Xero Looking for Program Lead at Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand Full Time

Xero is a beautiful, easy-to-use platform that helps small businesses and their accounting and bookkeeping advisors grow and thrive.

At Xero, our purpose is to make life better for people in small business, their advisors, and communities around the world. This purpose sits at the centre of everything we do. We support our people to do the best work of their lives so that they can help small businesses succeed through better tools, information and connections. Because when they succeed they make a difference, and when millions of small businesses are making a difference, the world is a more beautiful place.

How you’ll make an impact

In this role, you will lead critical Programs and projects from concept through to delivery and benefit realisation, largely related to Xero’s OKRs. Co-ordinating the delivery of multiple workstreams and projects, rapid project start up, world class delivery and robust operational management are critical to ensuring we meet our objectives.

This role will be the conduit between Xero’s Executive Leadership Team, the Program, project and governance teams, and be responsible for the overall planning, scoping, and resourcing of projects to deliver the Program objectives. You’ll ensure the project teams utilise appropriate project delivery methodologies, frameworks, and processes to deliver the Program successfully.

Key to the success of this role will be the ability to apply fit-for-purpose structure and process and a flexible approach. You will work with a wide range of stakeholders and teams that work in different ways, and have the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with those stakeholders and teams. You will own the company-wide engagement and commitment to delivering the outcome and benefits of the Program, by being a strong advocate, owning and selling the outcome and benefits, keeping stakeholders engaged, updated and on board with progress.

What you’ll do

• Lead the overall strategy and direction of the Program to ensure our OKRs are achieved
• Shape and deliver the Program communications strategy Establish, lead and chair Program and project governance group/s
• Key liaison between Xero’s Executive Leadership Team (XLT), Board, governance/steering groups, senior leadership and Program/project sponsor/s
• Collation and simplification of detailed project and Program plans to senior leadership Leadership and mentoring of project and Program teams
• Accountable for overall Program success and outcomes
• Review and manage overall Program risks
• Lead the development of initiatives and projects into structured Programs Ensure projects within the Program are suitably resourced Vendor recruitment and management where required
• Be a part of recruitment, staff induction and training where required
• Report on the progress of the Program, including risks and issues/problems and solutions
• Embrace and champion the Program and projects within the Program and drive the delivery of the change to a high standard
• Work across the spectrum of project delivery activity from coordination to management, owning the outcome
• Develop repeatable processes where practicable to increase efficiency in Program delivery
• Be a point of escalation for project staff across the Program
• Travel as required, most likely nationally.

What you’ll bring with you – Critical competencies

• Leadership. Demonstrates honesty and integrity. Provides objectives and goals with loose guidelines/directions. Clearly communicates expectations. Has an open mind and the flexibility to change opinions. Develops and supports others.
• Influencing skills and stakeholder management
• Agile/iterative and waterfall approaches.
• Understanding of business processes, structures and organisations
• Strong communication skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Experience working with Executive and C level, demonstrated experience preparing / reporting to Board level
• Experience as part of, or leading Governance groups.

What you’ll bring with you – Experience

• Experience working within a modern software company and understand SaaS models and principles
• Experience leading high-profile, complex transformational Programs of work and projects
• Demonstrated experience in working with Data, ML, AI and related technologies
• 10+ years demonstrated experience leading and delivering multiple projects and Programs
• Demonstrated experience leading projects with budgets in excess of $6M
• Demonstrated experience leading projects with project teams in excess of 15 FTE
• Demonstrated vendor managementDemonstrated stakeholder management across C level / senior leadership.

Xero prides itself on living its values, one being #human. In your cover letter outlining why this role is a great fit for you please also address how you would bring #human to the role.

Our collaborative and inclusive culture is one we’re immensely proud of. We know that a diverse workforce is a strength that enables businesses, including ours, to better understand and serve customers, attract top talent and innovate successfully. At Xero we embrace diversity and inclusion and value a #challenge mindset.

Research has shown that women and underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single competency or experience . If you are excited about this role, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be just the right person for this role and Xero. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application and throughout the interview process.

Xero is an NZ Immigration Accredited Employer and Rainbow Tick certified too.