Overview

Principal Associate, (Product Operations & Program Management) Project Manager - Small Business Card

We are seeking a highly motivated and versatile Principal Associate, Product Operations & Program Managementto join our dynamic team.  The Small Business Card Experiences & Capabilities team is building capabilities that make our cards more attractive to small business owners, ultimately helping them to grow their businesses.  We thrive on deeply understanding customer needs and business opportunities, then working cross functionally to develop a strategy and learning agenda to meet those needs.

Your role will be critical to the success of our product development lifecycle, bridging the gap between product strategy and execution. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring our product and tech teams operate efficiently, deliver high-quality products on time, and continuously improve our processes.

This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and possesses a strong blend of operational rigor, project management expertise, and a passion for product excellence. You will be instrumental in building the scaffolding that enables our product organization to scale effectively.

What you'll do:

Strategic Planning & Delivery:

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Tech Leads to translate product roadmaps into actionable delivery plans, identifying key milestones, dependencies, and potential risks.

• Help define and refine product development processes, helping the team enable continuous customer feedback loops and ship products more reliably.

• Develop and implement structured approaches for managing cross-functional dependencies, ensuring seamless integration across various product initiatives.

Product Operations & Process Improvement:

• Champion and implement best practices for product development, including agile methodologies, release management, competitive market scans, and customer feedback loops.

• Create systems and standards to scale how product managers set strategy, prioritize, and iterate on their products.

• Improve the program's planning and operating routines to enhance predictability and efficiency.

• Support the product team in developing and maintaining documentation, tools, and templates that facilitate efficient product delivery.

• Analyze product performance data and operational metrics to identify areas for improvement and inform future product strategy.

Program & Project Management:

• Own and drive the execution of multiple concurrent product initiatives, ensuring projects stay on track, within scope, and meet quality standards.

• Proactively identify and mitigate risks and issues, escalating to stakeholders as needed and proposing solutions.

• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration across product, engineering, design, and other cross-functional teams (e.g. Marketing, Fraud, Legal).

Stakeholder Management:

• Develop and maintain robust communication channels to keep all relevant stakeholders informed of project progress, challenges, and key decisions.

• Create and disseminate regular updates, reports, and dashboards to provide transparency and ensure alignment across the organization.

Cross-Functional Partnership:

• Build strong relationships with partners across the company, understanding their needs and ensuring product initiatives align with broader business objectives.

• Facilitate collaborative problem-solving sessions and workshops to drive consensus and alignment.

We want you if you have:

Product & Technical Acumen:

• Strong understanding of the product development lifecycle and product management principles

• Ability to grasp technical concepts quickly and effectively communicate with engineering teams

Operational Leadership:

• Proven ability to establish and optimize operational processes and workflows

• Exceptional organizational skills with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to accuracy

• Experience in identifying and implementing tools to improve efficiency

Project & Program Management:

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment

• Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Jira)

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to anticipate and mitigate risks

Communication Skills:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences (technical and non-technical)

• Proven ability to influence without direct authority and build strong, collaborative relationships across all levels of an organization

• Strong presentation and facilitation skills

Analytical & Problem-Solving:

• Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and draw actionable insights to improve product operations and delivery

• Resourceful and proactive in identifying and solving problem

​Adaptability & Drive:

• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and adapting to changing priorities

• Self-starter with a strong sense of ownership and a desire to continuously learn and grow

• Passion for building great products and improving the product development process

• Eager to learn new things and balance the dynamic nature of program management, product operations, and stakeholder management

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Military experience

• At least 3  years of experience in Product Management, Product Operations, Process Management, Program Management, Risk Management or Project Management

Preferred Qualifications:

• 4+ years of experience in Product Management, Product Operations, Process Management, Program Management, Risk Management or Project Management

• 2+ years of experience leading horizontal projects in a large complex organization

• PMP, Lean, Agile or Six Sigma certification

At this time, Capital One will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position.

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

McLean, VA: $117,300 - $133,900 for Principal Project Manager

Richmond, VA: $106,700 - $121,700 for Principal Project Manager

Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.

This role is also eligible to earn performance based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonus(es) and/or long term incentives (LTI). Incentives could be discretionary or non discretionary depending on the plan.

Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well-being. Learn more at theCapital One Careers website. Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status, and management level.

This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days.

No agencies please. Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non-discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Capital One promotes a drug-free workplace. Capital One will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws regarding criminal background inquiries, including, to the extent applicable, Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law; San Francisco, California Police Code Article 49, Sections 4901-4920; New York City’s Fair Chance Act; Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Records Screening Act; and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding criminal background inquiries.

If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Capital One Recruiting at 1-800-304-9102 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@capitalone.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

For technical support or questions about Capital One's recruiting process, please send an email to Careers@capitalone.com

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Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).