R&D Program Manager

Are you passionate about solving problems and delivering next-generation software to enhance the Internet experience?Join a global leader creating software for broadband service providers. We have been growing since 1992 and now work with some of the top service providers worldwide to deliver solutions that are innovative, creative, and make life easier for millions of subscribers. We are seeking an R&D Program Managerlocated in Ontario, Canadawho thrives in a fast-paced global team environment!

The R&D Program Manager is responsible for owning, developing and driving the end-to-end R&D process — from requirements creation through prioritization, development, testing, and transition to production. This role leads the execution, and governance of the R&D portfolio, ensuring alignment with the company’s long-term innovation roadmap and business objectives.

As the process owner, the R&D Program Manager defines and optimizes R&D methodologies, phase gates, documentation standards, success metrics, and cross-functional handoffs.

Roles and Responsibilities

Process & Governance:

• Define and continuously improve R&D methodologies, phase gates, deliverables, approval workflows, and success metrics.
• Establish documentation standards, technical requirements intake, and cross-functional handoff procedures.
• Create governance mechanisms to monitor risk, budget, technical milestones, and compliance.

Program Execution & Delivery

• Drive R&D and cross-functional teams to execute and deliver SW programs on time with quality.
• Lead governance calls to track and drive status including quality reporting metrics
• Anticipate and mitigate risk through structured issue tracking and decision-making
• Stakeholder Communication & Alignment
• Provide transparent program status and portfolio health reporting
• Align technical direction with product, business, and operational goals.
• Facilitate tradeoff decisions between scope, technical risk, and strategic value.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Certifications in program/project management (PMP, PgMP, Scrum/Agile, SAFe) are a plus
• 3–5+ years managing complex technical programs or portfolios (cross-functional)
• Proven background owning or designing R&D or product development processes
• Experience taking projects from concept → prototype → validation → production/launch
• Direct exposure to working with SW engineering teams
• Experience working in a structured development lifecycle (stage-gate, Agile, hybrid, etc.)

Leadership & Program Management Skills

• Skilled in driving alignment across technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Strong organizational and decision-making skills
• Data-driven approach to tracking outcomes, not just activities
• Process ownership mindset — continuous improvement oriented
• Excellent executive communication and reporting skills

Soft Skills & Mindset

• Innovation-minded but structured — able to foster creativity while maintaining discipline
• Comfortable with ambiguity in early-stage research
• High accountability and ownership orientation
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skill