Program Manager, Value Creation

Company Description QAD Inc., owned by leading private equity firm Thoma Bravo , is a provider of cloud-based ERP software for global manufacturers. As a Thoma Bravo portfolio company, QAD is executing a focused Value Creation Plan (VCP) to accelerate growth and drive operational efficiency. The Program Manager, VCP PMO will be a central figure in this initiative, directly responsible for translating high-level strategy into a portfolio of funded, measurable initiatives. This role offers the unique opportunity to work at the intersection of strategic planning and operational execution within a PE-backed environment, ensuring that the company’s key strategic pillars— revenue acceleration, global delivery, efficiency, and corporate development —deliver tangible, quantifiable results. Job Description We’re looking for a sharp, action-oriented Program Manager to stand up and lead our Value Creation Plan (VCP) PMO. Reporting directly to the VP of Transformation, the Program Manager will partner with executives and functional leaders to ensure initiatives are launched, tracked, and deliver tangible results. You won’t just be managing projects; you’ll be a central orchestrator, translating high-level strategy into a clear, sequenced, and measurable portfolio of initiatives. This isn’t a technical PM role. We’re looking for someone with experience in transformation, private equity value creation, or a management consulting background. You’ll be the glue that connects our strategic pillars—Revenue Acceleration, Global Delivery, Efficiency, and Corporate Development—into a cohesive, accountable, and value-driving program. What You’ll Do Drive Outcomes, Not Just Activity Establish the VCP PMO from scratch: You’ll build and run the governance model, including regular stand-ups, steering committee (SteerCo) preps, and operational reviews. Operationalize the plan: Partner with functional leaders across Engineering, Product, Sales, Customer Success and Finance to break down strategic levers into specific, funded initiatives with clear owners, KPIs, and value bridges. Be a pro-active orchestrator: You’ll be the single source of truth for the entire VCP. You’ll maintain the master tracker, publish executive-level dashboards, and proactively highlight issues, blockers, and dependencies. Enable data-driven decisions: Your strong analytical skills in Excel will be essential for building value bridges, KPI trees, and simple financial models to support decision-making. Key Deliverables (First 90-180 Days) VCP Operationalized: Get the central VCP tracker live with the top 30-40 initiatives, owners, business cases, and KPIs defined. Governance & Rhythm: Institutionalize the VCP operating system, including a regular cadence of meetings and lightweight templates for charters, reporting, and value tracking. Benefits Realization: Establish the engine to track actual vs. planned benefits and manage the investment gating and sequencing of initiatives. Qualifications Who You Are You’re a strategic problem-solver with a bias for action. You’re comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving results in a fast-paced environment. You’re a clear communicator who can interface with and challenge senior executives to drive crisp decisions and follow-through. Required Qualifications 5-10+ years of experience in program management, transformation, or operational strategy, ideally in a software or industrial technology company. Demonstrated experience in setting up a PMO or similar function from the ground up and delivering measurable results. Executive presence and communication skills: You’re comfortable facilitating meetings with senior leaders and pushing for decisions. Analytical fluency: You have a strong command of Excel for building financial logic, value bridges, and KPI trees. Cross-functional expertise: You’ve successfully driven projects with teams in Engineering, Product, Sales, Customer Success and Finance. High ownership and bias to action: You have an 80/20 judgment and an impeccable track record of follow-through. Nice-to-Haves Experience in a private equity-backed company or a similar high-growth environment. Prior experience in a consulting firm’s value creation or transformation practice. Exposure to GTM productivity programs, portfolio rationalization, or global footprint initiatives. Additional Information How We Work Pace and Clarity: We’re a team of single-threaded owners who make quick, reversible decisions and escalate transparently. Outcomes Over Activity: We celebrate shipped value, not just presentations. One Team: We partner deeply with our colleagues, making trade-offs explicit and working together to achieve a shared goal. About QAD: QAD Inc. is a leading provider of adaptive, cloud-based enterprise software and services for global manufacturing companies. Global manufacturers face ever-increasing disruption caused by technology-driven innovation and changing consumer preferences. In order to survive and thrive, manufacturers must be able to innovate and change business models at unprecedented rates of speed. QAD calls these companies Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprises. QAD solutions help customers in the automotive, life sciences, packaging, consumer products, food and beverage, high tech and industrial manufacturing industries rapidly adapt to change and innovate for competitive advantage. QAD is committed to ensuring that every employee feels they work in an environment that values their contributions, respects their unique perspectives and provides opportunities for growth regardless of background. QAD’s DEI program is driving higher levels of diversity, equity and inclusion so that employees can bring their whole self to work. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. #LI-Remote