Carl Zeiss - Program Manager

Role Summary:

The Program Manager plans, executes, and delivers cross-functional programs on time, within scope, and within budget - partnering with stakeholders across departments to define program goals, manage risks and dependencies, and ensure consistent, measurable delivery aligned with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead end-to-end planning and execution of programs, including scope, timelines, milestones, and resource allocation.

- Develop and maintain program governance, charters, and status reporting for stakeholders and leadership.

- Partner with cross-functional teams to identify priorities and translate them into actionable project plans.

- Track program KPIs and deliverables, and report progress to senior management.

- Identify, assess, and mitigate risks and issues that could impact program delivery.

- Manage interdependencies across multiple workstreams and coordinate with external partners/vendors as needed.

- Facilitate program reviews, retrospectives, and stakeholder alignment sessions.

- Drive process improvements and standardization of program management practices across teams.

Requirements:

- Master's degree in business administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.

- 5 - 8+ years of experience in program/project management in a complex, cross-functional organization.

- Proven track record of leading multiple concurrent projects/programs to successful completion.

- Strong knowledge of project management tools and methodologies.

- Strong analytical ability to break down complex problems into structured plans, interpret data/dashboards to spot trends and risks, apply root cause analysis, and uses Excel/BI tools to track metrics and drive fact-based decisions.

- Strong stakeholder management, influencing, and communication skills across all levels.

- Experience in manufacturing, technology, or operation-driven environments a plus.