Principal, IT Strategy & Operations Manager

Lumen is the trusted network for the AI‑powered world, connecting people, data, and applications through our expansive fiber network and connected ecosystem. We enable secure, high‑performance connectivity across cloud, edge, and AI workloads for enterprises, governments, and communities. At Lumen, you’ll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what’s next, where performance, security, and resilience matter. This is a high accountability environment where bold ideas drive real innovation for our customers, partners, and industry. The work is challenging, expectations are clear, and trust is built into how we operate. If you’re ready to take ownership, deliver meaningful impact, and help shape the future of AI‑ready connectivity, join us today. The Role 
 The Principal, IT Strategy & Operations Manager is a senior individual-contributor role that partners with Technology VPs, Finance, business leaders, and external partners to shape IT strategy, translate technology investments into business value, and drive disciplined execution. The role combines strategic planning with hands-on ownership of cloud program financial operations, budgeting, forecasting, governance, and executive reporting.   Location 
 This is a remote opportunity open to candidates located anywhere in the U.S. The Main Responsibilities 
 IT strategy and business value: Partner with VPs to define transformation priorities, future-state capabilities, roadmaps, and investment choices. Identify how IT can improve customer outcomes, operational performance, and top-line growth, and translate recommendations into clear business cases and measurable outcomes. AI and operational efficiency:  Identify and advance practical AI, automation, analytics, and process-improvement opportunities that reduce manual effort, improve decision quality, and increase productivity across the organization. Financial planning and governance:  Manage cloud-program budgets, forecasts, milestones, funding requests, business cases, and actuals. Maintain alignment with Lumen Transformation Office, Finance, corporate planning, and Long-Term Outlook requirements, and provide clear variance explanations and decision support.   Professional services and forecasting:  Coordinate professional-services funding requests and governance reviews, guide teams through procurement, maintain contract-level capital and expense forecasts, post monthly actuals, and prepare reporting for Cloud Program leadership. Executive & Organizational Operations:  Maintain dashboards, scorecards, leadership decks, and portfolio reporting. Lead cross-functional follow-through on priorities, risks, dependencies, and actions while continuously improving financial controls and operating processes. Cloud budget management a s needed by providing support on monthly accruals; reconcile cloud-management data, provider invoices, actuals, and minimum commitments; maintain commitment-attainment reporting; validate dashboards; and provide detailed cloud-spend analysis across AWS, Microsoft, and Google.   What We Look For in a Candidate 
 1 2 + years of progressive experience in IT strategy, technology finance, business operations, consulting, transformation, or related disciplines. Bachelor's degree in Business , Finance, Technology, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.   Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, accruals, variance analysis, business cases, capital and expense management,  accounting, and investment governance. Strong knowledge of cloud economics, FinOps, cloud-provider billing, professional-services spend, procurement, invoicing, and commitment management. Ability to connect technology strategy to business outcomes, operational efficiency, customer value, and revenue impact. Experience influencing senior leaders and coordinating work across Technology, Finance, Procurement, Accounts Payable, vendors, and business