Senior Program Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Lead programs that shape communities.

We’re looking for a Senior Program Manager to lead large, complex, and highly visible programs across our Program Management services team. In this role, you’ll oversee the full lifecycle of federally and state-funded initiatives; ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and in full compliance with all regulatory requirements.

Preference for candidates based in Alabama. Candidates located outside the state must be able to travel regularly, including weekly as needed.

What you’ll be doing:

Project and Program Management

• Develop and lead program planning, budget development, and work plan management, ensuring alignment with funding requirements and timelines. 
• Manage scope, schedule, and budget to successfully implement programs along critical path milestones. 
• Manage day-to-day program operations, coordinating across internal teams, subrecipients, and external partners and stakeholders. 
• Support community and statewide initiatives, including needs assessments, system development, and improving access to services. 
• Serve as a strategic advisor to leadership and stakeholders on program execution and funding opportunities. 

Grant & Program Management

• Lead end-to-end grant administration for complex, multi-stakeholder programs, ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations. 
• Grant report preparation on expenditures on behalf of Owners
• Stakeholder coordination

Financial & Budget Oversight

• Oversee budget and fiscal operations, including expenditure tracking, eligibility review, draw requests, payroll compliance, and office spending. 
• Monitor and analyze budgets and expenditures, develop projections, and provide recommendations to support funding decisions. 
• Prepare and distribute financial and grant reports, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and audit readiness. 

Contracts, Compliance & Reporting

• Draft, negotiate, and manage contracts, grant agreements, amendments, MOUs, and sub-awards, including invoice review and approval. 
• Monitor subrecipient and contractor performance, reviewing reports and ensuring financial and programmatic compliance. 
• Establish and maintain compliant documentation and file systems in accordance with regulatory requirements. 
• Maintain grant and contract records and prepare reports and communications for leadership, government entities, and public stakeholders. 
• Prepare grant applications, renewals, and performance reports, coordinating with funders to ensure deliverables are met. 

Audit, Policy & Process Improvement

• Support audits and monitoring activities, including preparing documentation and coordinating responses with oversight agencies. 
• Develop and improve policies, SOPs, and internal controls, including oversight of payroll and procurement compliance. 
• Track legislative and policy developments, providing analysis and recommendations to inform strategy and funding priorities.

What you need to have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business/Public Policy, Business Administration/Finance, Healthcare Administration, or a qualified and/or related field 
• 10+ years of experience leading complex programs, including federally and/or state-funded grant programs 
• Deep knowledge of grant compliance, financial oversight, audit processes, and reporting 
• Proven experience managing full lifecycle grant activities and subrecipient/contractor oversight 
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and audit readiness 
• Demonstrated ability to lead across multiple stakeholders and competing priorities 
• Excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screening to ensure a safe and productive work environment. Volkert adheres to federal guidelines, which may include testing for substances such as marijuana. Please note that federal regulations may differ from state-specific guidelines
• Valid driver’s license and a satisfactory motor vehicle report (MVR)

Bonus points if you have:

• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Business/Public Policy, Business Administration/Finance, Healthcare Administration, or a related field 
• Experience supporting healthcare-related programs or organizations 
• Expertise in subrecipient monitoring and federal grant compliance 
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or similar credential

Why Volkert?

Volkert is employee owned and a Top 100 design firm, committed to providing clients with creative solutions for sustainability, including improvements to infrastructure, the environment, and natural resources. Founded in 1925, Volkert is celebrating a century of serving our employees, clients, partners, and communities. 

Key Benefits:

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Medical, Dental, & Vision
• 401(k) retirement savings plan + employer matching
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and holidays
• Employer-Paid Life/AD&D insurance
• Employer-Paid short-term disability and long-term disability
• Wellness incentives
• Student Debt Retirement Match
• Additional voluntary benefits

The words from our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas A. Hand, PE, capture best how you can make an impact while working for Volkert.

“For a century, Volkert has done meaningful work that improves our infrastructure and quality of life throughout our communities. We are proud of our one-hundred-year legacy and humbled by the opportunities ahead of us as we look forward to our next century of service. With our commitment to employee ownership and sustainable growth, you can build a career here that really makes a difference.”

– Thomas A. Hand, PE, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

EOE- Race/Sex/Vets/Disabled

Volkert does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies or fee-based recruitment services.

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