[Hiring] Senior Lead Program Manager @Lumen

Role Description

Lumen is investing in the technical talent that powers its network, digital and AI future. This role owns two critical STEPN talent programs end to end:

• Digital Tech Program: A two-year rotational development program that builds Lumen's next generation of technologists.
• Lumen Fellows & Distinguished Engineers Program: Recognizes and deploys Lumen's most senior technical experts.

The role is accountable for designing and optimizing each program, building them into world-class, industry-benchmarked offerings, and running them with operational excellence year after year, so that Lumen attracts, grows and retains the technical talent its strategy depends on.

Main Responsibilities

• Digital Tech Program Two-year Rotational Development Program:
  • Design and launch the rotation model, rotation tracks, and host team placements across STEPN.
  • Partner with Talent Acquisition and the early in career talent team on sourcing early career recruiting selection and offer strategy.
  • Build the curriculum onboarding technical and professional skills, leadership exposure, mentoring, and capstone projects.
  • Manage the cohort lifecycle including rotation assignments, host manager expectations, performance check-ins, and graduation and placement into permanent roles.
  • Create host manager enablement resources so all leaders are equipped with the necessary information, tools, and resources to successfully manage a rotational program member.
  • Track outcomes such as retention, placement rate post program, performance, time to productivity, and manager and participant satisfaction to evaluate program impact.
  • Partner with the early career talent team to grow the Lumen brand at universities to attract top talent into the rotational program year after year.
• Lumen Fellows Distinguished Engineers:
  • Define the technical career framework criteria and tiers (e.g., Distinguished Engineer, Fellow) and how they relate to job architecture in partnership with HR partners.
  • Design and run the nomination review and selection process including a technical review board and executive calibration.
  • Build the value proposition: recognition, visibility, executive access, innovation funding, and external representation (patents, standards bodies, conferences, and publications).
  • Deploy Fellows and Distinguished Engineers against Lumen's highest priority technical challenges and architecture decisions.
  • Establish community cadence and mentoring linkage including Fellows and Distinguished Engineers mentoring Digital Tech participants.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field or equivalent experience.
• 8 years of experience in program management, talent or leadership development, early career programs, or technical workforce programs.
• Proven track record designing programs from the ground up and scaling them.
• Experience working with senior executives and highly technical audiences.
• Strong program management, stakeholder management, and executive communication skills.
• Data-driven approach to measuring outcomes and ROI.

Requirements

• Experience running rotational early career or university programs at a technology, telecommunications, or engineering company.
• Experience with technical career ladders, distinguished engineer or fellow programs, or technical recognition and patent innovation programs.
• Familiarity with networking, cloud, digital, or AI technology domains.
• People leadership experience; formal or informal.

Benefits

• Comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional, and financial wellbeing.
• Bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives, and/or sales compensation).