Program Manager Lead

About the role

USAA’s mission is to empower members to achieve financial security through competitive products, exceptional service, and trusted advice. The company seeks to be the #1 choice for the military community and their families, emphasizing core values of honesty, integrity, loyalty, and service. This Program Manager Lead position supports Shared Services, Corporate Functions, Data, and AI. The role can be based in San Antonio, TX or Plano, TX and requires being in the office four days per week. USAA offers remote or hybrid flexibility for active‑duty military spouses consistent with policy and business needs. Relocation assistance is not available.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of strategic tasks that align programs with business strategy and goals.
• Develop multi‑year business plans to deliver capabilities, define execution approaches, reduce risk, and deliver early business value.
• Collaborate with program sponsors and cross‑functional teams to evaluate, plan, and develop scope, milestones, resources, work plans, budgets, dependencies, and timing for new programs.
• Prepare status reports for stakeholders and management, identifying risks or issues.
• Ensure team members understand interdependencies and coordinate efforts to achieve program goals.
• Assist in developing performance metrics, dashboards, and management tools to articulate key activity status.
• Direct analyses, root‑cause identification, and recommendation of key work products.
• Identify new program opportunities to deliver integrated solutions meeting multiple business partner needs.
• Define and maintain multiple program strategies based on business demand and ROI expectations.
• Negotiate agreements, settle disputes equitably, and diffuse high‑tension situations.
• Negotiate program trade‑offs with IT and the business to align demand with capacity.
• Mentor Program Managers in identifying benefits and defining alternatives across departmental and enterprise programs.
• Adhere to EPMO processes, procedures, controls, standards, tools, and templates.
• Maintain governance rigor required for work efforts.
• Drive adoption and sustainment of changes in compliance with USAA’s Change Management methodology.
• Ensure risks associated with business activities are identified, measured, monitored, and controlled per risk and compliance policies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree OR 4 years of relevant education and/or experience.
• 8 years of project and/or program management experience, including defining new programs or managing large‑scale projects.
• Demonstrated experience using Waterfall or Agile methodologies to execute program strategies and deliver complex work.
• Advanced understanding and application of risk management policies and procedures.
• Comprehensive knowledge of program management methodology, performance evaluation, and change management principles.
• Proficient experience in USAA’s change management methodology or a comparable industry methodology.
• Extensive experience developing, maintaining, and reporting on large‑cost work efforts/program budgets.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Expert‑level experience in principles of Project, Program, or Portfolio Management.
• Expertise using business, product, and process knowledge to assess program risks and rewards across multiple technologies and goals.

Preferred qualifications

• Successful leadership of enterprise Data and AI programs with multiple cross‑functional workstreams, executive visibility, and complex interdependencies.
• Ability to translate business strategy into a sequenced roadmap with clear milestones, outcomes, and funding recommendations.
• Strong program governance across scope, schedule, budget, dependencies, risks, issues, and benefits realization.
• Track record of defining and reporting value‑based KPIs such as adoption, operational efficiency, quality improvement, risk reduction, and financial impact.
• Excellent executive communication skills for framing decisions, presenting trade‑offs, and delivering concise, action‑oriented recommendations.
• Proven ability to proactively identify, quantify, and escalate delivery and compliance risks in highly regulated environments.
• Experience developing and managing program budgets—including labor, platform/tooling, cloud, and vendor spend—with ROI accountability.
• Strong change leadership to drive stakeholder readiness, business adoption, and sustained operational outcomes.

Pay

Salary range: $127,310 – $243,340. USAA does not provide visa sponsorship for this role. Compensation is based on experience, market data, and location, with potential pay incentives tied to corporate and individual performance.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans.
• 401(k) and pension plans.
• Life insurance.
• Parental benefits and adoption assistance.
• Paid time off program with paid holidays plus 16 paid volunteer hours.
• Wellness programs supporting physical, financial, and emotional health.
• Career path planning and continuing education opportunities.

Schedule

The position offers a flexible work environment requiring on‑site presence four days per week, with remote or hybrid options for active‑duty military spouses where business needs allow.