Head of Program Management

The Head of Program Management is a pivotal leadership role within Terra Quantum, responsible for driving the overall strategic direction and successful delivery of our key programs. This individual will oversee the comprehensive program portfolio, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and market demands, and will play a critical role in scaling our delivery capabilities. This role reports directly to the executive leadership responsible for Product and Engineering and will be instrumental in fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement across all program initiatives. 

As the Head of Program Management, you will lead, coach, and mentor a team of 4 Project Managers / Scrum Masters, empowering them to excel in their roles and effectively deliver their respective projects. You will establish and uphold best practices for program management, governance, and reporting, ensuring transparency and accountability across the program lifecycle. This includes defining and implementing scalable processes, tools, and methodologies that enhance efficiency and predictability in our project execution. You will be responsible for managing interdependencies between projects, mitigating risks, and resolving complex issues to ensure the smooth progression of all programs, providing guidance and ensuring the effective execution of Agile ceremonies across teams. 

With exceptional leadership and strategic vision, the Head of Program Management will cultivate a high-performing team environment, foster collaboration across departments, and drive the continuous professional development of their direct reports. You will act as a key liaison between technical teams, product management, and executive stakeholders, translating strategic goals into actionable program plans and ensuring successful delivery against challenging targets. Your ability to inspire, guide, and empower will be critical to achieving Terra Quantum's ambitious growth objectives and maintaining its position as a leader in quantum innovation. 

Responsibilities 

• Define and drive the strategic roadmap for program delivery, ensuring alignment with the Product and Engineering teams’ as well as the overarching Terra Quantum's business goals. 

• Lead, coach, and mentor a team of 3-5 Project Managers / Scrum Masters, fostering their professional growth and ensuring their success in project execution. 

• Actively engage in hands-on program management, including directly managing key initiatives, resolving critical blockers, and supporting project teams as needed. 

• Establish and enforce robust program management frameworks, cross-functional ways of working, and best practices across the organisation. 

• Oversee the entire program portfolio, managing interdependencies, risks, and resource allocation to ensure successful and timely delivery. 

• Ensure the effective planning, facilitation, and follow-up of Agile ceremonies (e.g., sprint planning, daily stand-ups, reviews, retrospectives) at the program level. 

• Collaborate closely with executive leadership, product management, and engineering teams to ensure clear communication and strategic alignment on program objectives and progress. 

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the program management function, optimizing for efficiency, predictability, and quality of delivery. 

• Ensure all programs are delivered within scope, on budget, and on schedule, meeting or exceeding defined Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree + or equivalent work experience 

• 10 years of product or project development experience, or 3 years of project development experience on an Agile Team or an equivalent combination of education and work experience 

• Demonstrated experience facilitating meetings at multiple levels of an organisation and an understanding of facilitation techniques 

• Exceptional leadership, time management, communication, facilitation, negotiation, coaching and organisational skills 

• Knowledge of an Agile framework or method (i.e. Scrum, Kanban), or understanding of software development life cycle models as well as in-depth knowledge of traditional project management principles and practices and familiarity with engineering team daily operations 

• Adept at refinement, story splitting, estimation, velocity, retrospection, and other Scrum techniques 

• Proven ability to plan and problem solve with product management and delivery teams 

• Self-directed, resourceful and accountable with a positive “can do” attitude 

• Outstanding working knowledge of change management principles and performance evaluation processes as they apply in an Agile organisation 

• Demonstrated track record of operating in a fast-paced, often ambiguous environment, while handling multiple responsibilities simultaneously 

• Advanced proficiency in written and spoken English 

• Fearless in exploring new ways of working, experimental concepts and innovations 

• Willingness to build and work hands-on to set the example for how our teams should scale 

The Rewards 

We are an international team of quantum technology experts and dedicated business creatives that are working to bring quantum-enabled solutions to the global market. Our brilliant team members enjoy a high degree of freedom working remotely or joining one of our office spaces. We have a vibrant, enthusiastic, passionate and creative culture driven by trust, excellence and continuous improvement. If you join the Terra Quantum team, you can expect: 

• An opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the pioneering field of Quantum Technologies as well as an experienced and progressive Leadership team
• Gain knowledge of some of the most cutting-edge technology developments in science & engineering 
• A chance to be part of one of Europe’s leading technology firms of the upcoming decades
• Welcoming, friendly, and professional colleagues
• A personal development plan with clear goals for advancement
• A competitive salary 
• Flexible working arrangements 
• A diverse and supportive atmosphere, where innovation and initiative are encouraged  

If you are enthusiastic about positively impacting the world and helping to drive the second quantum revolution, let’s talk! 

Company description 

Quantum technologies have the potential to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. There have been great advances in all areas of quantum technologies, and new fields of application are opened up every day. Hybrid computer systems that combine classic high-performance computing with quantum computers are already being used to develop solutions in sectors such as logistics, healthcare, finance, energy, automotive and aerospace. Quantum mechanical predictions are also used to obtain unprecedented precision in measurements, generate unbreakable codes, and form the basis of impenetrable communication networks. All these developments are happening right now, and they are happening at Terra Quantum. 

At Terra Quantum we are building the world’s leading Quantum Technology company. We offer customers world-class quantum technology expertise organized as “quantum-as-a-service”: hybrid quantum algorithms, quantum compute and quantum enabled security solutions. Through the proprietary quantum cloud, customers have access to a unique technology platform which provides a toolset to solve real-world challenges in the realms of machine learning, optimization and simulation, today. In 2022, the company closed its Series A financing round with a $75m fundraise. 

Quantum physics has, in some respects, parallels to the machine language of our computers-the zeros and ones into which our keyboard or touchscreen instructions are translated for execution in the computer-only on a larger scale: it is the machine language of the universe. The second quantum revolution is based on the control of individual quantum systems, such as individual atoms. We use quantum computers to solve currently unsolvable problems, simulate molecules and their interactions, find drugs for diseases that are not yet curable, find new materials, or make artificial intelligence stronger. Quantum is now. 

Terra Quantum is a future-focused quantum services and technology company working on making the second quantum revolution a reality. Terra Quantum’s activities span all areas, markets, and industries globally. 

• Our purpose is to pioneer quantum technologies to change the world for good,
• Our vision is to lead the quantum revolution and be the trailblazer in technology solutions, shaping a better future for humankind to thrive in, and
• Our mission is to unleash the power of quantum tech to deliver meaningful solutions today

Terra Quantum is an equal opportunities employer, committed to diversity, inclusion and employee well-being.