Senior Manager, Product Operations Governance & Culture

Center 2 (19050), United States of America, McLean, Virginia

Senior Manager, Product Operations Governance & Culture

As a Senior Manager in the Finance Product & Data Solutions (FPDS) Product Operations team, focusing on Finance Product Governance & Culture, you will play a key leadership role in planning, project management, strategy, and execution across the finance product organization. You will lead critical processes such as audits, reporting, tracking success metrics, and managing key initiatives with a risk-focused approach. This includes overseeing finance product governance, driving OKRs and KPIs, and ensuring the complete and accurate reporting of results. With high visibility, you will have the opportunity to present to executive stakeholders and collaborate with teams across the enterprise to drive effective and well-managed processes. Additionally, you will lead cultural initiatives and communications in partnership with the leaders across the FPDS organization.

This role demands exceptional organizational skills and the ability to handle tasks beyond those of other leadership members. You will be responsible for both strategic oversight and hands-on execution. The ideal candidate is an outstanding communicator, capable of challenging the status quo, influencing meaningful change, and fostering strong relationships across departments and stakeholder groups.

Key responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership and Planning

• Define and facilitate business priorities and drive the goal-setting process for the organization, ensuring alignment with broader enterprise objectives

• Engage in organizational design, headcount planning, and hiring processes to ensure optimal team structure and resource allocation

• Partner with Finance to manage the annual operating budget for Finance Product, ensuring resources align with strategic goals

Governance, Risk, and Reporting

• Lead the governance of finance product initiatives, applying a risk management mindset to oversee OKRs, KPIs, audits, and key initiative reporting

• Ensure that performance metrics are tracked, reported accurately, and communicated comprehensively to executive leadership

• Proactively identify and elevate risks and impacts to the Controller, ensuring timely communication and integration across teams

Cultural and Organizational Engagement

• Lead the planning and execution of culture and associate engagement initiatives, creating a positive organizational environment that supports high performance

• Develop and execute the department’s communication strategy, ensuring clear and consistent messaging throughout the organization

Executive Support and Stakeholder Management

• Serve as a trusted advisor and resource for the leadership team, providing key information, historical context, and guidance

• Manage special projects, leveraging your skills to provide support for key departmental initiatives

• Prepare meeting agendas, coordinate materials, and facilitate leadership routines and meeting

Process Optimization and Efficiency

• Continuously improve processes and operational efficiencies to ensure that the organization’s strategic priorities are met

• Act as the central point for coordinating cross-functional efforts 

Skills/Competencies Needed:

• Strong business judgment, influencing skills, people leadership and integrity are essential for this position

• Must possess high “EQ” and be a collaborative team player

• Self-starter that can work autonomously and can take initiative; highly motivated

• Confident to champion unpopular ideas even with more senior leaders

• Ability to navigate “white space” or ambiguous situations

• Strong facilitation, negotiation and mediation skills; ability to drive to consensus / decisions

• Strong project management and organizational skills. Meticulous attention to detail

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Discretion in handling highly sensitive issues

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or military experience

• At least 7 years of Project Management experience OR at least 7 years of Process Manage