Staff Technology Program Manager

Hybrid: The role requires a mix of days in CDK's Austin, TX office and can be worked remotely on the remaining days. Candidates must reside within commuting distance of this office.

About Us:

CDK Global is a leading provider of cloud-based software to dealerships and Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEMs”) across automotive and related industries. The Company’s cloud-based, software as a service (“SaaS”) platform enables dealerships to manage their end-to-end business operations including the acquisition, sale, financing, insuring, repair, and maintenance of vehicles. By automating and streamlining critical workflows, the integrated platform of modern solutions enables dealers to sell and service more vehicles by creating simple and convenient experiences for customers and improves their financial and operational performance.

Position Summary:

We are seeking an experienced Staff Technical Program Manager to lead strategic, cross-functional technology initiatives supporting CDK's Vehicle Inventory Suite and SimplePay platform. This role will drive the planning, execution, and delivery of complex programs that span product, engineering, architecture, and business teams, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives, roadmap commitments, and customer needs.

The ideal candidate has a strong background managing large-scale software development programs, particularly within enterprise SaaS, cloud-based, and highly integrated technology environments. Experience working with distributed systems, microservices architectures, AI/ML, APIs, data and event-driven integrations, cloud platforms, fintech or payments platforms, and AI-enabled solutions is highly valued. This individual will play a key role in delivering scalable, reliable solutions that support high-volume business transactions and critical customer-facing capabilities.

Success in this role requires exceptional program management discipline, technical acumen, and the ability to influence and align diverse stakeholder groups. The successful candidate will collaborate across multiple product lines and engineering teams, proactively managing technical and cross-platform dependencies, production reliability, scalability, risks, and priorities while ensuring programs are delivered with quality, predictability, and measurable business impact.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with program sponsor, stakeholders, workstream leaders, product/dev managers, and other teams to define and own program objectives / key results; develop, communicate, and maintain project plans (executive level to detailed)
• Manage projects through the entire project lifecycle, including scope definition, planning, managing project schedules, phase deliverables, key milestones, smooth execution and on-time quality delivery
• Participate in current and future strategic, operational and tactical level planning and forecasting efforts
• Routinely lead large-scale initiatives
• Work cross-functionally across multiple remote teams and stakeholders
• Work closely with Product and Engineering teams to coordinate the execution of complex business needs, ensuring the teams are hitting their commitments, effectively and efficiently managing and resolving risks, blockers and/or dependencies
• Efficiently and effectively:
  • Sort through many competing priorities
  • Define processes that improve execution precision
  • Drive program execution to success, in a complex and fast paced environment
  • Drive business results by championing a culture of accountability and consistent project management practices

• Proactively solve day-to-day challenges and Exercise sound judgment
• Anticipate and mitigate risk by conducting assessments across the program (both quantitative and qualitative), to determine if the implementation plans meet stakeholder requirements and will achieve strategic objectives
• Direct, and be accountable for, change management within your program domain
• Collect, analyze, and report status and metrics that clearly and accurately reflect progress against planned goals and deliverables
• Effectively communicate with senior management, sponsor and stakeholders on status, dependencies, risks and change control, at the right cadence and right level of detail to inform and influence, e.g. deliver regular weekly status reports, maintain/share master cross-team schedule across the whole program, daily updates during critical periods, schedule/lead conference calls for urgent issues, etc.
• Lead post-project retrospectives that maximize learning. Ensure that appropriate improvements are incorporated into future projects
• Represent the program teams across the org and liaise across various forums
• Be an earnest member of the organizational standards body for product & technology operations and guide the program teams through the standards
• Be the agile champion for the program

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related technical discipline, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of relevant work experience in technical program/project management, partnering with product/engineering leaders and teams in software development (web, mobile, SaaS, distributed cloud services, databases, and/or data processing systems)
• Demonstrable experience defining/managing several projects across multiple cross-functional teams spanning geographies, building sustainable processes, coordinating/driving release schedules and a proven track record of driving on-time and quality delivery
• Effective organizational, stakeholder management, project management skills
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication and collaboration skills
• Comfortable talking technical matters with the business and business matters with technical members
• Respectful and influential; having the ability to influence, collaborate, push back when needed, approach work rationally and deliver solutions in an ever-changing environment
• Experience working in an Agile environment with multi-location cross-functional teams
• Strong client service attitude and leadership capabilities, with a bias for action
• Outstanding project management skills to organize a busy workload and deliver projects on time

Highly Valued:

• Ability to navigate ambiguity / competing priorities and lead large / complex initiatives
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills with an ability to motivate teams and deliver results
• Demonstrable interpersonal effectiveness and emotionally intelligent communication skills to effectively and efficiently communicate, persuade / influence, and tackle challenging conversations at Director level and above
• Experience leading multiple technical programs for a technology company, spanning remote cross-functional teams to take products to market, ensuring success metrics are informing future efforts, and fine-tuning the program as needed
• Experience and proficiency with tools such as Tableau, Jira, Microsoft PowerPoint / Word / Excel / Project, SharePoint, Confluence, etc.
• Experience in building effective business processes for diverse teams
• Ability to partner with cross-functional teams in highly matrixed and global environment
• Impeccable attention to detail and a relentless focus on execution with the highest degree of quality
• Ability to work with a variety of people across the organization, including senior leaders, individual contributors and support staff
• Ability to translate ideas into clear, high impact communications
• Ability to maintain good judgment in fast-paced, high-stress environments
• Ability to excel in an ambiguous environment and effectively triage several competing priorities

Base Compensation: $130,000 - $150,000

CDK Global is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. Compensation packages are based on several factors, including but not limited to skills, experience, certifications, and work location.  The total compensation package for this position may also include annual performance bonus, benefits and/or other applicable incentive compensation plans.We offer Medical, dental, and vision benefits in addition to:

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• 401K Matching Program

• Tuition Reimbursement

At CDK, we believe inclusion and diversity are essential in inspiring meaningful connections to our people, customers and communities. We are open, curious and encourage different views, so that everyone can be their best selves and make an impact.

CDK is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an inclusive workforce where everyone is valued. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, creed or religion, age, disability (including pregnancy), results of genetic testing, service in the military, veteran status or any other category protected by law.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future employment-based visa sponsorship.

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. CDK retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position as needed.