At Blackhawk Network, we’re shaping the future of global branded payments through cutting-edge digital technologies that connect brands and people across the globe. Our fintech solutions — from digital payments and prepaid products to scalable infrastructure and security — drive innovation, customer loyalty, and business growth.  At Blackhawk Network, we are accelerating the use of AI to improve how work gets done across the company while continuing to deliver innovative branded payment solutions at global scale.

We are seeking a Staff Technical Program Manager - AI to lead and scale cross-functional AI programs that help business and technology teams automate work, improve operating efficiency, and deliver measurable outcomes. This role will sit at the intersection of business teams, AI architecture, AI engineering, data, operations, legal, compliance, and security to identify high-value opportunities, shape roadmaps, and drive execution from concept through deployment.

This is first and foremost a program management role. The ideal candidate brings strong technical program management discipline, excellent cross-functional leadership, and enough AI fluency to work with business leaders on initiatives that automate workflows, improve decision-making, and increase productivity through AI and workflow automation capabilities.

• AI Program Intake and Prioritization

  • Partnering with business and technology stakeholders to evaluate requests, define scope, and sequence work against capacity and business value.
  • Translate business needs into clear program charters, milestones, and delivery plans for AI-enabled automation initiatives.
  • Build and maintain the consolidated AI program roadmap for assigned business domains, including dependencies, delivery timelines, key decisions, and status across multiple concurrent initiatives.

  Program Governance and Execution

  • Lead end-to-end program execution for AI initiatives from planning through launch, ensuring strong governance, disciplined operating cadences, and predictable delivery.
  • Proactively manage risks, issues, cross-team dependencies, escalations, and tradeoffs across engineering, data, architecture, and business teams.
  • Drive program reviews, decision forums, executive updates, and stakeholder communications to maintain alignment and remove blockers.
  • Ensure launch readiness by coordinating testing, rollout planning, operational handoffs, documentation, and post-deployment follow-up for AI solutions.
  • Partner closely with AI architects and technical teams to turn automation opportunities into executable programs, balancing business impact, technical feasibility, and delivery speed.
  • Support pilot execution and scaled rollout of AI capabilities, helping teams move from experimentation to repeatable operational use cases.
  • Define and track program KPIs such as throughput, productivity gains, cycle time reduction, quality improvements, adoption, and business value realization.
  • Establish repeatable program management templates, governance mechanisms, reporting structures, and playbooks to scale AI delivery across the organization.
  • Partner with analytics and operations teams to monitor results, identify improvement opportunities, and drive continuous optimization of AI programs after launch.

• Qualifications

  • 8+ years of experience in technical program management, program management, including leading large-scale cross-functional programs in complex organizations.
  • Strong program management fundamentals, including roadmap management, planning, dependency management, risk management, issue resolution, executive reporting, and milestone-based delivery.
  • Experience partnering across engineering, product, business, operations, legal, compliance, and analytics teams to deliver complex initiatives.
  • Hands-on familiarity with GenAI tools such as Glean, Claude, Copilot, or similar enterprise AI platforms, along with workflow automation technologies.
  • Ability to work effectively with highly technical partners and understand enough about AI solutions to support planning, tradeoff discussions, and execution.
  • Strong business acumen, with the ability to define KPIs, evaluate ROI, understand cost structures, and connect programs to measurable business value.
  • Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills, with the ability to influence and lead without direct authority.
  • Experience with JIRA, Confluence, dashboards, and collaboration tools used to manage technical programs and communicate progress.
  • Bachelor’s degree in technology, Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent practical experience.
  • PMP or related certification is a plus.

  Preferred Traits

  • Strategic and tactical thinker who can move between defining direction and driving day-to-day execution.
  • Systems thinker who can connect technical, operational, and business process implications across programs.
  • Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate clearly at all levels of the organization.
  • Curious, adaptable, and action-oriented in applying AI to real business problems and measurable outcomes

We seek candidates who not only demonstrate curiosity and adaptability in emerging technologies but have also successfully implemented and utilized AI tools to enhance their work, improve processes, or deliver measurable results.  Our teams embrace continuous learning and the thoughtful integration of AI to create meaningful impact – for our employees and the future of work.

Salary Range for California Residents Only: $138,140.00 to $186,500.00

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, Blackhawk Network offers benefits including 401k with employer match, medical, dental, vision, 12 paid holidays throughout the year 2025, sick pay accrual according to state law, parental leave, life insurance, disability insurance, accident and illness insurance, health and dependent care flexible spending accounts, wellness benefits, and flexible time off for all full-time employees.