Program Management, Aladdin Data, Director

About this role

Job Description

BlackRock is one of the world’s preeminent asset management firms and a premier provider of global investment management, risk management and advisory services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors around the world. BlackRock’s mission is to create a better financial future for our clients. We have a responsibility to be the voice of the investor, and we represent each client fairly and equally. Constant communication with a diverse team of partners strengthens us and delivers better results for our clients. Continuous innovation helps us bring the best of BlackRock to our clients. BlackRock offers a range of solutions — from rigorous fundamental and quantitative active management approaches aimed at maximizing outperformance to highly efficient indexing strategies designed to gain broad exposure to the world’s capital markets. Our clients can access our investment solutions through a variety of product structures, including individual and institutional separate accounts, mutual funds and other pooled investment vehicles, and the industry-leading iShares® ETFs.

About Aladdin Data (AD) 

Data is at the heart of Aladdin and increasingly the ability to acquire, store, analyze and gain insight from data has become a key component of our competitive advantage. The Aladdin Data (AD) team is responsible for the data ecosystem within BlackRock.

About this role

We are seeking a multifaceted and expert individual leader to join our team as the program lead for delivering complex changes to not only coach and guide a team of Scrum Masters, but also be a beacon of delivering change using agile.  You will play a pivotal role in leading changes using Agile practices, ensuring not only seamless delivery in your own squads, but empowering your own team of Scrum Masters to achieve their fullest potential. Your in-depth expertise in delivering change using agile methodologies and leadership will be instrumental in delivering high-impact projects that will delight clients.

You will be responsible for guiding teams during their agile transformation journey and in the adoption and improvement of Agile methodologies. You will work closely with Agile Coaches and Scrum Masters to identify their and their team’s needs, remove impediments, and contribute performance and success of the team. This position requires a leader who is accountable for maximizing the business value produced by the team, including efficient throughput and delivery.

Responsibilities:

• Delivery Lead

  • Lead multiple global cross functional teams on various projects by using Agile methodology supported by Lean.

  • Support the product and engineering leads to ensure delivery is predictable, with risks and dependencies managed.

• Line management, mentoring & guidance.

  • Lead organizational design around future state structure, skills and roles to allow career pathing and optimal hiring decisions.

  • Be able to lead and grow a team with diverse set of skills

  • Lead Agile Coaches and Scrum Masters in improving the adoption of Agile methodologies within their squads with the goal of achieving business agility, using an agile mindset.

  • Augment the Scrum Master to coach squads in the adoption and improvement of Agile methodologies, including Scrum, Kanban, and Lean.

  • Facilitate Agile coaching events in selected topics to improve knowledge of the Scrum Masters and delivery squads across Aladdin Data

• Workflow Efficiency

  • Collaborate with Agile Release Trains and squads to design and improve workflows using Scrum, Kanban, and Lean methodologies.

  • Coach Scrum Masters to spot inefficiencies and guide them to enhance efficiency and speed, and escalate to Leadership where appropriate

• Shared Understanding

  • Coach the product management team in creating the Product Vision, managing the product backlog (including the creation of), prioritization, and release management.

  • Coach & support Program and Product Manager in the preparation of PI Planning to spot gaps and inefficiencies in the process.

  • Coach Scrum Masters focus the squads on understanding what the Product Manager wants and how Engineering can deliver it to realize the product’s value.

• Kaizen

  • Champion the spirit of continuous learning and adaption

  • Coach Scrum Masters, delivery squads’ and leadership retrospectives and help them to continuously improve.

  • Analyse metrics to spot and drive improvement.

  • Coach Scrum Masters in their approach to drive improvement from the teams and their leadership.

  • Coach squads in self-organization and help them to achieve higher levels of Agile maturity.

• Agility

  • Instil Agile values and principles throughout the organization.

  • Work with leadership to demonstrate the value of agility in delivering value to Blackrock and its Clients

  • Help teams to accomplish their goals by facilitating planning and estimation.

  • Identify and remove impediments and blockers to progress.
     

Experience & Qualifications:

• Proven delivery experience as a Program Manager, Agile Coach, Agile Delivery Lead, Scrum Master, or in a similar role.

• Expert understanding of Agile frameworks, including Scrum, Kanban, and Lean

• 6+ years of line managing and mentoring a team of scrum masters in a change delivery environment

• 15+ years of work experience in financial services or consulting

• 4+ years of experience in building data platforms and solutions

• 6+ years leading large scale transformation programs (Leveraging Agile methodologies), involving business process and change, organization change, and multiple large-scale technology components. 

• Experience in coaching in Leadership teams in agile delivery.

• A strong understanding of the system development life cycle 

• Previous roles either as a software engineer/ developer, tester/QA, or business analyst 

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college/university 

Our benefits
To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our hybrid work model

BlackRock’s hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being.  Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children’s educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment – the one we make in our employees. It’s why we’re dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, family status, gender identity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected attributes at law.