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Principal Program Manager

McLean, Virginia

Here at Appian, our values of Intensity and Excellence define who we are. We set high standards and live up to them, ensuring that everything we do is done with care and quality. We approach every challenge with ambition and commitment, holding ourselves and each other accountable to achieve the best results. When you join Appian, you’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to accomplishing hard things, together.

 

We are seeking a Principal Program Manager to join our Enterprise Programs team. In this role, you will lead cross-functional, strategic programs that drive operational excellence, accelerate growth, and strengthen Appian’s enterprise capabilities. As a senior member of the team, you will act as a force multiplier - creating clarity, driving alignment, and ensuring execution at scale across Appian’s most critical initiatives.

What You’ll Do:

  • Program Leadership: Own the end-to-end strategy, planning, and execution of complex enterprise-wide programs spanning multiple business functions.
  • Strategic Alignment: Partner with executives, functional leaders, and program sponsors to define success criteria, establish roadmaps, and drive decision-making.
  • Execution Excellence: Build and maintain governance frameworks, operating rhythms, and KPIs to ensure programs are delivered on time, within scope, and with measurable impact.
  • Change Management: Lead organizational change associated with enterprise programs, ensuring stakeholders are engaged, informed, and aligned.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Facilitate communication and alignment across Product, Engineering, Sales, Finance, IT, and other business units.
  • Mentorship & Leadership: Provide guidance to program managers within the team, elevating program management standards and practices across the organization.

About You:

  • 10+ years of experience in program management, strategy, or operations within a technology or enterprise software company.
  • Proven track record leading large-scale, cross-functional programs with executive visibility and measurable business outcomes.
  • Strong ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across diverse stakeholders.
  • Expertise in program management methodologies, governance models, and tools.
  • Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to distill complexity into clarity for executive audiences.
  • Strong business acumen and comfort navigating ambiguity in a high-growth, global enterprise environment.
  • Experience mentoring or leading other program managers is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience in enterprise SaaS, cloud, or low-code platform companies.
  • Background in management consulting, business operations, or enterprise transformation programs.
  • Familiarity with change management frameworks (e.g., Prosci ADKAR).
  • PMP, PgMP, or other relevant certifications.

What We Offer:

  • The opportunity to drive impact on the most strategic programs at Appian.
  • A collaborative, innovative environment where your voice matters.
  • Competitive compensation, equity, and benefits.
  • Growth opportunities within a high-performing Enterprise Programs team.

 

Tools and Resources 

  • Training and Development: During onboarding, we focus on equipping new hires with the skills and knowledge for success through department-specific training. Continuous learning is a central focus at Appian, with dedicated mentorship and the First-Friend program being widely utilized resources for new hires. 
  • Growth Opportunities: Appian provides a diverse array of growth and development opportunities, including our leadership program tailored for new and aspiring managers, a comprehensive library of specialized department training through Appian University, skills based training, and tuition reimbursement for those aiming to advance their education. This commitment ensures that employees have access to a holistic range of development opportunities.
  • Community: We’ll immerse you into our community rooted in respect starting on day one. Appian fosters inclusivity through our 8 employee-led affinity groups. These groups help employees build stronger internal and external networks by planning social, educational, and outreach activities to connect with Appianites and larger initiatives throughout the company.

About Appian

Appian is a software company that automates business processes. The Appian AI-Powered Process Platform includes everything you need to design, automate, and optimize even the most complex processes, from start to finish. The world's most innovative organizations trust Appian to improve their workflows, unify data, and optimize operations—resulting in better growth and superior customer experiences. For more information, visit appian.com. [Nasdaq: APPN]

Follow Appian: LinkedIn.

Appian is an equal opportunity employer that strives to attract and retain the best talent. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. 

Appian provides reasonable accommodations to applicants in accordance with all applicable laws. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at ReasonableAccommodations@appian.com. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

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