Technical Program Manager

Designation: AVP - Technical Program Management

Location: Bangalore

Executive Summary

Kotak is seeking an accomplished Technical Program Manager to lead complex technology initiatives end-to-end, bridging strategy and execution while managing programs across traditional and Agile delivery models. This role combines individual contributor excellence with the ability to scale—leading small, focused teams on major initiatives or managing large, multi-team programs as business needs evolve.

The successful candidate will own program delivery, stakeholder alignment, and risk management while working independently with senior leadership and cross-functional partners across the organization. They will demonstrate strong business acumen, translating business objectives into executable technology outcomes and ensuring programs deliver measurable value.

Key Accountabilities

1. Program Delivery & Execution

- Own complete lifecycle management of technical programs: planning, execution, tracking, and closure

- Define scope, timelines, milestones, dependencies, and resource requirements across both traditional and Agile methodologies

- Balance predictive (Waterfall/traditional) planning for fixed-scope phases with adaptive (Agile/Scrum) execution for iterative work

- Identify, escalate, and mitigate risks and blockers proactively using appropriate frameworks for each delivery model

- Manage trade-offs between scope, timeline, quality, and resource constraints

- Drive cross-functional coordination across engineering, product, infrastructure, and business teams

- Ensure program health through regular status tracking and reporting (burndowns, velocity, risk registers, milestone gates)

- Facilitate sprint planning and backlog grooming for Agile components while maintaining traditional project documentation where needed

- Coordinate dependencies and integration points between Agile and traditional work streams

- Continue to directly own and deliver strategic programs while leading team members.

2. Stakeholder Management & Communication

- Build and maintain relationships across all organizational levels (individual contributors to C-suite)

- Prepare and deliver program updates to executives, steering committees, and sponsors

- Translate technical complexity into clear, actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders

- Communicate program status, risks, and decisions with clarity and precision

- Facilitate alignment meetings and resolve conflicts across teams

- Represent program interests in priority-setting and resource allocation discussions

3. Team Leadership (Scaling)

- Lead teams of 3-5+ FTEs and FTCs on larger programs, setting clear direction and accountability

- Mentor and develop program team members; build organizational capability in program management

- Foster a culture of ownership, transparency, and continuous improvement within the program

- Manage performance and ensure delivery on committed timelines and quality standards

- Represent the program in talent planning and resource allocation discussions

4. Strategic Contribution & Governance

- Contribute to process improvement and governance frameworks in program management

- Identify opportunities for operational efficiency, risk reduction, and capability maturation

- Advise leadership on technical feasibility, delivery risks, and resource implications of strategic initiatives

- Support roadmap planning, portfolio management, and long-term technology strategy

- Ensure compliance with organizational policies, audit requirements, and governance standards

Required Qualifications

Professional Experience

- Minimum 4+ years in program/project management in banking & financial services environments in India

- Demonstrated success delivering complex technology programs involving multiple stakeholders, critical dependencies, regulatory requirements, or enterprise-wide impact.

- Proven experience managing programs across mixed delivery models (Agile, Waterfall, hybrid)

- Track record of successfully implementing or transitioning delivery methodologies

- Hands-on experience managing both FTE and FTC resources

- Ability to work autonomously with minimal oversight, making sound decisions on scope, timeline, and resource trade-offs

Technical & Methodological Expertise

- Strong grasp of software development lifecycle, cloud architecture, and technical constraints

- Expertise in both Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe) and traditional PM (Waterfall, Phase-Gate)

- Proven ability to select and tailor appropriate delivery frameworks based on program characteristics and organizational context

- Proficiency with program management tools (JIRA, Azure DevOps, MS Project, ServiceNow, etc.)

- Data-driven approach to program health (metrics, dashboards, burn-down tracking, variance analysis)

Leadership & Stakeholder Excellence

- Demonstrated ability to influence and align stakeholders across all organizational levels (ICs to C-suite)

- Strong executive presence; comfortable presenting to senior leadership and steering committees

- Exceptional communication: clear, concise, and audience-appropriate (technical, business, executive)

- Proven track record building trust with cross-functional partners (product, infrastructure, operations, business)

- Experience developing and mentoring program management talent

Core Competencies

- Strategic Thinking: Translates business objectives into executable program plans; identifies and manages dependencies

- Execution Excellence: Consistently delivers on commitments; maintains rigor in planning, tracking, and documentation

- Problem-Solving: Rapidly identifies root causes; drives sustainable solutions under constraints

- Adaptability: Thrives in dynamic environments; adjusts approach based on changing priorities and organizational context

- Judgment: Makes sound trade-off decisions (scope, timeline, quality, resources) with limited information

- Accountability: Owns outcomes; escalates risks early; holds teams and self to high standards

Preferred Qualifications

- Undergraduate or Postgraduate in IT, Computers, or related fields

- PgMP, PMP, PRINCE2, SAFe, or equivalent program management certification (Agile or traditional)

- CSM, PSM, or Agile coaching certification

- Prior experience in financial services, banking, insurance, or other regulated industries

- Exposure to large-scale digital transformation, infrastructure modernization, or enterprise system implementations

- Portfolio or program-of-programs management experience

- Background in cloud, infrastructure, or distributed systems programs

- Experience with operational excellence, process improvement, or change management at enterprise scale

- Demonstrated ability managing hybrid delivery models (combining Agile sprints with traditional gating and compliance)

- Familiarity with relevant regulatory requirements (RBI, compliance, data security frameworks)

Performance Measures

The success of this role will be evaluated on:

Program Delivery:

- Drive programs in compliance with organizational, regulatory, information security, and audit requirements.

- Partner closely with Risk, Compliance, Information Security, and Operations teams to ensure successful program execution.

- Anticipate and manage dependencies arising from governance, regulatory, and control requirements.

- Effective scope management and change control

- Risk identification and mitigation (measured by escalation timeliness and impact prevention)

Stakeholder & Organization:

- Stakeholder satisfaction scores and feedback on communication/transparency

- Executive and steering committee confidence in program health and leadership

- Cross-functional team alignment and reduced escalations

- Organizational adoption of program management best practices

Team & Capability:

- Team utilization efficiency and FTE/FTC assignment effectiveness

- Development and retention of program management talent

- Mentor-mentee feedback and growth in program management capabilities

- Contribution to organizational capability maturity models (CMMI, PMI standards)

Working Conditions

- Location : Bangalore

- Travel: As needed for stakeholder meetings, typically 10-15%

- On-call for production support discussions: as needed

Why This Role Matters

In a rapidly evolving financial services landscape, Technical Program Managers are critical to organizational success. You will be the connective tissue between strategy and execution, reducing complexity, enabling teams to deliver impact, and building organizational capability. This is a visible, high-influence role with direct access to senior leadership and responsibility for some of Kotak's most strategic technology initiatives. Success in this role positions you for leadership advancement, executive presence development, and career growth within the organization.