Direct Client - Program Manager IT Centralization - MDH

Position Overview

The Program Manager will serve as the single point of contact for the State, overseeing day-to-day IT project operations and enterprise IT centralization initiatives. This role is responsible for governance, planning, execution, risk management, and ensuring successful delivery of large-scale IT programs aligned with State standards and compliance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day program and project activities across the full software development lifecycle (SDLC/Agile).
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, milestones, and system integrator deliverables.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks including workflow disruptions, data integration challenges, and system downtime.
• Serve as the primary liaison between State agencies, contractors, vendors, and executive stakeholders.
• Ensure deliverables meet scope, quality standards, timelines, and budget constraints.
• Define critical paths, testing strategies, acceptance criteria, and implementation plans.
• Enforce State SDLC, Agile methodologies, and security/compliance standards.
• Drive process improvements to enhance operational efficiency and user adoption.
• Produce and maintain project artifacts including work plans, status reports, risk logs, and compliance documentation.
• Lead data migration and system integration strategies across legacy and modern platforms.
• Manage vendor performance, contract deliverables, and escalation processes.
• Coordinate with IV&V teams, QA auditors, and State oversight bodies for MITDP compliance.
• Perform resource planning, forecasting, and allocation (budget, personnel, timelines).
• Conduct stakeholder meetings, presentations, and executive reporting.
• Promote a high-performance, collaborative team environment.

Additional Responsibilities

• Oversee all contract activities, including subcontractor coordination.
• Develop work breakdown structures (WBS), schedules, dashboards, and reporting tools.
• Establish governance frameworks and reporting procedures.
• Support organizational change management initiatives to drive adoption.
• Ensure continuous process improvement aligned with PMI methodologies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Business, or related field.
• PMP Certification (PMI) Required.
• Minimum 10+ years of overall project/program management experience.
• At least 8+ years managing complex IT development projects.
• Minimum 5+ years of experience using PMBOK methodologies.
• Experience leading at least 3 large-scale projects with organizational change management components.
• Minimum 2+ years of healthcare or public sector IT project experience.
• Strong expertise in SDLC, Agile frameworks, and enterprise system implementations.
• Experience in UAT, QA/QC validation, and operational readiness.
• Excellent leadership, communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and work independently in a structured environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with State Government IT projects and regulatory environments.
• Familiarity with MITDP (Major IT Development Projects).
• Knowledge of public sector compliance, reporting, and billing processes.
• Experience with enterprise IT centralization, shared services, or legacy system modernization.
• Background in cloud infrastructure (AWS/Azure), data center migration, or network modernization.
• Exposure to data interoperability standards and regulatory compliance frameworks.