Principal Program Manager

Principal Program Manager

Location: Reno, NV

About the Team

Do you excel at turning ambiguity into clarity and vision into execution? Are you a seasoned program leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, systems thinking, and cross-functional collaboration? Are you excited to lead initiatives that directly shape the trajectory of a high-growth, mission-driven tech company? If so, we invite you to be a part of our innovative team.

As a Principal Program Manager on Ridgeline’s Strategy & Operations team, you’ll sit at the heart of our most complex, high-impact initiatives. You’ll be responsible for translating strategic priorities into scalable programs that drive execution across teams including Engineering, Product, Design, Customer Experience, and more. In this role, you’ll help architect the future of how Ridgeline operates—bringing order, velocity, and clarity to fast-moving challenges and ensuring we’re always aligned, efficient, and focused on what matters most. You’ll also leverage AI tools such as ChatGPT to enhance decision-making, streamline communication, and accelerate program delivery.

What you’ll do

• Deliver strategic programs end-to-end across technical and business domains—from planning through execution and measurement. Initial critical program areas include software vendor procurement and change management
• Establish frameworks and operating rhythms that scale program effectiveness and eliminate operational drag
• Design and implement change management strategies to ensure the adoption and success of cross-functional initiatives
• Partner with R&D, Product, Engineering, and GTM teams to ensure alignment between program delivery and business priorities
• Provide guidance and mentorship to program managers, fostering professional growth and enhancing team performance
• Champion adoption of tools and automation to drive operational leverage across repeatable workstreams
• Define KPIs, monitor program performance, and provide reporting and insights to senior leadership
• Contribute to a collaborative, transparent, and high-performance culture rooted in learning and growth

Desired Skills and Experience

• 10+ years of experience in program management, business operations, or management consulting, with a strong preference for Enterprise SaaS
• Proven ability to lead large-scale, complex programs with cross-functional stakeholder groups
• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills—especially with technical and executive audiences
• Comfort navigating ambiguity and bringing structure to unstructured problem spaces
• A player/coach mentality: able to both execute and lead, depending on what’s needed
• Technical fluency to work effectively with R&D teams
• A mindset grounded in ownership, urgency, and accountability
• Experience working with and curiosity for development, analytics, and AI tools such as Jira, Productboard, Glean, and ChatGPT

About Ridgeline

Ridgeline is the industry cloud platform for investment management. It was founded by visionary tech entrepreneur Dave Duffield (co-founder of both PeopleSoft and Workday) to apply his successful formula of solving operational business challenges with bold innovation and human connectivity to the unique needs of the investment management industry. 

Ridgeline started with a clean sheet of paper and a deep bench of experts bound by a set of core values and motivated to revolutionize an industry underserved by its current tech offerings. We are building a new, modern platform in the public cloud, purpose-built for the investment management industry and we are prioritizing security, agility, and usability to empower business like never before.

With a growing campus in Reno and offices in New York, Lake Tahoe, and the Bay Area, Ridgeline is proud to have built a fast-growing, people-first company that has been recognized by Fast Company as a “Best Workplace for Innovators,” by The Software Report as a “Top 100 Software Company,” and by Forbes as one of “America’s Best Startup Employers.”

Ridgeline processes the information you submit in connection with your application in accordance with the Ridgeline Applicant Privacy Statement. Please review the Ridgeline Applicant Privacy Statement in full to understand our privacy practices and contact us with any questions.

Compensation and Benefits

As an employee at Ridgeline, you’ll have many opportunities for advancement in your career and can make a true impact on the product. 

In addition to the base salary, 100% of Ridgeline employees can participate in our Company Stock Plan subject to the applicable Stock Option Agreement. We also offer rich benefits that reflect the kind of organization we want to be: one in which our employees feel valued and are inspired to bring their best selves to work. These include unlimited vacation, educational and wellness reimbursements, and $0 cost employee insurance plans. Please check out our Careers page for a more comprehensive overview of our perks and benefits.

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