Program Manager I

Location: 3560 Pentagon Blvd, Beavercreek, Ohio | Full-time regular position | Exempt (salary)

About the Role

The Program Manager I manages the overall planning, execution, monitoring, and delivery of one or more programs consisting of multiple large and enterprise projects simultaneously, following the organization’s Project Management Methodology. This role oversees complex, high-impact initiatives critical to the organization.

Responsibilities

• Manage all phases of the project life cycle, from Domain Project Intake through Project Closure, for multiple highly visible, corporate priority initiatives.
• Create, maintain, and monitor master project plans for assigned projects and high-level oversight of all projects in the assigned Domain using the Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Tool.
• Identify and engage appropriate project stakeholders and team resources, including Domain Intake evaluation.
• Maintain the project team roster and act as the central point of contact for all project issues and communication, internally and with third-party vendors.
• Resolve conflicts, escalate issues to senior management as needed, and maintain the project Issues List.
• Establish meeting agendas, conduct project meetings, and provide timely meeting minutes and action items.
• Support the Enterprise Project Analyst in gathering, analyzing, and prioritizing requirements for assigned projects.
• Ensure execution of all testing phases, including generation of test plans and test data, in partnership with the Software Quality Assurance team.
• Oversee and support end-user training preparation, documentation, and delivery in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Review and approve all project-related communication to members and partners.
• Maintain all assigned program and project documentation.
• Provide accurate status reporting on deliverables, milestones, timeframes, and budgets for assigned programs and projects.
• Maintain and review project budgets to ensure budgetary goals are met.
• Facilitate preparation, documentation, and review of the project Deployment Plan.
• Prepare the Wrap-Up Report, conduct Lessons Learned and Post-Implementation Reviews, and drive continuous improvement.
• Maintain regular communication with executives regarding project status.
• Ensure compliance with policies, procedures, risk mitigation activities, and operating controls for assigned projects; report gaps and recommend solutions.
• Lead project team members and independently develop, manage, and execute project plans using PMI PMBOK methodology.
• Utilize leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills to lead cross-functional teams toward achieving organizational goals.
• Develop metrics to track progress and provide tools to manage project tasks effectively.
• Oversee vendor contract negotiation and administration for assigned projects.
• Positively influence stakeholders across functional areas to achieve buy-in for prioritized initiatives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert (SME) for the Domain, acting as an escalation point for project team members.
• Provide input to business leaders on project team member performance.
• Direct vendor evaluation, strategic research, needs assessment, SWOT analysis, competitive analysis, and compliance reviews.
• Motivate and mentor program team members, serving as a process methodology leader.
• Perform project audits, recovery, recommendations, and execution.
• Create innovative collateral to support engagements using emerging technologies and tools.
• Embody a continuous learning and innovation mindset, adapting to evolving program and organizational needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Management or a related field (required).
• 10+ years of demonstrated project management experience on projects of various sizes and complexity.
• Experience successfully managing large-scale, complex projects, preferably in a financial institution.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification (required; candidates without certification will be considered but must pursue it within an agreed timeframe).
• Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with Microsoft Project or PPM tools such as PPM Pro.
• 6+ years of experience leading diverse teams and executing project deliverables.
• Demonstrated excellent written, oral, and presentation communication skills.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with senior management, business units, IT, and third-party vendors.
• Ability to translate technical information for non-technical staff and vice versa.
• Strong organizational, time management, and attention to detail.
• Proven critical thinking, problem resolution, decision-making, and negotiating skills.
• Advanced experience with change control processes.
• Deep experience in solution creation and project scoping.
• Advanced client relationship and third-party partner management skills.
• In-depth knowledge of the financial services industry and PMO processes.
• Proven ability to communicate vision and strategy effectively, ensuring alignment and translating it into actionable program plans.
• Experience with Agile processes and methodology (preferred).

Pay

Grade and Compensation Band: PG 21: $112,299.20 – $168,500.80 annually. Target compensation range: $125,000 - $145,000.