Senior Project/Program Manager - Technical Debt

About Beacon Systems, Inc

Beacon Systems, Inc, delivers Program Management, Science, Engineering, and Technology Solutions to Federal, Commercial State, and Local Agencies. We are a subsidiary of Radiant Digital Services. We have a vast portfolio of clients across the country. Our Technology support to many DoD Agencies, NASA, Voice of America, FDA, and State Agencies such as State of FL, RI, MS, ND, VA, and WV extends our delivery of solutions worldwide.

Position: Senior Project/Program Manager - Technical Debt

Duration: Long Term

Location: - Bismarck, ND Remote

About the Role

Technical Debt Project Manager (PM) to lead a critical initiative aimed at decommissioning twenty-seven (27) legacy applications that currently operate on unsupported technology and/or reside on the (IBM Z-Series) platform.

This role plays a pivotal part in sunsetting mainframe infrastructure, reducing long-term technical debt, and aligning IT operations with modern standards. The Technical Debt PM will be responsible for coordinating business and IT stakeholders, managing project schedules, aligning with vendors, ensuring compliance, and tracking all activities leading to the full removal of these legacy applications and related data.

Project Background:

It has received dedicated funding to:

Retire 27 legacy applications

Eliminate dependency on IBM Z-Series mainframe

Remove outdated technologies such as COBOL, DB2, and ADABAS

Transition to modern platforms and processes

Two major system replacements (Child Welfare and Child Support) are excluded from this project scope.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Debt PM will:

Operational Execution & Daily Leadership

Oversee day-to-day project activities to maintain alignment with timelines, scope, and objectives.

Coordinate cross-functional teams, vendors, and temporary staff.

2. Subject Matter Expertise & Compliance

Provide in-depth knowledge of legacy systems, regulatory standards, and industry benchmarks.

Understand and interpret technical decisions and their long-term impact.

3. Proactive Risk & Issue Management

Identify, assess, and mitigate operational and technical risks before they escalate.

Resolve issues involving application decommissioning, data migration, and legacy process gaps.

4. Weekly Business Reporting

Deliver comprehensive weekly reports on:

Project status

Risks and issues

Key milestones

Deliverables and performance metrics

Ensure executive and business leadership visibility beyond internal IT PM oversight.

5. Resource and Budget Optimization

Manage personnel allocation, budget utilization, and project costs effectively.

Coordinate with vendors and contractors to ensure deliverables are within scope and on budget.

Deliverables:

The PM will be responsible for the following project artifacts and deliverables:

Project Kickoff Meeting

Project Charter

Detailed Project Schedule

Communication Plan

Quality Assurance Plan

Training and Support Plan

Implementation Plan

Post-Implementation Report

Closeout Meeting Documentation

Final Acceptance Form

Additional PM responsibilities as assigned by the NDHHS Project Sponsor

Required Experience & Qualifications:

Bachelor s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business, or related field

5 10 years of project management experience in complex IT environments

3+ years leading mainframe modernization or decommissioning efforts

Proven success in managing legacy technology sunsetting (COBOL, DB2, ADABAS)

Experience in coordinating business and IT stakeholder engagement

Familiarity with public sector compliance and standards is a plus

PMP or equivalent certification preferred

Preferred Skills:

Experience working in state government or healthcare IT environments

Knowledge of data archiving, migration strategies, and application lifecycle management

Strong communication, leadership, and decision-making abilities

Proficiency with project management tools (MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, etc.)

Compensation

Compensation for roles at Beacon Systems Inc depending on a wide array of factors including, but not limited to, the specific office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. As required by applicable law, BeaconGov provides reasonable range of compensation for this role.

EEO Statement

Beacon Systems is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment. We ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Our commitment to being an equal-opportunity employer extends across all aspects of employment, from recruitment and hiring to promotions and benefits. We firmly believe in treating all employees and applicants fairly, based on their qualifications, skills, and performance