Technical Project/Program Manager

Job Title: Technical Project/Program Manager

Location: Jonesboro, AR (Hybrid flexibility considered)

Department: Information Technology

Reports to: Director of IT / CIO

Direct Hire - NO Visa Sponsorship Candidates

This is a hands-on position, they will not have multiple PMs to work under them.

Position Summary

Our client is undergoing an enterprise-wide digital transformation to modernize our manufacturing operations and customer experience. We are seeking a Technical Project/Program Manager with deep experience in managing complex, cross-functional IT initiatives especially in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This role will bridge the gap between strategic business goals and technical execution, ensuring the delivery of secure, scalable, and high-impact digital solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the full lifecycle of IT and digital transformation initiatives from scoping and budgeting through execution, testing, change management, and release.
• Serve as a primary liaison between business stakeholders, IT, and external partners to align project execution with business goals.
• Own program roadmaps and ensure projects meet performance metrics including time-to-market, customer satisfaction, and ROI.
• Apply agile and hybrid project management methods, tailoring approaches to team and initiative needs.
• Facilitate sprint planning, backlog grooming, stand-ups, demos, and retrospectives in collaboration with product owners and development leads.
• Ensure adherence to internal security and compliance standards (e.g., ISO, cybersecurity protocols).
• Drive continuous improvement efforts across IT service delivery, leveraging Lean, Six Sigma, or DevOps methodologies.
• Support organizational change management efforts to ease transitions into new systems and workflows.
• Mentor junior team members and model strong leadership and stakeholder management behaviors.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor s degree in information technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or related years of work experience).
• 8+ years of experience in IT project program management, preferably within manufacturing, logistics, or supply chain environments.
• Proven experience leading ERP, CRM, CPQ, or custom development projects from concept to go-live.
• Strong understanding of agile frameworks (Scrum, SAFe, Kanban) and traditional PM methodologies (PMP or PRINCE2 is a plus).
• Demonstrated ability to work with cross-functional teams including Engineering, Product Management, Security, and Operations.

Technical Competencies

• Strong grasp of enterprise IT architectures, cloud computing (Azure/AWS), and modern integration platforms.
• Familiarity with DevOps and CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, Git, Docker, and modern SDLC practices.
• Understanding of cybersecurity principles and experience applying secure-by-design practices to internal or external-facing products.
• Experience with portfolio and resource management tools (e.g., Azure DevOps, Jira, ServiceNow, Smartsheet).

Preferred Experience

• Exposure to digital manufacturing, automated material handling, or made-to-order production environments.
• Experience with user-centered design, feedback loops, and incorporating voice-of-the-customer in IT solutions.
• Prior success managing vendors or external consultants across implementation projects.
• Knowledge of data privacy and security compliance regulations (e.g., CCPA, GDPR).

Leadership Attributes

• Highly collaborative with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Thrives in fast-paced, change-heavy environments with minimal structure.
• Proactive problem solver with a mindset of ownership, innovation, and accountability.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including executive presentation capability.