Locals Only - Sr. Program Manager with Strong Vendor Management

Work model: Hybrid, 3 days onsite and 2 days remote in Columbus OH

12+ Months Contract

Equipment: Laptop is picked up at the worksite

About the role

The Program Manager directs and administers programs and projects, and is ultimately responsible for executing assigned projects and managing the project team. The job is to drive initiatives from start to finish and make sure each one lands on schedule and meets business, technical, and quality requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full project lifecycle: initiation, planning, execution, and closure
• Build detailed program/project plans with tasks, milestones, and resourcing based on scope and budget
• Track progress against the plan, monitor milestones, and take corrective action when the schedule slips
• Own scope management and make sure every change goes through formal change procedures with sponsor approval
• Identify and manage risks, develop mitigation strategies, and track them to closure
• Prepare status reports, run reviews, and report on program metrics
• Serve as the primary point of contact for issues and resolution
• Build relationships with sponsors, stakeholders, vendors, and external partners, keeping everyone aligned on timelines and objectives
• Balance workload against team capacity, plan training and orientation, and tailor and baseline project templates
• Coordinate and present proposals to agencies as needed
• Lead the final project evaluation review with stakeholders at completion

Required qualifications

• 8+ years of project/program management experience
• 8+ years of full-lifecycle implementation experience, from requirements through delivery
• Strong written and verbal communication, from front-line staff to C-level
• Experience managing vendors and vendor-driven projects
• Experience managing technical/IT projects
• Proficiency with project management software
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent technical study preferred

Desired skills:

contract/vendor management, cross-functional collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, priority setting

Nice to have:

change management, business analysis, conflict resolution, government or public sector project experience