Program Manager

Job Title: Program Manager

Job ID: 790566
Client: State of Ohio -COM
Location: Columbus, OH
Work Arrangement: Hybrid 3 days onsite / 2 days remote per week
Interview Mode: Microsoft Teams

Position Overview

The client is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead and deliver complex IT programs and projects across their full lifecycle. The Program Manager will be accountable for driving initiatives from requirements definition through implementation and closure, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and in alignment with business, technical, and quality standards.

This role requires strong IT project leadership, vendor management, and the ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams and stakeholders, including executive leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Program & Project Management

• Manage the complete lifecycle of assigned programs/projects, including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure
• Develop detailed program/project plans, defining scope, tasks, milestones, timelines, resources, and budgets
• Ensure compliance with established agency, organizational, and project management standards
• Track and manage project progress against approved plans; take corrective action as needed
• Accountable for delivery of all work tasks defined in the program/project plan

Scope, Change & Risk Management

• Manage project scope and ensure all scope changes follow formal change control procedures
• Obtain approval for scope changes from project sponsors and stakeholders
• Identify, analyze, and manage project risks; develop and track mitigation strategies to closure
• Proactively identify and resolve issues impacting delivery

Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all program/project-related issues
• Build and maintain strong relationships with project sponsors and key stakeholders
• Communicate and coordinate with users, vendors, external partners, and other State agencies
• Manage vendor-driven and technical/IT projects effectively

Reporting, Metrics & Governance

• Prepare and distribute weekly status reports to project teams, sponsors, and stakeholders
• Capture, analyze, and report program/project metrics and performance data
• Schedule and facilitate status reviews, peer reviews, inspections, and quality assurance activities
• Ensure deliverables meet service commitments and support strategic objectives
• Conduct final program/project evaluation and obtain stakeholder approval upon completion

Team Leadership & Coordination

• Plan, organize, prioritize, and manage multiple work efforts across teams
• Balance workloads with team capacity and ensure alignment with program/project objectives
• Communicate expectations, milestones, and timelines to team members and leads
• Identify and plan program/project-specific training and orientation needs

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 5+ years of Program/Project Management experience
• 5+ years managing full lifecycle IT implementation projects (requirements through implementation)
• 5+ years managing technical/IT projects
• 5+ years managing vendors and vendor-driven projects
• 5+ years of Government and/or Public Sector project experience
• Strong experience in cross-functional collaboration
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively from frontline staff to C-level executives
• Proficiency in project management software

Preferred Education:

• 4-year college degree or equivalent technical study

Mandatory Skills Matrix

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Change Management
• Business Analysis
• Conflict Resolution
• Government or Public Sector delivery environments

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Senior-level Program or Project Manager with strong IT delivery experience
• Proven success delivering government or public-sector projects
• Comfortable managing multiple stakeholders, vendors, and cross-functional teams
• Strong communicator with the ability to lead initiatives from concept to completion

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