Open to opportunities

James Davies

@jamesdavies1

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Experienced project and program manager driving SaaS growth and execution.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I am looking for a role that fosters innovation, encourages collaboration, and offers opportunities for professional growth.

I am a project and program manager with over 15 years of experience in scaling teams, processes, and products within high-growth SaaS and cloud startups. My expertise lies in building structure in ambiguous environments, driving fast execution across product, engineering, and go-to-market teams. I have a proven track record of launching programs from the ground up, aligning business units during rapid pivots, and delivering scalable infrastructure without unnecessary bureaucracy.

In my current role as Principal Program Manager at AutoFi, I have successfully built foundational program structures and delivery cadences for various teams, boosting delivery velocity by 23% and roadmap forecast accuracy by 28%. My previous experience includes leading programs at Spire Global and directing a $70M cyberinfrastructure program at NCAR, where I implemented real-time data access and collaboration tools across 65+ distributed teams. I am passionate about fostering cross-functional leadership and creating processes that drive growth and efficiency.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Principal Program Manager

Current

AutoFi

Jan 2022 - Present (3 years 5 months)

Built foundational program structures and delivery cadences for Product, Engineering, QA, and Marketing teams in a fast-scaling SaaS environment. Introduced OKR-based planning and lightweight Agile ceremonies, boosting delivery velocity by 23% and roadmap forecast accuracy by 28%.

OKRs Cross Org Restructuring Cloud Based Feature Initiatives

Principal Program Manager

Spire Global

Jan 2020 - Present (5 years 5 months)

Led programs across ML, analytics, and data science in support of product pivots and market repositioning during scale-up. Integrated acquired teams and tech stacks, driving product localization across four continents within aggressive timeline.

Analytics Data Science Localization

Senior Project Manager

NCAR

Jan 2015 - Present (10 years 5 months)

Directed a $70M cyberinfrastructure program involving 65+ distributed teams; implemented real-time data access and collaboration tools. Created cloud-based workbench and led cross-functional Agile execution in a highly matrixed public sector research environment.

Program Manager

FC Boulder

Jan 2012 - Present (13 years 5 months)

Founded and grew a new revenue-generating unit from scratch post-merger, aligning staff training, operations, and go-to-market. Designed and led change management strategy that unified teams under shared goals and repeatable execution habits.

Revenue Operations Go To Market Change Management

Project Manager

Castle Rock Services

Jan 2009 - Present (16 years 5 months)

Built PMO, QA, and dev processes to support early-stage mobile and server integrations. Authored proposals and managed client delivery for early cloud projects across private and public sector clients.

PMO QA Proposal Management Cloud Projects Mobile Integration

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

University of Texas at Austin

Executive Certificate, AI for Leaders

Enrolled in an executive certificate program focusing on Artificial Intelligence for leaders. Gaining knowledge on leveraging AI technologies for strategic decision-making and business innovation.

Cornell University

Executive Certificate, High Performance Leadership

Completed an executive program focused on advanced leadership principles and strategies. Gained insights into driving high performance within organizations and fostering effective team dynamics.

Durham University

MA, Geography (Urban Development)

Pursued advanced studies in Geography with a specialization in Urban Development. Explored theories and practices related to urban planning, policy, and sustainable development.

University of Denver

Executive MBA, Business Administration

Grade: 4.0

Earned an Executive Master of Business Administration with a perfect GPA. Focused on strategic management, finance, and leadership to prepare for senior leadership roles.

Durham University

BA, Geography

Grade: Honors

Completed a Bachelor of Arts in Geography with honors. Developed a strong foundation in human and physical geography, including research methodologies and data analysis.