Program Manager - Abacus Service Corporation

St. Paul, MN

About the Job

POSITION TITLE: Program Manager
Estimate Start Date:	October 31, 2024
End Date:	March 31, 2025
Work Location/Type:	Working independently and/or in a team environment may be required for some engagements. Hybrid telework/office setting work environment.
Narrative Description of Position: The consultant will be expected to complete the following responsibilities. Program Planning & Management Develop comprehensive program, portfolio, and project plans using Agile, Waterfall and Hybrid methodologies Define scope, goals, deliverables, and timelines Experience managing testing activities and resources to ensure unit, performance, and functionality testing objectives are met. Strong vendor management experience to ensure delivery of contractual scope within agreed upon constraints. Coordinate internal resources and third parties/vendors for the execution of projects within established baselines Utilize departmental tools for program and project management, tracking, and reporting Demonstrated ability to oversee multiple interrelated projects and manage dependencies Monitor and Control program to ensure alignment with the approved Program Charter, escalate as needed per Governance structure Execute and manage in accordance with the established governance plan Create consistency among program and projects Create Program Roadmap/timeline and manage in order to meet milestones, objectives and project interdependencies Direct and guide program deployment strategies Guide program methodologies and tools in a manner consistent with industry standards and best practices across the program Communicate regularly across projects Maintain program estimates/budget, issues, risks, assumptions and constraints Escalate decisions and issues to appropriate level Assist Project Managers with Vendor Management Manage the stakeholders based on the established expectations Determine how the program goals and objectives are measured to ensure success of the Program based on project goals/objectives by working with the Project Sponsors Leadership Demonstrated business acumen and professionalism in order to clearly communicate with senior level executives in oral, written, and presentation formats Strong leadership and communication skills, capable of influencing and guiding teams in a matrixed environment Ability to facilitate prioritization, roadmap, and trade off discussions with program stakeholders Manage project managers providing day to day guidance and oversight to ensure service delivery Ability to manage and motivate teams, including direct and indirect reports Proven ability to work effectively with senior executives, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams. Accountable for leading change management and conflict resolution efforts within assigned projects Ensure teams have clear roles, responsibilities, and deliverables Ensure outcome-based program and project management by focusing on key milestones and deliverables, starting with the strategic vision and developing deadlines to achieve targeted results Stakeholder and Relationship Management Build strong stakeholder relationships to become a trusted advisor to project sponsors and senior leaders Communicate program status, risks, and issues to all stakeholders and executive management in a timely manner, setting expectations and escalating as necessary Ensure alignment of project objectives with business goals through active stakeholder management Excellent stakeholder management skills, including the ability to manage executive-level relationships and negotiate with third-party vendors and partners Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills Risk & Issue Management Proactively identify, assess, and manage project/program risks and issues through mitigation planning Monitor and report project/program progress and performance throughout the delivery lifecycle Budget & Resource Management Develop and manage program and project budgets, ensuring compliance with governance requirements Allocate resources effectively to ensure program and project success through demand management and capacity planning to ensure project success Monitor expenditures and ensure adherence to budget constraints Vendor Management Strong vendor management experience to ensure delivery of contractual scope within agreed upon constraints Review vendor's responsibilities per the SoW/contract and hold the vendor accountable Negotiate with the vendor for new requests or changes to existing scope Actively manage risks resulting from vendors or vendor interaction with our org Promote active communication and collaboration between the vendor and our org Transformation & Organizational Change Management Lead transformation and change management initiatives within projects/programs to ensure solution adoption and process adherence Process Improvement Support the evaluation and refinement of project management methodologies and processes Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the PMO Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging practices Problem Solving and Decision Making: Analytical mindset with the ability to make data-driven decisions and problem-solving in complex environments Demonstrated ability to navigate uncertainty and deliver results in ambiguous situations

Specifications of Position:

Specifications	Descriptions of Specifications
MINIMUM SPECIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Must have to be accepted for consideration for this position.
Level of Education	Bachelor's or master's degree in information technology, or a related field
Years of experience in Position Title	10+ years of experience in program management, with a proven track record of managing large, complex, multi-disciplinary programs
Professional Experience	Experience leading high-budget, high-stake initiatives in organizations undergoing significant transformation Prior experience working with cross-functional teams (software engineering, infrastructure, security, Data, etc.) Experience in program management, with a proven track record of leading and delivering large-scale, complex programs Extensive experience in managing multi-disciplinary projects across various industries, involving diverse technologies, teams, and business units Strong understanding of Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid methodologies with the ability to tailor approaches based on program needs Experience working with cross-functional teams (software engineering, infrastructure, security, operations, etc.), ensuring alignment and collaboration across diverse stakeholders Prior experience managing large budgets, including forecasting, cost management, and tracking against financial targets Expertise in change management processes, driving transformation initiatives while ensuring successful adoption by all involved parties
Certification(s)	Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) certification ITIL certification or any other relevant certification in IT service management and governance
DESIRED SPECIFICATIONS: Not required, but desire experience in these specifications for this position.
Leadership and Collaboration	Strong leadership skills, with the ability to lead large teams through complex initiatives, ensuring accountability, motivation, and high performance. Experience mentoring and coaching junior project managers and other team members, fostering growth and development Proven success in leading cross-functional teams and driving collaboration between departments (engineering, product management, operations, etc.) to achieve common objectives Ability to lead conflict resolution and facilitate decision-making among stakeholders, keeping teams aligned and focused on outcomes Skilled in building and managing effective teams while creating a culture of ownership, accountability, and transparency
Business Acumen	Strong business acumen with the ability to align program objectives with broader organizational goals Adept at managing and balancing the triple constraints (scope, cost, and time) while ensuring value delivery to the business Ability to manage programs that span cross functional business, IT teams and vendor teams, diverse geographies, and time zones Experience with vendor management, managing third-party dependencies, and ensuring successful delivery from external partners Ability to review vendor's responsibilities per the SoW/contract and hold the vendor accountable. Negotiate with the vendor for new requests or changes to existing scope. Actively manage risks resulting from vendors or vendor interaction with our org. Promote active communication and collaboration between the vendor and our org. In-depth understanding of the broader industry landscape and emerging trends, allowing for informed decisions that position the program for long-term success
Communication and Interpersonal Skills	Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to present complex program updates, risks, and strategies to C-suite executives and other senior leadership Skilled in managing stakeholder expectations, ensuring clarity on program goals, risks, issues, and status updates Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders across different levels and functions of the organization Expertise in creating clear documentation such as program plans, risk assessments, status reports, and executive dashboards Ability to adapt communication style based on the audience whether technical teams, business stakeholders, or external partners

Source : Abacus Service Corporation

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