Senior Program Manager
Complex · Los Angeles ·
- Work mode
- Onsite
- Seniority
- Senior
- Employment
- Full time
- Category
- Project management
- Experience
- 7+ years
Company And Culture
Complex is the definitive platform for global youth culture and music lifestyle, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge content, commerce and live experiences with unparalleled scale. Through innovative content, Complex tells stories of music, streetwear and style, sports, art and beyond. Its content engages in a dynamic conversation with the audience, reflecting and shaping the zeitgeist of convergence culture. A powerful media juggernaut paired with a curated marketplace, Complex is redefining the way fans interact with their favorite brands and artists and reshaping the future of digital culture and commerce.
Why We're Hiring
We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Program Manager to lead complex, cross-functional programs from strategy through execution. This role is an independent contributor responsible for driving alignment, establishing program structure, managing dependencies and risks, and ensuring successful delivery across Product, Engineering, Data, UX, Marketing, Finance, Operations, Legal, Events, and external partners.
The Senior Program Manager will operate with a high degree of autonomy and will be expected to bring structure to ambiguous, high-visibility initiatives, influence stakeholders without direct authority, and proactively identify opportunities to improve how programs are planned and executed.
This role will partner closely with senior stakeholders and technology teams across initiatives spanning e-commerce, digital experiences, media and content platforms, data and analytics, personalization, CRM, advertising technology, and emerging technologies including AI.
What You'll Do
- Lead complex, cross-functional programs from planning through execution, establishing clear goals, scope, milestones, deliverables, ownership, success measures, and operating rhythms.
- Partner with Product, Engineering, Data, UX, Marketing, Finance, Operations, Legal, Events, and external partners to drive alignment and execution across multiple workstreams.
- Develop and own comprehensive program plans, roadmaps, timelines, dependency maps, status trackers, decision logs, and other program-management artifacts.
- Establish program governance and operating mechanisms that create clarity, accountability, transparency, and effective decision-making across teams.
- Facilitate executive and cross-functional meetings, working sessions, and program reviews, ensuring decisions, risks, action items, and next steps are clearly documented and driven to closure.
- Own program-level visibility, proactively tracking milestones, dependencies, risks, issues, blockers, and overall delivery health.
- Anticipate risks and dependencies before they impact delivery and drive cross-functional resolution, escalation, and mitigation strategies as appropriate.
- Serve as a strategic connector between business and technology teams, translating business objectives, product requirements, technical dependencies, data considerations, and delivery constraints into clear plans and decisions.
- Prepare concise, executive-ready status updates, dashboards, presentations, recommendations, and other materials for senior stakeholders and leadership.
- Partner deeply with Engineering and Technology teams to understand architecture-level dependencies, integrations, data requirements, technical constraints, sequencing, and delivery considerations.
- Lead programs involving e-commerce platforms, digital experiences, media and content platforms, data and analytics, personalization, CRM, advertising technology, and emerging technologies including AI.
- Define and track program metrics and outcomes, using data to identify trends, surface risks, measure progress, and inform decisions.
- Lead cross-functional readiness for product launches, major releases, and other high-impact initiatives, ensuring critical dependencies and deliverables are addressed.
- Drive 0-to-1 and highly ambiguous initiatives, creating structure and operating models where processes, ownership, or requirements may not yet be fully defined.
- Identify and implement opportunities to improve program-management processes, cross-functional collaboration, communication, documentation, and execution.
- Establish standards and best practices that improve the organization's ability to plan, execute, and scale complex programs.
- Maintain clear, accurate, and accessible program documentation and ensure stakeholders have timely visibility into critical information.
- Proactively follow up on commitments and hold workstreams accountable for agreed-upon deliverables and timelines.
- Influence outcomes across teams and functions without direct authority, building strong relationships and driving alignment through credibility, communication, and effective program leadership.
- Operate independently, exercising sound judgment to determine when to make decisions, when to align stakeholders, and when to escalate.
- Contribute to a culture of collaboration, transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Who You Are
- 7+ years of experience in program management, project management, product operations, business operations, technology operations, or a related field, with demonstrated ownership of complex, cross-functional programs.
- Proven ability to independently lead large, complex, and highly visible programs involving multiple teams, workstreams, and senior stakeholders.
- Experience operating in environments where priorities, requirements, and dependencies can evolve quickly and ambiguity is high.
- Strong strategic thinking and program-management skills, with the ability to connect high-level business objectives to detailed execution plans.
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, interdependencies, and workstreams simultaneously.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely to both technical and executive audiences.
- Strong executive presence and the ability to facilitate discussions, drive decisions, surface difficult issues, and communicate risks effectively.
- Demonstrated ability to influence without authority and build alignment across Product, Engineering, Data, Marketing, Operations, Finance, Legal, and other functions.
- Strong technology fluency, with the ability to understand and communicate technical concepts, system dependencies, integrations, data requirements, and delivery considerations without requiring hands-on engineering expertise.
- Demonstrated ability to proactively identify risks, dependencies, blockers, and opportunities and drive them toward resolution.
- Strong analytical and data-oriented approach to measuring program performance, identifying trends, and supporting business decisions.
- Comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy and taking ownership in ambiguous or evolving environments.
- Strong judgment and problem-solving skills, with the ability to balance competing priorities and make informed tradeoffs.
- Experience creating executive presentations, program dashboards, roadmaps, status reports, business reviews, and other leadership-facing materials.
- Demonstrated track record of improving program processes, operating models, and cross-functional ways of working.
- Must be willing to work on-site in our Los Angeles office.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience leading digital product, technology, or enterprise-scale programs.
- Experience in e-commerce, marketplaces, digital advertising, streaming/media, subscriptions, content, consumer technology, or other digital businesses.
- Experience leading product launches, major platform initiatives, or 0-to-1 programs.
- Experience managing programs involving complex technology ecosystems, integrations, APIs, data platforms, or multiple technical workstreams.
- Experience with data, analytics, CRM, personalization, advertising technology, AI, or other emerging technology initiatives.
- Familiarity with program and project management methodologies, tools, and operating models.
- Experience establishing program governance, operating cadences, and scalable processes across organizations.
- Experience working directly with senior executives and leadership teams on high-visibility initiatives.
- Demonstrated experience driving measurable business or operational outcomes through cross-functional programs.
What We Offer
- Best in class health, dental, and vision insurance
- Healthcare FSA
- Dependent Care FSA
- Commuter Benefits FSA
- Short-term/long-term disability and life insurance
- Paid Parental leave
- 401k with 4% match
- Pet Insurance
- Legal and Identity Theft Plans
- Flexible PTO
We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of the job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some incumbents assigned to the job to perform a different combination of duties.
Complex participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for visa sponsorship.