Senior Program Manager Skills Interview
Author:
Craig LoweryIn Craig Lowery’s template is optimized for a Senior Program Manager responsible for designing and organizing a program and the accompanying work structure to execute a business strategy. This template covers core responsibilities of the role including defining and gaining support for a program’s vision, developing an operating model to accomplish program objectives and track program success, and collaborating cross-functionally with teams who are impacted by the program.
Focus area:
Question
1
Imagine you’re developing a new program for the business that involves many teams across the company (e.g., a CSR initiative). What steps would you take, and what would you consider, when defining the vision for the program?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate has the ability to define and gain support for a program vision by engaging others
Explore tips
- Develop initial thinking to share with others (not too rigid or loosely defined)
- Tie the vision to a realistic business strategy (not too general/too specific)
- Consult relevant stakeholders to obtain input/feedback on initial thinking
- Iterate on the vision to adapt it based on others input/feedback
- Summarize/communicate the vision to others in a way that is easily digestible
Question
2
A critical part of program management is designing a successful operating model. Can you tell me about a time where you've developed a successful operating model in the past? What steps did you take? Why was it successful?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate has the ability to design and gain support for a successful operating model
Explore tips
- Broke strategy into distinct elements and/or phases to achieve objectives
- Used program objectives to inform necessary capabilities and key deliverables
- Gained buy-in from leadership by defining success (targets, metrics, milestones)
- Focused on the features/details most relevant to others when communicating
- Was mindful of balancing generality/specificity (too many details/too generic)
Question
3
When creating a new program, there are often implications/expectations for many different internal stakeholders. How would you communicate and gain support for the program across different functions in the organization?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate has the ability to gain support for programs by being directive and adapting where appropriate
Explore tips
- Consult stakeholders to understand what is important to them
- Be open and responsive to suggestions/feedback
- Adapt expectations/strategy where appropriate to ensure it works for others
- Provide appropriate direction to align on vision and facilitate ownership
- Balance direction and engagement (define objectives but be flexible)
Question
4
Once you have designed a program's operating model, how would you go about implementing it across the organization to move the program forward?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate has the ability to implement a program strategy and monitor progress against objectives
Explore tips
- Breaks deliverables down into discrete milestones and delegates accountability
- Ensures expectations are understood and necessary to achieve objectives
- Ensures stakeholders have the proper resources to accomplish tasks
- Define metrics to measure progress and ensure work is achieving the goals
- Create a plan/process for monitoring quality of deliverables
Question
5
What have you done in the past to promote ownership and accountability by others? What were the success factors for your approach, and is there anything you could do to improve your approach based on your experience?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate has the ability to guide teams/leaders/individuals to successfully achieve performance objectives
Explore tips
- Assign a single person to take ownership over a particular task
- Ensure timing for milestones is appropriate for the work required for completion
- Define and track key milestones and balance quality and cost with time
- Create a feedback loop to monitor progress and ensure successful operations
- Ensure you are achieving/delivering the capability you are trying to build
Question
6
What would you do if a team was not meeting the deliverables or deadlines for their particular responsibilities? How do you keep teams motivated?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate has the ability to inspire engagement and motivation in others
Explore tips
- Ensure one person is accountable and owns the deliverable
- Consider the severity or implications of a missed deadline (significant enough?)
- If repeated, have them explain/justify failure and develop improvement plan
- Build community/relationships with others to promote collective goals/direction
- Work to ensure there are implications for poor performance
Question
7
Imagine you encounter a roadblock that halts a program's/project's progress. You are not sure why the challenge occurred and are unsure about how to solve it. How would you approach this as you were overseeing the program?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate exhibits drive to get involved with problem solving and take ownership to overcome setbacks
Explore tips
- Takes an action and solution-oriented approach by prioritizing problem solving
- Collects information to understand the cause of the problem/challenge
- Takes ownership for solving/overcoming the problem
- Identify the right people to consult and initiate conversations
- Ensure relevant stakeholders are informed on the problem, solution and impact
