Job Specifications
Program Director – Client Data Platform (0→1 Production Readiness)
Role Overview
The Program Director is accountable for driving a 0→1 transition: hardening an existing pilot into a production-capable, client-facing data platform for four initial paying clients within 9–12 months. The role ensures audit-defensible execution, documented decision traceability, and clear vendor responsibility demarcation.
This role is the single-threaded owner for execution in a complex, regulated, multi-vendor and multi-parent environment. While the broader initiative is multi-year, the immediate mandate is production readiness first; scale later.
Delivered as an embedded Statement of Work role, the Program Director is empowered to convene forums, escalate blockers, and enforce closure across internal teams and vendors.
Objectives
Transition four pilot clients to production against approved Day One success criteria
Establish audit-defensible governance and execution traceability
Create a repeatable operating foundation without slowing near-term delivery
Preserve execution velocity while ensuring appropriate parent awareness (no paralysis)
Core Responsibilities
Program Orchestration (0→1)
Own the integrated execution plan across platform, data, security, identity/access, governance, and operations
Coordinate multi-vendor delivery; manage dependencies and critical-path milestones
Run disciplined execution cadence (planning, delivery, risk, decisions)
Day One Scope & Readiness
Define and protect Day One success criteria
Enforce Day One vs. backlog boundaries
Maintain a consolidated execution backlog with owners and timelines
Decision & Accountability Architecture
Design and operate a decision-rights model (decision types, owners, escalation, evidence)
Ensure decisions are made quickly, documented consistently, and surfaced appropriately
Maintain traceability auditors and leadership expect
Parent Communication
Run structured parent communications: early alignment, material escalation only
Enforce a “no surprises” mandate while keeping execution authority local
Vendor Demarcation & Service Model
Establish an audit-ready RACI across infrastructure, application, data, security, and operations
Consolidate vendor service/sub-service inventories tied to contracts, SLAs, and controls
Surface third-party components early to avoid late-stage risk
Critical Path & Operations
Drive critical-path workstreams (notably AuthN/AuthZ/entitlements) to closure by enforcing timelines, inputs, and documentation
Stand up the minimum viable Day One operating model (support, escalation, vendor coordination, onboarding)
Artifact Ownership (Non-Negotiable)
Own audit-defensible artifacts: decision log, governance narrative, service catalog, RACI, operating playbooks, readiness assessments
Measures of Success (First 6–9 Months)
Four clients live in production against Day One criteria
Auth/access decisions finalized, implemented, and tested
Single service catalog and vendor demarcation complete
Governance and evidence pack ready for audit/regulatory inquiry
Day One support model operating with agreed SLAs
Required Experience
Proven success leading 0→1 platform launches in regulated environments
Experience in joint-venture or multi-parent stakeholder contexts
Strong multi-vendor delivery leadership
Fluency across platform, data, security, and operating models (without acting as architect)
Track record producing audit-quality execution artifacts
Ability to impose structure under ambiguity without slowing delivery
Executive-level communication and escalation judgment
About the Company
Your strategic partner in digital and data transformation. Specializing in refining digital experiences and operational efficiency we offer consulting expertise in digital, AI, and data and on-demand specialized resources, aka our 'Purple Squirrels'.
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