Program Manager

Program Manager

Job Description

THE POSITION
The client is seeking Program Manager to join our growing and innovative team. This is an opportunity to work with a wide range of technologies while helping improve digital services for the citizens. If you are detail-oriented, organized, and interested in supporting digital initiatives that serve the public, we encourage you to apply. This role is ideal for individuals looking to deepen their project management experience while supporting Agile delivery teams and delivering digital services.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

In this position, the Permitting, Licensing, and Certifications (PLC) Enterprise Program Manager will lead the delivery of the PLC enterprise initiative for the client. The PLC Program Manager is responsible for leading and delivering complex, cross-functional initiatives that span multiple projects and workstreams. This role owns the overall program structure, ensuring alignment between strategy and execution while driving accountability across teams. The Program Manager establishes governance, operating models, and delivery frameworks to bring clarity, organization, and consistency to program execution. The PLC Program Manager also fulfills a critical role in coaching teams, improving ways of working, and driving successful outcomes in complex, fast-paced environments.

Acting as a strategic leader, the Program Manager partners with product, project management, operations & procurement, engineering, and business stakeholders to help prioritize work, manage dependencies, and mitigate risks. They are responsible for maintaining clear communication, enabling informed decision-making, and ensuring progress is transparent at all levels of the organization. This role requires strong leadership, the ability to influence without direct authority, and a willingness to address challenges directly.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Accountability
Own end-to-end delivery of a complex, multi-workstream program
Establish program vision, structure, and execution strategy
Drive alignment across product, project, engineering, UX, vendors, and stakeholders
Lead with authority and clarity, ensuring accountability at all levels

Operating Model & Governance
Design and implement the program operating model (cadence, governance, decision-making, etc.)
Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and escalation paths
Stand up and lead steering committees and governance forums
Ensure consistent adherence to program standards and ways of working

Planning & Execution
Develop and maintain an integrated master roadmap across all workstreams
Identify and manage cross-workstream dependencies
Drive quarterly (or periodic) re-planning and prioritization
Ensure deliverables are met on time, within scope, and within budget

Team Organization & Enablement
Organize and structure teams for clarity and effectiveness
Coach product managers, project managers, and leads on best practices
Establish clear expectations for meeting readiness, deliverables, and communication
Address gaps in performance, ownership, and execution

Stakeholder Management & Communication
In partnership with the product managers, the program manager serves as the primary point of accountability for program status and outcomes
Deliver clear, concise,concise, and structured reporting to leadership
Translate complex program details into digestible insights for non-technical stakeholders
Facilitate alignment and resolve conflicts across teams

Risk, Issue, and Decision Management
Proactively identify program risks, issues, and blockers
Implement mitigation strategies and drive resolution
Escalate critical issues with clear recommendations and decision asks
Ensure timely and effective decision-making across the program

Financial & Vendor Oversight
Drive program budget, forecasting, and financial tracking
Oversee vendor performance and accountability
Ensure contracts, procurement, and deliverables align with program goals

Additional duties may include:
Assisting with Agile project coordination and team facilitation; supporting Agile teams by helping coordinate Scrum activities, tracking project progress, and assisting in the removal of obstacles that impact delivery.
Supporting assigned Scrum Masters with ceremonies, including sprint planning, daily standups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives as needed
Assisting in the coordination of project activities and tracking progress against project timelines and deliverables
Support the Product Manager to track programmatic key results, objectives, and deliverables.
Helping identify and escalate project-level risks, issues, or blocked work items to leadership
Maintaining project documentation, status reports, and project tracking tools
Assisting with communication between technical teams and business stakeholders
Monitoring project-level progress and helping track team performance using Agile metrics and project management tools
Contributing to project reports and presentations for leadership and stakeholder audiences

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS
8-10 years of program or portfolio management experience
Proven track record managing large-scale, multi-year, multi-million-dollar programs
Experience managing multiple concurrent workstreams and cross-functional teams
Experience working with both internal teams and external vendors

Leadership & Communication
Demonstrated ability to lead with authority and influence without direct control
Strong ability to coach, mentor, and elevate team performance
Comfortable having critical, constructive conversations with senior stakeholders
Exceptional communication skills (executive-level reporting and team-level clarity)

Delivery & Execution
Deep expertise in program governance, planning, and execution frameworks
Strong understanding of Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid delivery models
Ability to bring structure to ambiguous or under performing environments

Preferred Qualifications
Experience in State Government - preferred but not required
Experience with Salesforce - preferred but not required
Certifications (e.g., PMP, Scrum, etc.)
Experience in standing up programs from early-stage or disorganized environments

Core Competencies
Strategic thinking with strong execution focus
Organizational design and operational excellence
Accountability and ownership mindset
Conflict resolution and stakeholder alignment
Risk-based decision making
Clarity, structure, and attention to detail

Success Metrics (What Good Looks Like)
Program is structured, predictable, and operating with clear governance
Teams are aligned, accountableaccountable, and consistently prepared
Risks and dependencies are actively managed (not reactive)
Leadership has clear visibility into status, risks, and decisions
Delivery milestones are met with improved efficiency and quality

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Experience working with project management or Agile tools (such as Confluence, Azure DevOps, SharePoint, or similar tools)
Ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Experience assisting teams with tracking work items, tasks, or project deliverables
Familiarity with Agile or Scrum practices
Experience supporting meetings or project ceremonies such as stand-ups, sprint reviews, or planning sessions
Experience assisting with documentation such as project plans, requirements, or status updates
Exposure to technology procurement or participation in RFP/RFI processes is preferred
Ability to perform essential job functions

Skill - Required / Desired - Amount of Experience
Program or Portfolio Manager experience - Required - 10 Years
Strong understanding of Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid delivery models - Required
Experience working with project management or Agile tools (such as Confluence, Azure DevOps, SharePoint, or similar tools) - Required
Proven track record managing large-scale, multi-year, multi-million-dollar programs - Required
PMP or Scrum Master certification - Highly desired
State Government experience - Highly desired
Salesforce experience - Highly desired

Notes:
Full-time role - 37.5 hours per week (8a-4:30p w/ hour unpaid lunch)
Candidates must reside in EST zone to be considered

VIVA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants have an equal opportunity for placement, and all employees have an equal opportunity to develop on the job. This means that VIVA will not discriminate against any employee or qualified applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.