Role overview

Vend, part of Lightspeed NZ, is seeking a Senior Staff Technical Program Manager to lead financial operations strategy across the organization. This role combines strategic vision with hands-on technical execution, owning how the company manages, optimizes, and scales cloud, vendor, and AI spending.

Key responsibilities

Define and own the FinOps strategy for cloud, vendor, and AI cost management, deciding what gets optimized, in what order, and the reasoning behind those priorities.
Build the framework for managing AI costs, an area without an established industry playbook, while evolving existing cloud and vendor cost practices into more automated systems.
Analyze cloud usage, vendor contracts, and AI spend to identify inefficiencies, then develop and propose specific technical optimizations alongside process recommendations.
Build or directly shape dashboards, automations, and monitoring systems that make costs visible and actionable to leadership and teams.
Oversee and execute multiple cost-optimization initiatives simultaneously while managing cross-functional dependencies with SRE, Engineering, Data, Finance, and Procurement teams.
Partner with Finance and Procurement to define key cost metrics, establish cost attribution and reporting structures, and communicate spend and savings clearly to leadership.
Mentor other technical program managers and contribute to building the broader TPM function within the organization.

Requirements

Proven experience owning both strategy and execution for a cloud, vendor, or AI cost optimization program at scale.
Deep knowledge of the AI vendor landscape, including pricing models, contract structures, and optimization levers specific to AI versus traditional cloud cost management.
Technical depth in cloud architecture, cost management, and optimization techniques sufficient to build, evaluate, or directly work with dashboards and automation systems.
Demonstrated ability to build frameworks and define processes in areas without established playbooks or industry standards.
Track record of running large, cross-organizational programs spanning multiple business units.
Strong executive communication skills capable of translating complex technical and financial trade-offs into actionable decisions.
Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive organizational change without formal authority over them.

What makes this role worth considering

This is a career-defining opportunity to shape how a growing organization approaches financial optimization at a strategic level. You’ll work within a team that values your voice and impact while having the resources and scope to drive meaningful change across the entire organization. The role combines technical depth with executive influence, appealing to experienced practitioners ready to operate at a senior level.