Principal Program Manager, Technology Portfolio (Hybrid - Seattle, WA)

Nordstrom isn't just another job – it's a career. We are a leading fashion retailer that has offered the very best of what is on trend for men, women, and children since 1901. We believe in rewarding outstanding work, developing employees' careers and building long-term relationships with our customers. As a Principal Program Manager of Technology at Nordstrom, you will have the opportunity to combine your passion for technology and strategy to lead and execute high-impact programs, shape investment frameworks, and drive organizational excellence by prioritizing and delivering technology solutions that advance our business objectives. We have an exciting opportunity for a Principal Program Manager of Technology who thrives at the intersection of strategic portfolio management and hands-on technical program execution. This role uniquely combines portfolio leadership with organizational development, bringing rigor and clarity to how we prioritize and deliver technology investments across technology. You will be both strategist and executor—shaping investment frameworks while driving critical programs from inception through delivery. You'll be part of the Technology organization, collaborating closely with engineering leaders, product managers, program managers, and enterprise architecture. You will work with Technology Executive Leadership to drive portfolio transparency and investment discipline, while mentoring program managers across the organization to elevate their strategic thinking and execution capabilities. Who you are…

• Strategic and tactical in equal measure—you can shape long-term portfolio strategies while rolling up your sleeves to drive program execution
• Data-driven critical thinker with strong analytical capabilities to dissect complex problems, conduct financial analysis, and develop innovative solutions
• Technical program management expert with deep understanding of platform modernization, data engineering, cybersecurity, and collaboration & productivity technologies
• Natural leader and mentor who develops others through coaching and knowledge-sharing, elevating program management capabilities across the organization
• Influencer without authority who builds consensus, navigates ambiguity, and drives outcomes across diverse teams and stakeholder groups
• Executive-level communicator who conveys complex technical and business concepts clearly to audiences from engineers to C-suite leaders
• Customer-obsessed, bringing business context and user perspective to technology investment decisions

A day in the life… Portfolio Leadership & Investment Discipline

• Lead technology portfolio management, ensuring investments align with organizational goals and strategy.
• Establish and evolve frameworks for investment rigor, resource allocation, and governance.
• Conduct financial analysis, risk assessments, and build business cases to inform decision-making and optimize portfolio performance.
• Oversee portfolio roadmapping, planning cycles, and resource capacity planning, balancing priorities and optimizing engineering resources.
• Track portfolio budget and financial health, monitoring spend, forecasting costs, and identifying opportunities for cost optimization.

Program Delivery & Execution

• Own and execute critical programs from inception through delivery, navigating complexity and ambiguity across teams and platforms.
• Drive technology rationalization and application lifecycle management, identifying opportunities to modernize or retire legacy systems.
• Create and maintain dashboards and reporting mechanisms for real-time visibility into portfolio health, program status, risks, and value realization.
• Measure and report impact by defining success metrics, tracking progress, and ensuring programs deliver measurable business value.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Build consensus and drive outcomes across engineering, product, business, and executive leadership.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and program champion, facilitating steering committees, investment review boards, and portfolio health reviews.
• Communicate complex technical and business concepts clearly to diverse audiences, from engineers to C-suite leaders.
• Drive stakeholder engagement by building strong relationships across Technology, Business, and Operations teams.

Talent Development & Mentorship

• Mentor and develop program managers, elevating strategic thinking, technical acumen, and execution capabilities across the organization.
• Develop and contribute to playbooks, frameworks, and best practices that scale excellence across the TPM community.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex program issues, providing guidance and driving resolution.

You own this if you have…

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field; will accept any suitable combination of education, experience, and training
• 7+ years of experience in technical program management with increasing scope and complexity
• 5+ years leading portfolio management, investment prioritization, or program governance
• Proven track record managing complex technology portfolios and delivering hands-on program work across platforms
• Deep understanding of platform modernization, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and collaboration technologies
• Experience with AI and driving its adoption in the workplace (experience with AI-assisted development tools and productivity platforms is a plus)
• Strong track record leading cross-functional teams and managing stakeholders at all levels, from engineers to executives
• Experience mentoring program managers and developing organizational capabilities
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with tactical execution, developing long-term portfolio strategies while executing programs effectively
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to conduct thorough financial analysis, ROI assessments, and risk evaluations
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills with ability to influence without authority
• Experience recruiting and managing external consultants, including sourcing, onboarding, and overseeing external program management support
• Familiarity with portfolio management and collaboration tools
• Experience with both waterfall and agile delivery models
• Background in retail or platform & infrastructure environments (preferred)
• Experience with technology modernization or transformation initiatives (preferred)

#LI-Hybrid We’ve got you covered… Our employees are our most important asset and that’s reflected in our benefits. Nordstrom is proud to offer a variety of benefits to support employees and their families, including:

• Medical/Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away
• Life Insurance and Disability
• Merchandise Discount and EAP Resources

A few more important points... The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive. There may be additional duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job. Nordstrom conducts background checks and considers qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements. Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation should contact the nearest Nordstrom location, which can be identified at www.nordstrom.com. Please be mindful that there may be legal notices and requirements related to this job posting that are specific to your state. Review the Career Site FAQ’s for relevant information and guidelines. © 2022 Nordstrom, Inc Current Nordstrom employees: To apply, log into Workday, click the Careers button and then click Find Jobs. Nordstrom keeps job postings open for at least one day after the posting date. Pay Range Details The pay range(s) below has been provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different for other locations. Pay offers are dependent on the location, as well as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. $191,000.00 - $297,000.00 Annual This position may be eligible for performance-based incentives/bonuses. Benefits include 401k, medical/vision/dental/life/disability insurance options, PTO accruals, Holidays, and more. Eligibility requirements may apply based on location, job level, classification, and length of employment. Learn more in the Nordstrom Benefits Overview by copying and pasting the following URL into your browser: https://careers.nordstrom.com/pdfs/Ben_Overview_17-19.pdf Apply tot his job Apply To this Job