Program Manager (Veterans Affairs) (McLean)

Here at Appian, our values of Intensity and Excellence define who we are. We set high standards and live up to them, ensuring that everything we do is done with care and quality. We approach every challenge with ambition and commitment, holding ourselves and each other accountable to achieve the best results. When you join Appian, you’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to accomplishing hard things, together.The Department of Veterans Affairs is advancing major modernization initiatives that improve how care is coordinated, delivered, and experienced across the enterprise. This role is designed for a senior leader who can unify Appian-related efforts into a centralized program model and help position Appian as a standard platform for workflow modernization across current and future VA priorities. VA’s operating environment includes major mission areas such as Community Care and Telehealth, both of which depend on secure, scalable digital workflows and strong cross-functional coordination. We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead the VA Appian Modernization Program across strategic healthcare and operational initiatives. This individual will serve as the central leader responsible for platform strategy, delivery governance, stakeholder alignment, and the evolution of Appian from a set of project implementations into a unified enterprise program.This role combines program leadership, platform governance, delivery oversight, and client engagement. The right candidate will bring experience leading federal digital transformation efforts, a practical understanding of VA workflows, and the ability to build a repeatable model for scaling secure, mission-focused Appian solutions across the organization.This role is based at our HQ in McLean, VA. Appian was built on a culture of in-person collaboration, which we believe is a key driver of our mission to be the best. Employees hired for this position are expected to be in the office 4 - 5 days per week to foster that culture, ensure we thrive through shared ideas and teamwork, and maximize opportunities to connect with the exceptional people across Appian. While working in-person with customers is our main priority, we also believe the office environment enables more opportunities to celebrate wins, collaborate effectively, and build strong relationships across teams.What you’ll do:Lead the transition from separate Appian projects to a centralized VA Appian modernization program with shared governance, standards, and delivery priorities.Establish and mature an Appian Center of Excellence that supports intake, prioritization, architecture review, reusable assets, and platform adoption across multiple VA initiatives.Drive the roadmap for Appian solutions supporting Community Care Referrals, Virtual Care, and future modernization opportunities aligned to VA mission priorities.Partner with VA stakeholders across VHA, OIT, business operations, and clinical leadership to translate operational needs into scalable workflow and case management solutions.Oversee cross-functional delivery teams including Appian developers, architects, business analysts, QA specialists, scrum leads, and integration resources.Build a reusable delivery model that includes design standards, component libraries, integration patterns, release controls, and performance reporting.Guide program-level risk management related to legacy dependencies, security approvals, platform sprawl, and enterprise change adoption.Support executive communications, governance reviews, roadmap planning, and value reporting tied to modernization outcomes.What you’ll own:Enterprise Appian program strategy and operating model.Platform governance, standardization, and reuse.Delivery oversight across multiple Appian workstreams.Stakeholder alignment across business, technical, and compliance teams.Growth of Appian as a modernization platform for future VA use cases.What we’re looking for:7+ years of experience in IT program management, digital transformation, or enterprise platform delivery.3+ years leading IT initiatives or clinical workflow application programs in a complex enterprise or federal environment.Direct experience supporting VA, VHA, or other federal healthcare-related organizations is strongly preferred.Strong understanding of workflow modernization, case management, integration delivery, and Agile program execution.Experience working in regulated environments with security, privacy, and compliance expectations tied to federal systems.Familiarity with VA operational domains such as Community Care, referral management, telehealth, or related Veteran service workflows is highly desirable.Ability to lead matrixed teams, influence senior stakeholders, and connect delivery decisions to mission outcomes.Bachelor’s degree in a related field; Scrum, SAFe, or Appian certifications are preferred.Ideal background:The strongest candidates will bring a mix of the following:Experience centralizing delivery across multiple projects into a true program structure.Success building or operating a low-code Center of Excellence.Comfort working at both executive and delivery-team levels.Knowledge of integrating Appian with enterprise systems, APIs, and healthcare-related platforms.Experience shaping future opportunities while managing active delivery.Why this role matters:This position sits at the center of a high-impact modernization effort that can improve how the VA coordinates care, manages referrals, and expands access to digital health services for Veterans.The Program Manager in this role will help create the structure, governance, and momentum needed to make Appian a durable modernization platform across the VA. That means improving consistency, accelerating delivery, reducing duplication, and supporting better experiences for Veterans, providers, and VA operational teams. Join us to help shape a modern, scalable workflow platform that supports better outcomes for Veterans and the teams who serve them every day. This is an opportunity to lead both active delivery and long-term platform strategy in one of the most meaningful modernization environments in government.The base salary range provided represents a good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. In addition to the base salary, this position is eligible for a government clearance differential. Actual compensation will be dependent on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant work experience, qualifications, internal peer equity, and market and business conditions that exist when extending an offer. A discretionary bonus may be awarded in recognition of individual and company performance.In addition, Appian provides generous benefits offerings that include a 401(k) plan with company match, flexible time off, paid parental leave, medical, dental, and vision plans, life insurance, disability insurance, wellness programs, flexible spending accounts, health savings account contributions, an employee referral bonus program, and learning and development resources. Certain positions may be eligible for equity awards. Pay and benefits are subject to change at any time, consistent with the terms of any applicable compensation, commission, bonus, or benefit plans.Base Salary Range$150,000—$300,000 USDTools and Resources Training and Development: During onboarding, we focus on equipping new hires with the skills and knowledge for success through department-specific training. Continuous learning is a central focus at Appian, with dedicated mentorship and the First-Friend program being widely utilized resources for new hires. Growth Opportunities: Appian provides a diverse array of growth and development opportunities, including our leadership program tailored for new and aspiring managers, a comprehensive library of specialized department training through Appian University, skills based training, and tuition reimbursement for those aiming to advance their education. This commitment ensures that employees have access to a holistic range of development opportunities.Community: We’ll immerse you into our community rooted in respect starting on day one. Appian fosters inclusivity through our 8 employee-led affinity groups. These groups help employees build stronger internal and external networks by planning social, educational, and outreach activities to connect with Appianites and larger initiatives throughout the company.BenefitsAppian offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, wellbeing, and financial future. Benefits may include health coverage, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with free mental health support, life and disability insurance, an Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), a retirement/pension plan, wellness dollars, tuition reimbursement, family-forming benefits and more. Benefits vary by country—please ask your Talent Acquisition contact for details specific to the location you are applying to.About AppianAppian provides AI automation for mission-critical work. We automate complex processes in large enterprises and governments. Our platform is known for its unique reliability and scale. We’ve been automating processes for more than 25 years and understand enterprise operations like no one else. For more information, visit appian.com. [Nasdaq: APPN]Follow Appian: LinkedIn, Youtube, Instagram, FacebookAppian is an equal opportunity employer that strives to attract and retain the best talent. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Appian provides reasonable accommodations to applicants in accordance with all applicable laws. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at View email address on apply.placed-app.com. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation w