Program Manager

As either the accountable initiative owner or under the direction of a Strategic Program Manager depending on the size and complexity of the program, this position is responsible for overseeing the sub-projects and Project Managers assigned to a Program. The Program Manager is accountable for ensuring all projects follow the PMO best practices and standards, communicate status and escalations to the client, regional leadership, and account teams, as needed. The Program Manager is the single point of contact for scope, status, escalations, and changes across sub-projects. Additionally, this position is responsible for meeting client business goals and the overall success of the program.

Job Responsibilities

• Cost Management: Effectively and proactively plan, create and manage program-level budgets. Accountable for accuracy of Empower cost and actuals based on the signed Statement of Work. Monitor, manage and if applicable, communicate all push, pull, split etc. activity and how it impacts the overall program financials. Able to track project metrics, forecast future trends and manage change. Support monthly P&L reporting with account team and regional management. Accountable for Empower financial accuracy across all sub-projects. Review and understand the scope of all projects under the program. Ensure SOW reviews are performed for each project under the program. Adequate understanding of the contract process, lead times and responsibilities. Understand the implications of scope changes at the contract level, and impacts to the schedule and financials. Ensure that a full schedule is established, documented and maintained weekly by the PM team for each project in the program. Provide a plan on a page for the program and establish weekly project status and roll up program status reporting. Be able to communicate, at a leadership level, the state of the overall program performance based on schedule and scope performance.
• Communication Management: Develop and execute an efficient internal and external strategy and plan for ensuring communication with all levels of management within the team. Define the criteria and processes for managing and communicating escalations. Ensure sub-project progress communication is aligned to approach, timing, and tool with the audience level. Ensure sub-project Project Managers are working effectively with respective Regional Management, Engineering Management, PMO Management, and Account Team to build strong working relationships built on trust and open communications. Monitor and report on risks, issues and situations that are impeding program progress. Take a proactive approach in addressing issues to avoid escalations. Responsible for ensuring all sub-project risks and issues are reported in Empower, managed to resolution or closed. Responsible for including risk and issue status and escalation in regular governance reviews.
• Stakeholder Management: Ensure that appropriate stakeholder analysis is done across projects and that all key stakeholder requirements are included in the program Communication Plan. Serve as program trusted advisor. Regularly monitor stakeholder feedback and adjust communication plan as needed. Demonstrates the highest-level of customer care and delight. Responsible for determining and coordinating the sharing of resources among their constituent projects to the overall benefit of the program.
• Leadership: Responsible for development of a program strategy and plan and translate that to the delivering team. Communicate effectively to key stakeholders with regards to the health and progress of the program. Represent WWT's interest in a professional and effective manner - while still maintaining a trusted and respected relationship. Communicate and lead in a way that inspires and directs the team to a common goal. Motivate and set reasonable and clear roles, responsibilities and objectives for the team to obtain the highest performance possible. Use a proactive approach to problem resolution and conflict, takes charge and makes decisions when needed.

Education Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) Related Field. A combination of education, training and experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Work Experience: A minimum of 5 years' progressive experience in a related field.

Licenses and Certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP) certification through Project Management Institute (PMI).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Thoroughly understands the programmatic approach (including global) and possesses the ability to build program structure. Excellent understanding of financial processes with the ability to create pro forma, track project metrics, forecast future trends and manage change. Excellent understanding of the contract process with the ability to manage contract modifications, control the impact to a program, and take the lead for negotiations on contract scope, cost and schedule. Ability to work independently and aggressively track to project timelines. Strong communication skills (written, verbal, and presentation). Proficiency in working with project management software, i.e.: MS Project. Must have strong presentation and relationship building skills.