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 a strategic and highly technical Staff Technical Program Manager to lead complex, enterprise-wide initiatives that accelerate CDK's modernization efforts and Agentic AI roadmap. This role will be responsible for driving key platform programs, including MyInstall and AI-powered initiatives, partnering closely with engineering, product, and business leaders across the organization to deliver high-impact outcomes.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience leading large-scale technology programs in fast-paced environments, with a proven ability to align cross-functional teams, manage competing priorities, and drive execution from concept through delivery. This individual will play a critical role in advancing strategic platform capabilities, enabling improved customer installability, and operationalizing Agentic AI solutions that support CDK's long-term business objectives.

Success in this role requires strong program leadership, exceptional stakeholder management, and the ability to influence across a highly matrixed organization. The successful candidate will work across engineering, product, architecture, and business teams throughout the CDK ecosystem, ensuring programs remain aligned to roadmap commitments, quality expectations, and measurable business outcomes.

Responsibilities & Essential Functions

• Follow effective processes to optimize delivery within an agile/SAFe environment.
• Synchronizes portfolio planning, scoping, and execution processes to deliver associated projects on-time and within budget to committed roadmaps, quality gates, and performance KPIs.
• Identify project goals, scope, resources, budget, dependencies, risks.
• Develop communication, change management, risk mitigation, and governance plans.
• Execute and track projects against set goals, timelines, quality gates, and performance KPIs.
• Identify, escalate, and resolve conflicts.
• Implement large, cross-team, multi-year programs and projects.
• 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
• Direct, and be accountable for, change management within your program domain
• Proactively identify opportunities and contribute to continuous business process improvement efforts to help streamline and standardize workflow, communication, and resource efficiencies.
• Conducts initiation and project closure activities to formalize and communicate the project acceptance and handover documentation and complete a post-implementation review to identify areas of improvement.
• Work with development leaders to define, collect, and analyze development team portfolio metrics, with an eye toward continuous improvement.
• Communicate portfolio scope, roadmap alignment, priorities, and status to governance board and stakeholders.
• Identify and manage portfolio risks and propose mitigation plans.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends, business conditions, and internal processes and practices to influence the success of portfolio initiatives.
• Provide mentoring to project managers on complex projects
• Coordinate and manage cross-functional dependencies across engineering, product, and business teams to ensure seamless project execution and alignment with strategic goals.
• Lead post-project retrospectives that maximize learning. Ensure that appropriate improvements are incorporated into future projects.

Required Job Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Business, or Engineering
• 10+ years of experience in managing technical programs, projects and priorities.
• Proven experience leading and delivering Agentic AI initiatives, including coordinating cross-functional teams to develop, integrate, and operationalize AI agents that drive measurable business outcomes.
• Understanding of project management tools such as JIRA, Confluence, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Office, Visio, etc.
• Strong problem-solving skills, technical aptitude, and automotive experience. Ability to think and act creatively and strategically.
• Exceptionally strong written and verbal communications with a strong aptitude for presenting thoughts and ideas to senior stakeholders.
• Excellent analysis, problem-solving, conflict management, and time management skills.
• Strong estimation, scheduling, budget, and resource allocation skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate and persuade key decision-makers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong aptitude for presenting succinctly.
• Excellent ability to set clear expectations, manage team performance, and build high morale among team members.
• Some travel may be required.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• Project Management or Agile Certification (PMP, PMI-ACP, SAFe, CSP).
• Program Management Professional Certification (PgMP).
• Experience working in an agile software development environment.
• Experience in collaborating with offshore agile teams.
• Strong understanding of technology stack and product lifecycle
• Experience in collaborating across business/product lines and organizational groups.

Highly Valued

• Ability to navigate ambiguity / competing priorities and lead large / complex initiatives
• Experience leading multiple technical programs, spanning remote cross-functional teams, ensuring KPI metrics are met, and fine-tuning the program as needed
• Experience in building effective business processes for diverse teams
• Ability to partner with cross-functional teams in a 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.