highly complex, highly technical information clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.

• Advanced knowledge of enterprise performance management, KPI development and governance, target setting, dashboard design, and executive performance-review facilitation.

• Advanced knowledge of organizational theory and ability to translate into practice and advanced knowledge of organizational consulting.

• Ability to evaluate complex organizational issues and develop practical, scalable solutions.

• Demonstrated ability to build alignment among diverse stakeholder groups and lead through ambiguity.

• Advanced project management skills.

• Skills in establishing and implementing customer service standards.

Education
Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree preferred.

Licenses and Certifications
Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management certification

• Lean Six Sigma Certification or equivalent mastery.

• Program Management Professional (PgMP) - PMI

Travel Requirements
10% Travel to UC locations

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

This position has been approved for a hybrid work arrangement. The person hired must report to work two days on-site in Oakland or at a campus location near their home. If in Oakland, the person hired is required to be on-site at UC's Office of the President (UCOP) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, subject to change. If at a campus, the two days on-site is dependent upon the campus, subject to change. The person hired is required to reside in the State of California.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Job Title
Organizational Consultant 5

Job Code
000563

Salary Grade
Grade 27

Payscale:
$185,000 - $200,000, commensurate with experience

Benefits: For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University visit: Benefits of Belonging

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

HOW TO APPLY

Please be prepared to attach a cover letter and resume with your application.

APPLICATION REVIEW DATE

The first review date for this job is September 15, 2026. The position will be open until filled.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check Process: Successful completion of a background check is required for this critical position. Background check process at UCOP

Smoke Free Work Environment: The University of California, Office of the President, is smoke & tobacco-free as of January 1, 2014. UC Smoke & Tobacco Free Policy

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
  • UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
  • APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

EEO STATEMENT

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

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