Senior Program Manager, Partner Programs

About the role

This role focuses on managing and directing software and product development activities related to partner integrations with the Stellar Network. The Senior Program Manager will be responsible for the entire lifecycle, from initial launch through to completion, ensuring projects are delivered on time and meet quality standards. A key aspect is owning the long-term integration roadmaps for multiple partners within the Stellar ecosystem, driving their success through active engagement and coordination.

Success in this position means effectively coordinating technical and business stakeholders, both internally and with partners. This involves identifying and addressing technical dependencies and blockers that arise across various engineering teams. The role also requires maintaining comprehensive documentation, including milestone plans, schedules, risks, and meeting notes, to ensure clarity and progress tracking. Performance will be measured against company and team objectives, analyzing the achievement of both short-term and long-term goals.

The Senior Program Manager is also expected to contribute to organizational process improvements. This includes defining frameworks, creating program plan templates, and establishing best practices that can be adopted across the Stellar Development Foundation. The ideal candidate will demonstrate an independent and results-driven attitude, coupled with strong problem-solving skills to anticipate and mitigate issues throughout the program lifecycle. They will also advocate for partners while aligning with the company's mission.

The annual salary for this position ranges from $145,000 to $195,000.

Skills that matter here

• program management: This role requires managing, planning, and directing software and product development activities from launch to completion, with overall responsibility for timely and high-quality delivery.
• blockchain: Familiarity with blockchain/crypto concepts is necessary, or the ability to quickly learn a complex technical domain related to the Stellar Network.
• software development: The role involves managing software development programs, requiring comfort with technical discussions around APIs, integration flows, and system dependencies.
• AI tools: The candidate is expected to regularly use AI tools to enhance efficiency and productivity in their daily work.
• Jira: Experience with program and project management tools like Jira is required for tracking tasks, progress, and issues.
• Confluence: Experience with documentation and collaboration tools like Confluence is needed for maintaining partner-related documentation and knowledge sharing.

Who this role suits

• Someone with at least 7 years of experience managing software development programs, particularly within financial services and a blockchain startup environment.
• A person who is comfortable engaging in technical discussions and can effectively translate between technical and business stakeholders.
• An individual who is independent, results-driven, and proactive in identifying and solving problems before they escalate.
• A candidate who thrives in a startup environment, is adaptable to ambiguity, and can manage multiple responsibilities.

From the employer

• Manage, plan, and direct software and product development activities from launch to completion, with overall responsibility for delivering on time and at high quality.
• Own long-term partner integration roadmaps and the success of multiple partners in the Stellar ecosystem.
• Host and drive partner meetings with technical and business stakeholders.
• Identify and manage technical dependencies and blockers across partner and internal engineering teams.
• Maintain partner-related documentation, including milestone plans, dependencies, schedules, risks, and meeting notes.
• Measure program performance, analyzing the successful completion of short- and long-term goals against company and team OKRs.
• Define process frameworks, program plan templates, tools, and best practices that can be adopted throughout the organization.

• 7+ years of experience managing software development programs in the financial services industry, some of which took place in a blockchain startup or small-company environment.
• Comfort engaging in technical discussions — APIs, integration flows, system dependencies — enough to coordinate credibly with engineering, track technical risks and blockers, and translate fluidly between technical and business stakeholders.
• Familiarity with blockchain/crypto concepts, or a demonstrated ability to ramp quickly on a complex, unfamiliar technical domain.
• A habit of using AI tools to work smarter — you look for ways to apply AI to your day-to-day.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent leadership skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with partners from various backgrounds and positions.
• Great organizational skills, including attention to detail, multitasking, and creating and instituting processes to streamline workflows.
• Experience with program and project management tools like Jira, Airtable, Asana, Confluence, and Google Suite.
• An independent nature and results-driven attitude.
• A knack for problem-solving — you have an eye for untold problems in the program life cycle and create solutions to minimize or mitigate them.
• An aptitude for advocating for partners while supporting the company's mission.
• Willingness to travel as needed (mostly to the Americas/Europe).
• Enthusiasm for working in a startup environment with some level of ambiguity and wearing multiple hats.

• Competitive health, dental & vision coverage with most plans covered at 100% for the employee + any dependents.
• Flexible time off + 15 company holidays including a company-wide holiday break.
• Generous paid parental leave for all parents, plus paid pregnancy disability leave for birthing parents.
• Gym reimbursement ($80 per month).
• Life & ADD (up to $50K).
• Short & Long term disability.
• 401K with 4% match.
• Health & Dependent Care FSA Accounts.
• Commuter benefits with $250/month employer contribution.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with monthly employer contribution.
• Family building benefits through Kindbody.
• Wellbeing benefits (One Medical, Rightway, Headspace).
• L&D budget of $1,500/year.
• Daily lunch and snacks in the office.
• Company retreats.