Principal Program Manager, Business Operations

Zillow, Inc.

$153K — $245K *
US-AnywhereIn-Person
Business Services
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in strategy, business operations, analytics, or program management with measurable impact.
  • Experience in designing and refining program workflows, utilizing AI and automation for improvement.
  • Ability to analyze complex problems, identify root causes, and provide data-informed insights and solutions.
  • Experience leading integration across product, legal, finance, and operations for scalability and risk management.
  • Skilled in managing senior stakeholder relationships and cross-functional leadership without direct authority.
  • Proficient in modern project management tools and analytics software; SQL experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

  • Identify and implement strategic business solutions to enhance performance through analysis and proof-of-concept testing.
  • Lead cross-functional initiatives, managing project scopes, plans, and communications with stakeholders.
  • Drive data-informed decisions by analyzing complex operational challenges and developing reporting frameworks.
  • Operationalize compliance protocols, partnering with legal and industry teams to align strategies and contracts.
  • Proactively evaluate and mitigate programmatic risks and revenue issues.
  • Design policies to manage outstanding payments and reduce contra revenue and bad debt.
  • Collaborate with product teams to enhance payment processes and support go-to-market strategies.

Benefits

  • Remote work flexibility allowing employees to work from any U.S. location.
  • Opportunity for equity awards based on performance and experience.
  • Inclusion in a recognized workplace known for innovation and engagement.
  • Support for career growth with a commitment to employee development.
  • Encouraging diverse backgrounds and experiences for applicants aiming for a progressive workplace.
Full Job Description
About the role

As Principal Program Manager, you will lead high-impact, cross-functional initiatives that protect revenue, ensure compliance, and enable the Preferred program to scale sustainably from strategy through execution. You will operate at the intersection of Product, Business Operations, Legal, Finance, and GTM teams, managing initiatives where execution quality directly impacts revenue integrity, regulatory posture, and long-term program scalability. This role requires a hypothesis-driven approach to problem solving, the ability to connect diverse inputs to identify opportunities, and clear communication of tradeoffs at the leadership level. Success is achieved through collaborative influence, strong partnerships, analytical rigor, and translating strategy into operational reality.

You Will Get To
  • Identify, validate, and implement strategic solutions for new concepts, programs, and policies to optimize business performance, using analysis, research, pilots, and proof-of-concept testing.
  • Lead large-scale, cross-functional initiatives from concept through execution by defining scope, developing project plans, managing workstreams, conducting impact analyses, and driving alignment through clear communications and leadership-level readouts.
  • Drive data-informed decision-making by leading analyses of complex business and operational challenges, designing and implementing operational reporting and analytical proofs of concept.
  • Develop and operationalize policy frameworks and assessment protocols for payment and compliance, partnering with legal, industry, and cross-functional teams to align business strategy, regulatory obligations, and program contract language.
  • Proactively identify, evaluate, and mitigate revenue and programmatic risks.
  • Create and implement policies to address outstanding payments, minimize contra revenue, and mitigate bad debt.
  • Partner with Product and cross-functional teams to implement payment-related features and process improvements, supporting go-to-market and adoption strategies.


This role has been categorized as a Remote position. "Remote" employees do not have a permanent corporate office workplace and, instead, work from a physical location of their choice, which must be identified to the Company. U.S. employees may live in any of the 50 United States, with limited exceptions.

In California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington state, and Washington DC the standard base pay range for this role is $153,600.00 - $245,400.00 annually. This base pay range is specific to these locations and may not be applicable to other locations.In Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia the standard base pay range for this role is $145,900.00 - $233,100.00 annually. The base pay range is specific to these locations and may not be applicable to other locations.

In addition to a competitive base salary this position is also eligible for equity awards based on factors such as experience, performance and location. Actual amounts will vary depending on experience, performance and location. Employees in this role will not be paid below the salary threshold for exempt employees in the state where they reside.

Who you are
  • 10+ years of experience in strategy, business operations, analytics, or program management, with a track record of driving measurable business impact.
  • Experience designing and refining program workflows and tooling, leveraging AI and automation to improve speed, quality, and visibility across cross-functional teams.
  • Proven ability to break down complex, ambiguous problems, identify root causes, and deliver data-informed insights and innovative solutions.
  • Experience leading business integration across Product, Legal, Finance, GTM, and Operations, aligning strategies, policies, processes, and systems for enterprise-scale execution and risk management.
  • Skilled in cross-functional leadership, influencing without authority, navigating complex decision-making, and managing senior stakeholder relationships.
  • Demonstrated success leading large, sophisticated cross-functional initiatives while balancing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate trade-offs, recommendations, and outcomes to diverse audiences.
  • Highly proficient in modern project management, analytics, and reporting tools (e.g., Google Workspace, Jira, Excel, Salesforce, Tableau); SQL experience is a plus.
  • Here at Zillow, we value the experience and perspective of candidates with non-traditional backgrounds. We encourage you to apply if you have transferable skills or related experiences.

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