Job description
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are seeking a strategic, results-oriented Director of Product & Portfolio Operations to lead and scale the Product and Lean Portfolio Management function across our technology organization. This is a critical leadership role responsible for operationalizing strategy, ensuring cross-functional alignment, and driving executional excellence at scale.
You will build and lead the systems, frameworks, and teams that bridge long-term vision with day-to-day execution—enabling clarity, agility, and measurable impact across product and engineering.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Operations & Portfolio Leadership
- Lead the design and execution of product and portfolio operations strategy aligned with company and product goals.
- Translate strategic objectives into executable roadmaps, initiatives, and delivery frameworks.
- Drive portfolio-level visibility, prioritization, and alignment across product and technology teams.
- Program Execution & Delivery Management
- Oversee planning, coordination, and execution of complex, cross-functional initiatives.
- Ensure on-time, in-scope, high-impact delivery of business-critical programs.
- Manage dependencies, surface risks, and proactively address blockers across initiatives.
Process Optimization & Operational Infrastructure
- Standardize and scale operational frameworks across intake, roadmapping, planning, and delivery cycles.
- Define and evolve agile product development processes that support scalability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
- Maintain governance structures, compliance, documentation standards, and risk management processes.
Data & Insights for Decision-Making
- Define and monitor KPIs to track product, portfolio, and program performance.
- Collaborate with data and analytics teams to enable data-driven prioritization and executive reporting.
- Create dashboards and reporting structures that provide visibility across strategic programs.
Tooling and Infrastructure
- Own and evolve the product operations tech stack (e.g., Jira, Aha!, Confluence) to support scalable and efficient collaboration.
- Ensure consistent usage and adoption of tools across all product and engineering teams.
- Cross-functional Alignment & Enablement
- Serve as a key integrator across product, engineering, design, marketing, customer success, and executive leadership.
- Drive cadence and synchronization across teams, ensuring consistent planning rhythms and roadmap alignment.
- Foster shared accountability through OKRs, goal tracking, and roadmap transparency.
Team Leadership & Culture
- Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of product operations and program leaders.
- Cultivate a culture of ownership, collaboration, and operational excellence.
- Champion continuous improvement and change management practices across the organization.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 10+ years of experience in product operations, program management, or agile delivery within high-growth tech or SaaS environments.
- 5+ years in a senior leadership role, managing cross-functional or matrixed teams.
- Proven track record leading large-scale, cross-functional product/tech initiatives from concept to delivery.
- Deep experience with Agile, Scrum, SAFe, and Lean Portfolio Management.
- Strong analytical skills; fluent in interpreting data and driving decisions through metrics and insights.
- Highly effective communicator with the ability to tailor messaging across executives, teams, and stakeholders.
- Proficiency with tools like Jira, Confluence, Aha!, and analytics/reporting platforms.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in B2B SaaS, enterprise platforms, or product-led organizations.
- Familiarity with machine learning, data platform, or infrastructure teams.
- MBA or advanced degree in business, engineering, or related field.
ABOUT ACCELA For nearly 20 years, Accela has been an industry leader in designing and delivering government software to improve efficiency, increase citizen engagement and enable the development of thriving communities. Today, citizens are savvy to how services should be delivered, and expect a consistently convenient, openly transparent view into their local government. While government agencies struggle to do more with less, our mission has never been more critical. Accela provides a robust, cloud-based platform of government software solutions that accelerate growth, efficiency, and transparency in communities of all sizes. From planning, to building, to service request management and more, Accela’s SaaS offerings level the playing field for small and medium governments and enable smaller agencies to leverage larger city technologies. Our open and flexible technology helps agencies address specific needs today, while ensuring they are well prepared for the emerging challenges of the future.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION Accela believes in developing and nurturing a workplace community where our differences are celebrated, and everyone feels a sense of psychological safety and belonging. Accela is committed to putting resources and attention towards evolving our practices, policies, and philosophies to enable diversity to thrive and to support equity in opportunity for everyone.
COMPENSATION AND WELL-BEING The annual base salary range for this full-time position is [$180,000-$200,000] (less applicable taxes). The actual annual base salary offered may be adjusted based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, location, education, skills, training, and experience. In addition to an annual base salary, this position is eligible for an annual bonus target. This is a discretionary bonus awarded based on company and individual goal achievement. Accela’s U.S. team members will receive a generous benefits package consisting of options including flexible time off, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, family planning benefits, 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match, health savings account with company contributions, flexible spending account, life, accident, and disability coverage, business travel insurance, employee assistance programs, and other well-being benefits.
Accela is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and will respond to requests for job accommodations.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, or based on disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
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