Principal Technical Programme Manager - FinOps

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The Product and Technology Operations team is looking for a person for the position of Principal Technical Programme Manager to join them and take charge of managing, optimising and scaling cloud, vendor and AI spend across the organisation.

You will define the FinOps strategy itself - not only by running an existing cost programme, but by deciding what to optimise, in what order of priority and for what underlying reasons. Cloud and vendor cost management builds on established practices that we want to adapt and automate; this is not the case for AI spend. You will define and build FinOps for AI, while evolving existing practices towards a more automated system.

This is a very senior technical specialist role. You will bring enough technical expertise to directly design or shape automations, dashboards and optimisation recommendations, as well as strategic judgement to influence leadership thinking on financial trade-offs and on partnering with Finance, Procurement and other functions on vendor management and optimisation.

What you will do

Define the FinOps strategy

• Own the strategy for managing cloud, vendor and AI costs across the organisation - and not only execute an existing roadmap.

• Continuously reassess what to optimise, the order of priorities and the reasons behind these choices, based on actual spend concentration and risks.

• Build the AI cost management framework, an area that does not yet have an established model in the industry.

Drive cost optimisation through deep technical expertise

• Analyse cloud usage, vendor contracts and AI spend to target inefficiencies and develop strategies to reduce unnecessary costs.

• Directly design or shape the dashboards, automations and monitoring systems that make costs visible and actionable, with technical depth equivalent to that of a senior engineering role.

• Propose specific technical optimisations, not only process recommendations, and know when a suggestion requires deeper engineering partnership.

• Apply hands-on experience in building and automating with AI, rather than simply directing other teams.

Lead the programme across the organisation

• Oversee and, in some cases, execute multiple cost optimisation initiatives simultaneously.

• Own the tracking structure - cost attribution, monitoring and alerting - and use it to present leadership with a clear and reliable account of spend and savings.

• Work in partnership with the Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) team to define and establish key cost metrics, giving leadership a more precise financial view of cost efficiency.

• Manage cross-functional dependencies, risks and change across the SRE, engineering, data, FP&A and procurement teams.

Exert influence at executive level

• Present insights on feasibility, timelines, risks and cost trade-offs directly to senior leadership, to guide decisions that affect the actual budget and infrastructure choices.

• Balance centralised cost management standards with the autonomy that individual business units need to operate effectively.

• Proactively surface issues and advocate for change across products and teams, rather than waiting to be asked.

Mentoring

• Collaborate with delivery operations leadership on TPM career development, best practices and the foundations of the overall TPM function.

• Mentor other TPMs, helping to raise the technical and strategic level of the whole team.

What you will bring

• Experience owning the strategy and execution of a cost optimisation programme for cloud, vendors or AI - and not only executing a plan designed by someone else.

• In-depth knowledge of the AI vendor ecosystem - pricing models, contract structures, and the optimisation levers and specific nuances that differ from traditional cloud cost management.

• Technical expertise in network/cloud architecture, cost management and optimisation techniques, strong enough to directly design or evaluate dashboards and automation.

• Experience managing an area without an established model, building the framework as you go rather than applying a known model.

• A proven track record of managing inter-organisational programmes of scale spanning multiple business units.

• Strong strategic communication skills - ability to translate complex technical and financial trade-offs into concrete decisions for leadership.

• A proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive change across the organisation without direct line authority.

Dare to change:

You will enjoy:

• a flexible work environment that allows you to give your best

• a culture that celebrates performance

• the opportunity to have an impact within a team large enough to grow professionally, but agile enough for your voice to be heard

• opportunities that will shape your career

And benefits designed to support your happiness, health and fulfilment:

• Flexible paid time off and remote work policies

• Share purchase options, because this is also your company

• Contributions to your pension plan, because your future matters to us

• Training opportunities to develop your skills and career

• A health and wellness allowance to help you feel at your best

• Volunteer leave to get involved in your community

• Interest groups, ranging from employee-led groups to sponsored sports teams

• A computer purchase programme to acquire your personal MacBook

• Enhanced parental leave to support growing families

Accelerate your growth. Find your team.

At Lightspeed, your growth is our priority. We invest in you through continuous learning opportunities, international mobility and benefits designed to support you, all within a motivated, diverse and inclusive team that is passionate about the success of our communities.

Please note that we ask candidates to disclose any criminal convictions and that we conduct a criminal background check as part of our hiring process for this position.

Lightspeed is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and barrier-free workplace.
Lightspeed welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

About us

Powering the businesses that drive the global economy, Lightspeed's all-in-one commerce platform helps merchants innovate to simplify, adapt and deliver exceptional customer experiences. Our cloud solution transforms and unifies online and offline operations, omnichannel sales, expansion with new locations, international payments, financial solutions and connection to supplier networks.

Founded in Montreal, Canada, in 2005, Lightspeed is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: LSPD) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: LSPD). With teams in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, the company serves businesses in the retail, hospitality and golf sectors in more than a hundred countries.

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