Role: Program Manager
Location: Vancouver, BC (Hybrid)
Job Type: Longterm Contract
Note: Need Retail Experience
Role Overview
This is a new role and the operational nerve centre of the RAPID team, leading business and technology engagement from Vancouver. You will work with Lululemon stakeholders and technology organizations based across Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland, partnering with the Tech Lead Engineer/Analyst, the Analyst, and the offshore development squad to ensure the team delivers against the Rapid Core and Rapid AI backlog. This is a high-visibility, ambiguous, fast-moving environment where organizational clarity and delivery discipline are critical. Depending on final team composition, the analysis function may be incorporated into this role.
Key Responsibilities
· Own and manage the RAPID team's program roadmap, sprint cadence, and delivery milestones against the Rapid Core / Rapid AI backlog.
· Serve as the primary business and technology liaison between Lululemon product, research, and IT stakeholders, technology organizations across Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland, and the Altimetric delivery squad.
· Partner closely with the Tech Lead Engineer/Analyst to translate business needs into technical priorities and keep business and technology roadmaps aligned.
· Navigate the RDD (Security Review) process, partnering with the Walled Garden administrators to prevent compliance backlogs from stalling research velocity.
· Facilitate cross-functional coordination between the Product Innovation and Raw Materials Development teams as future phases evolve.
· Manage risk registers, issue logs, and status reporting cadences for executive and stakeholder audiences.
· Drive resource planning, onboarding, and ramp-up scheduling for the offshore India squad in collaboration with Altimetric delivery leads.
· Champion delivery-based operating models - tracking outcomes, not just effort.
· Support budget tracking and proposals that are price-conscious and aligned with the low-end operating plan funding envelope.
· Where the analysis function is combined with this role, lead business and data analysis - gathering requirements, interpreting research and data outputs, and producing insights to inform backlog prioritization.
Required Qualifications
· 5+ years of program or project management experience in a technology or R&D-adjacent environment.
· Proven track record coordinating distributed teams across North America and offshore locations.
· Experience engaging business and technology stakeholders across multiple sites (e.g., Vancouver, Seattle, Portland).
· Experience working in agile / scrum delivery environments; PMP, PRINCE2, or SAFe certification is an asset.
· Strong analytical acumen - comfortable interpreting data outputs, research findings, and technical architecture concepts.
· Hands-on business or data analysis experience (requirements gathering, data interpretation, reporting) - required if the analyst function is combined with this role.
· Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguous, fast-moving corporate innovation environments.
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills for senior stakeholder audiences.
· Experience with data platforms (Snowflake, or equivalent) and cloud-native product development is an advantage.
· Familiarity with IT security review and compliance processes is strongly preferred.
