Program Specialist I

Program Specialist I

Position: Full-Time

Location Remote / Baltimore, MD Metro Area

Clearance Public Trust required

Position Overview

The Program Specialist supports enterprise-scale program coordination, reporting, and operational execution across CMS/CCSQ programs and Lines of Business (LOBs). This role supports program governance, maintains performance metrics, tracks risks and dependencies, and ensures transparency across program activities. The Program Specialist operates within a fast-paced federal health IT environment, supporting both structured program management processes and ad hoc coordination needs. This role ensures that program data, reporting artifacts, and decision-support materials are accurate, timely, and aligned with CMS priorities, enabling leadership to make informed decisions across the portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

Program Coordination and Execution

· Support coordination of program activities across multiple workstreams, ensuring alignment with schedules, priorities, and deliverables.

· Track program milestones, action items, and dependencies to ensure timely execution and follow-through.

· Coordinate with project managers, technical teams, and stakeholders to gather updates and validate program information.

· Support planning and execution of recurring program activities, including PI Planning, governance meetings, and program reviews.

Program Reporting and Metrics

· Maintain and update program dashboards, trackers, and reporting artifacts to reflect current status, risks, and performance.

· Support development of recurring reports, including executive summaries, program status updates, and performance metrics.

· Ensure accuracy and consistency of data used in program reporting and decision-making.

· Assist in tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), OKRs, and other program metrics to support transparency and accountability.

Risk, Issue, and Dependency Management

· Support identification, documentation, and tracking of risks, issues, and dependencies across programs.

· Maintain risk logs and tracking tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence) to ensure visibility and follow-up.

· Coordinate with program teams to monitor mitigation actions and update status regularly.

· Support alignment with CMS risk management frameworks and processes (e.g., RIMP, ROAM).

Stakeholder Coordination and Communication

· Facilitate coordination across cross-functional teams, including program, technical, and leadership stakeholders.

· Prepare materials for stakeholder meetings, including agendas, notes, and follow-up actions.

· Support communication of program updates, priorities, and decisions to relevant stakeholders.

· Ensure alignment between program activities and CMS/CCSQ strategic priorities.

Documentation and Knowledge Management

· Maintain program documentation, including trackers, decision logs, meeting notes, and reference materials in Confluence and other repositories.

· Ensure documentation is current, organized, and accessible to stakeholders.

· Support development of standard templates, processes, and documentation practices across programs.

· Contribute to continuous improvement of program management processes and tools.

Ad Hoc Program Support

· Provide coordination and analytical support for emerging or time-sensitive program needs.

· Assist with special projects, leadership requests, and cross-program initiatives.

· Support rapid turnaround deliverables while maintaining accuracy and alignment with program standards.

Required Qualifications

· Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS)

· 3+ years of experience supporting program coordination, reporting, or analysis

· Experience maintaining trackers, documentation, and program artifacts

· Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

· Experience with collaboration tools such as Confluence, Jira, and Microsoft Teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience supporting CMS/CCSQ programs or similar federal health IT environments.

• Familiarity with SAFe Agile framework and PI Planning support.

• Experience supporting risk management processes (e.g., RIMP, ROAM).

• Experience developing dashboards or reporting tools.

• Experience supporting portfolio-level coordination and governance.