Sr. Program Manager

We're looking for a Senior Program Manager who is as skilled at communicating as they are at organizing. In this contract-to-hire role, you'll help drive the programs that power our mission: turning over 150 years of curated scientific knowledge into the data platforms and AI-driven tools that accelerate discovery for researchers around the world. This role sits at the center of complex, cross-functional initiatives, connecting engineers, designers, product leaders, and executives so that everyone — regardless of role or seniority — understands what's happening, why it matters, and what's needed from them.
 
You'll drive programs from concept through delivery, but your biggest impact will come from how clearly and consistently you keep every stakeholder aligned. This is a role for someone who thrives on ambiguity, communicates with precision and empathy, and can turn strategic goals into plans that people actually understand and rally behind.
 
**Candidates must be willing to work onsite (can participate in the hybrid schedule).
 
Job Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary communication hub for one or more major cross-functional programs, ensuring engineers, designers, product managers, and executives each get the right information, at the right level of detail, at the right time
• Own end-to-end planning and execution for major programs, aligning scope, timeline, and resources across teams through clear, proactive communication
• Partner with engineering, product, and design leads to define program goals and success metrics, and communicate them in a way that keeps every team rowing in the same direction
• Coordinate delivery of scientific data platforms, AI-driven discovery tools, and R&D solutions that our customers — from drug discovery teams to patent researchers — rely on daily
• Identify risks and dependencies early, and communicate them transparently to stakeholders — before they become surprises
• Build and deliver program roadmaps, status reports, and executive-level updates that translate complex, technical detail into clear narratives for non-technical audiences
• Facilitate program rituals (planning, syncs, retrospectives) that create genuine alignment, not just meetings — and know when a quick written update will serve better than a live one
• Influence prioritization decisions by presenting data, trade-offs, and recommendations persuasively to leadership and skeptical stakeholders alike
• Manage difficult conversations with poise — delivering bad news, resetting expectations, or navigating disagreement between teams without losing trust
• Coach and mentor other program or project managers on stakeholder communication and program best practices
• Continuously improve how the organization communicates about programs, including status reporting formats, escalation paths, and documentation standards

 
Qualifications:

• 6+ years of program or project management experience, ideally in a software/tech environment
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills — able to flex fluidly between technical detail for engineers and concise, strategic framing for executives
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, from individual contributors to senior leadership
• Skilled at proactive, transparent communication: surfacing risks, delays, and trade-offs early rather than letting them surprise stakeholders later
• Experience running effective status reporting and executive updates that people actually read and act on
• Comfortable navigating difficult conversations — misalignment between teams, pushback on timelines, or delivering unwelcome news — with tact and confidence
• Strong track record influencing decisions and priorities without direct authority, through persuasive, well-structured communication
• Proven track record delivering large, cross-functional, multi-team programs on time and on budget
• Strong command of program management methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid approaches) and deep proficiency with the JIRA suite (JIRA, Confluence, or similar)
• Strong analytical skills; comfortable working with data to inform decisions and communicate progress
• Familiarity with SDLC and release management processes
• PMP, CSM, or equivalent certification is a plus but not required

 
Nice to have:

• Experience in scientific information technology or related domains (e.g., R&D data platforms, drug discovery software, IP/patent research tools, chemical or materials science data)
• Comfort using AI tools (e.g., for status reporting, meeting summarization, or workflow automation) to drive program efficiency
• Background helping an established organization evolve its ways of working and adopt new technologies

Reference: 1062231

Worried that you don’t meet every single requirement listed in the job ad? Studies have shown that individuals from marginalized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Hive + Co. is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and representative workplace, so if you’re excited about this role, but worried that you don’t meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyways. We’d love to get to know you.