United States onlyStrategic Initiatives Program Manager
Introduction:
The Zebra revolutionizes how connected consumers research and shop for insurance. We intentionally strive to build diverse teams that feel inclusive for all. Our motto is "All Stripes Welcome," we put that into practice by valuing traditional and non-conventional backgrounds and perspectives. Our Zeebs are passionate about learning, growing, & working together to tackle exciting problems.
We are seeking a highly motivated and results-driven Strategic Initiatives Program Manager to join our team. In this role, you will lead cross-functional programs that are critical to advancing our company’s most strategic objectives. You will work directly with senior leadership and stakeholders across product, engineering, operations, and go-to-market teams to drive clarity, alignment, and execution across high-impact initiatives.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguous, fast-paced environments and who brings a strong mix of strategic thinking, program management discipline, and influence without authority.
Location:
Our employees can choose to work remotely in the U.S. Join us in our Austin, Texas office, or opt for a hybrid setup. Whether you prefer the structure of an office, the convenience of remote work, or a mix of both, we support what works best for you!
Please note - At this time we are not able to hire in California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York.
What You'll Do:
Execution & Coordination
Ensure timely communication and visibility of sprint and epic-level progress, risks, and impacts from Product and Engineering leads.
Track and surface key metrics in partnership with data analysts and PMs to monitor pod- and sprint-level health.
Support pod leaders in defining, documenting, and upholding accountability for their deliverables.
Escalate blockers, misalignment, and unresolved cross-pod dependencies to appropriate leaders.
Operational Playbook & Process Leadership
Maintain and evolve the pod operating model and playbook; reinforce adoption and consistency across teams.
Propose and implement improvements to planning, execution, and coordination workflows.
Represent the playbook in onboarding, documentation, and change management efforts.
Cross-Team Alignment & Strategic Visibility
Facilitate (and document, when needed) cross-functional alignment meetings, strategy sessions, and syncs to drive execution clarity.
Partner with the CoS on quarterly strategic planning processes to ensure pod workstreams are connected to company-wide goals.
Surface key milestones, risks, and interdependencies to inform resourcing and roadmap alignment.
Metrics, Insights & Reporting
Work with data partners to operationalize dashboards or scorecards that highlight team velocity, delivery, and outcomes.
Translate insights into recommended actions to improve team performance, execution confidence, and coordination.
What We're Looking For:
3+ years of experience in program management, operations, strategic planning, or a similar coordination-heavy role.
Strong communication and facilitation skills with a knack for making the complex simple.
Systems thinker with a bias toward clarity, structure, and follow-through.
Confident in environments with ambiguity; able to bring shape to undefined challenges.
Comfortable partnering with senior leaders, technical teams, and business stakeholders.
Experience working with agile teams or within product/engineering orgs is highly preferred.
What Success Looks Like
Operational alignment on company goals and strategic initiatives
High-functioning cross-department collaboration and execution efficiency
Timely delivery of key insights and executive reporting
Interview Process:
We value transparency and aim to create a thoughtful, efficient experience for all candidates. Here’s what you can expect during the interview process for the Strategic Initiatives Program Managerrole:
Recruiter Screen (30 minutes)
An introductory conversation to learn more about your background, goals, and interest in the role. You’ll also have a chance to ask questions about The Zebra and the team.Take-Home Exercise
We’ll send you a short, structured prompt that mirrors the types of ambiguous coordination and execution challenges you’d tackle in this role. This allows you to show how you’d approach the work, and how you think through structure, communication, and accountability.Hiring Manager Interview (30 minutes)
A conversation with the hiring manager to walk through your take-home, dive deeper into your approach, and answer any questions you may have.Final Round (3 Interviews, Total 1 hour 45 minutes)
You’ll meet with key cross-functional team members across operations, product, and marketing. This round is designed to explore how you collaborate, navigate ambiguity, and drive strategic alignment across teams:Interview 1 (45 mins): With internal Program Managers + Product Managers.
Interview 2 (30 mins): With executive stakeholders.
Interview 3 (30 mins): Check-in with the hiring manager.
The base salary range for this position is $100,000-$120,000 per year. The final salary amount will be determined based on a variety of factors, including experience, skills, internal equity, and insights gained throughout the interview process.
About The Zebra:
The Zebra is the nation’s leading, independent insurance comparison site. With our dynamic, real-time quote comparison tool, consumers can identify insurance companies with the coverage, service level, and pricing to suit their unique needs. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, The Zebra has sought to bring transparency and simplicity to insurance shopping since 2012 -- it's “insurance in black and white.”
We've garnered the attention and investment of some of the nation’s top venture capitalists. Check out all of our awards & recognition!
Our core mantra is "All Stripes Welcome." As part of our dedication to maintaining an inclusive and diverse workforce, we provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform core job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation!
