Principal Program Manager, KX

Komatsu • Chicago, IL, US • 6h ago

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Job Overview

The Principal Program Manager, Komatsu Experience (KX), is responsible for leading the strategic planning, governance, execution, and value realization of a portfolio of digital transformation initiatives across Komatsu North America (KNA), including Mining, Construction, Forestry, and Forklift business units.

This role serves as a key leader within the Digital Office, partnering with executive stakeholders, product leaders, business leaders, and technology teams to drive alignment across strategic priorities, investment decisions, and delivery execution. The Principal Program Manager will oversee a complex portfolio of programs and products, ensuring business objectives, customer experience goals, operational improvements, and financial outcomes are achieved.

The successful candidate will lead matrixed teams comprised of internal resources, global delivery partners, and third-party vendors across multiple Product-Oriented Delivery (POD) teams. This individual will be accountable for portfolio governance, integrated planning, financial stewardship, dependency management, risk mitigation, organizational alignment, and executive communication while ensuring successful delivery of transformative digital capabilities for Komatsu dealers and customers.

This role requires a highly strategic leader who can influence across organizational boundaries, drive decisions without direct authority, and balance competing priorities to maximize business value.

Key Job Responsibilities

Strategic Program & Portfolio Leadership

Lead a portfolio of strategic digital initiatives with annual investments exceeding $10M, ensuring alignment to Digital Office objectives and Komatsu business strategy.
Partner with executive leadership to define program objectives, success measures, investment priorities, and multi-year roadmaps.
Drive portfolio planning, prioritization, and sequencing decisions across multiple initiatives, products, and delivery teams.
Develop and maintain integrated portfolio roadmaps that align technology delivery with business objectives and customer outcomes.
Establish and manage governance frameworks that support effective decision-making, accountability, and transparency across programs.

Business Value & Outcome Realization

Define, monitor, and report on program success metrics, business outcomes, adoption measures, and value realization objectives.
Ensure initiatives deliver measurable improvements in customer experience, dealer experience, operational efficiency, and business performance.
Partner with Product Management and Business Leadership to evaluate benefits realization and return on investment.
Identify opportunities to optimize investments, improve delivery effectiveness, and accelerate business value.

Program Execution & Delivery Oversight

Lead cross-functional teams of internal employees, contractors, and third-party partners exceeding 100 FTEs globally.
Oversee integrated program plans, schedules, milestones, dependencies, and critical path activities across multiple POD teams.
Drive execution excellence by proactively identifying delivery risks, removing obstacles, and resolving complex issues.
Manage program budgets, forecasts, funding requests, and financial performance across multiple workstreams and vendors.
Manage Statements of Work (SOWs), vendor performance, contract deliverables, and resource planning activities.
Ensure program execution remains aligned to approved scope, timelines, budget, and business objectives.

Executive Stakeholder Management & Governance

Facilitate executive governance forums, steering committees, and leadership reviews to support informed decision-making.
Provide strategic recommendations and data-driven insights to executive leaders regarding portfolio health, investment decisions, risks, and opportunities.
Drive alignment across business, product, technology, operations, and external stakeholders.
Escalate critical issues appropriately and lead resolution efforts across organizational boundaries.

Risk, Dependency & Change Leadership

Establish and maintain portfolio-level risk, dependency, issue, and change management processes.
Lead proactive mitigation strategies for risks impacting delivery, business outcomes, or financial performance.
Drive cross-functional dependency management across programs, products, and business functions.
Partner with business leaders to support organizational readiness, stakeholder engagement, and adoption activities associated with digital transformation initiatives.

Leadership & Capability Development

Mentor and coach Program Managers and Project Managers to strengthen delivery excellence and program management maturity.
Contribute to the development of Digital Office program management standards, governance practices, and operating models.
Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer-focused delivery.

Qualifications/Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, Engineering, Project Management, or related field.
12+ years of progressive experience leading large-scale programs, portfolios, or digital transformation initiatives with a focus on eCommerce solutions.
Demonstrated experience managing enterprise-scale programs exceeding $10M in annual investment.
Proven success leading complex, cross-functional programs involving multiple business units, technology platforms, and external partners.
Experience leading global teams comprised of internal employees, contractors, and third-party vendors.
Strong experience managing portfolios containing multiple interconnected projects, products, and workstreams.
Demonstrated ability to influence senior executives and drive alignment without direct authority.
Experience working in matrixed organizations and building effective partnerships across all organizational levels.
Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasts, business cases, and investment planning.
Exceptional communication, presentation, negotiation, and executive stakeholder management skills.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and risk management capabilities.
Experience with multiple delivery methodologies and frameworks including Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Waterfall, and Lean practices.
Proficiency with enterprise planning and reporting tools including Microsoft Project, Aha!, Azure DevOps, ServiceNow, Power BI, and related platforms.

Preferred

MBA or advanced degree in Business, Technology, Engineering, or related discipline.
Experience leading digital transformation, customer experience and/or enterprise platform modernization initiatives.
Experience supporting dealer-based distribution or industrial manufacturing organizations.
Experience working with Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), Adobe Commerce, and related digital experience platforms.
Experience collaborating with global teams across Japan, Europe, Asia, and North America.
PMP, PgMP, PMI-ACP, SAFe, or equivalent program management certifications.
Experience building or maturing PMO, Program Management, or Digital Office operating models.

Additional Information

Key Success Measures

Success in this role will be measured by:

Achievement of portfolio business outcomes and strategic objectives.
Delivery of programs within approved investment, scope, and timeline expectations.
Customer and dealer adoption of digital capabilities.
Portfolio value realization and return on investment.
Executive stakeholder satisfaction and organizational alignment.
Reduction of program delivery risks and dependency-related delays.
Continuous improvement of Digital Office program management maturity and governance effectiveness.

Hiring Range

At Komatsu, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. This role pays $180,000. The actual offer will consider a wide range of factors, including experience and location.

Company Benefits

Komatsu provides an extensive and robust employee benefits package that is designed to enhance the well-being of our employees and family members. We embrace a positive and empowering employee experience with a culture that prides itself on a diverse and inclusive environment.

Health benefits: Medical, dental, vision, HSA, wellness programs, etc.
401k and/or employee savings programs
Employee time off (vacation and designated holidays)
Employee and family assistance programs
Disability benefits
Life insurance
Employee learning and development programs

Diversity & Inclusion Commitment

At Komatsu, we come from diverse backgrounds, with unique perspectives, experiences and contributions. We believe that our people are part of our shared purpose. Connected by our core values of ambition, perseverance, collaboration and authenticity, we are committed to continually advancing in our support of diversity and inclusion. United, we are on a journey towards a sustainable future that creates value together. 

Company Information

Komatsu develops and supplies technologies, equipment and services for the construction, mining, forklift, industrial and forestry markets. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Komatsu employs more than 64,000 people worldwide, operating in more than 140 countries. For more than a century, the company has been creating value for its customers through manufacturing and technology innovation, partnering with others to empower a sustainable future where people, business and the planet thrive together. Since the company’s founding in 1921, Komatsu has been committed to supporting individuals and communities through job training, skills development and giving back. As a Komatsu employee, you will be encouraged to grow alongside our global company, contributing to a more sustainable future for all. If you are looking for a company that values your talent and potential, join Komatsu to be a part of something big and help advance modern society. Learn more at www.komatsu.com.

EEO Statement

Komatsu is an Equal Opportunity Workplace and an Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.