Program Manager I

Job Description

The Program Manager I is responsible for managing the overall planning, execution, monitoring, and delivery of one or more Programs consisting of multiple large and enterprise projects simultaneously, according to the organization's Project Management Methodology. Projects are more complex and collectively have an overall high impact to the organization

1) Program Management - Manage all phases of the project life cycle, beginning with Domain Project Intake, and including Project Initiation through Project Closure for multiple highly visible, corporate priority initiatives simultaneously. Create, maintain and monitor the master project plan for assigned projects and at a high level for all projects in assigned Domain in the Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Tool with a sense of accountability and urgency to achieve them. Identify and engage the appropriate project stakeholders and project team resources for all project activity, including Domain Intake evaluation. Create and maintain the project team roster for assigned projects. Act as the central point of contact for all assigned project issues. Maintain the project Issues List for assigned projects. Resolve conflicts and project problems and escalate issues to senior management, as appropriate. Serve as the central point of contact for all assigned project communication, internally and with third party vendors utilizing the approved communication plan. Liaison to third party vendors for the project. Establish the agenda and conduct all meetings associated with the project. Provide timely meeting minutes and action items. Support the Enterprise Project Analyst as needed in the gathering, analysis and prioritization of requirements for assigned projects. Ensure the execution of all phases of testing and generation of test plans and test data in partnership with the Software Quality Assurance team. Oversee and support the preparation, documentation, and delivery of Training to end-users in partnership with cross-functional resources. Review and approve all communication to members and partners related to the project. Responsible for maintaining all assigned program and project documentation. Provide timely and accurate status reporting on deliverables, milestones, timeframes and budgets under each program, assigned projects and Domain projects. Maintain and review budgets for assigned projects and Domain projects to ensure budgetary goals are met. Facilitate the preparation, documentation and review of the project Deployment Plan. Prepare the Wrap-Up Report and conduct Lessons Learned and Post-Implementation Review objectively for assigned projects and measurably drive continuous improvement. Maintain regular communications with the Credit Union's executives regarding the status of projects. Ensures proper policies, procedures, risk mitigation activities, and operating controls are followed for assigned projects and projects within Domain. Reports gaps in policies, procedures, and operating controls to leadership along with recommended solutions to ensure member impact and risk is mitigated. Seeks opportunities to improve project outcome and stakeholder satisfaction. Continuously drive excellence in program management fundamentals to continually build our shared best-practices. Manage project team members & independently develops, manages, & executes the project plan using PMI PMBOK methodology. (70%)

2) Leadership - Utilize highly effective leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills in leading cross-functional teams toward achieving aggressive organizational goals across Domain book of work and for assigned projects. Develop metrics to track progress toward goals. Provide project team members the tools to manage assigned project tasks effectively. Provide project team members and Domain squad members a positive and motivating work environment to encourage individual growth, success, and high performance. Oversee negotiation and administration of vendor contract and relations for assigned projects. Prepare agendas and facilitate all meetings for assigned projects. Positively influence others across functional areas and achieve buy-in for prioritized initiatives. Recognized as a trusted advisor by Business Leaders and Executives, and act as SME for Domain. Serve as an escalation point and drives solutions for all project team members including Business Leaders, Subject Matter Experts, Business Analysts, and Vendors. Provide input to respective business leaders on the performance of project team members. Direct vendor evaluation and selection, strategic research, needs assessment, SWOT analysis, competitive analysis, and compliance reviews to support project assignments. Motivates and mentors program team members. Serves as a process methodology leader. Proficient solution creation and project scoping. Perform Project Audit, Recovery, Recommendation and Execution. Create new and innovative collateral, as needed, to support a variety of engagements, while leveraging the existing and emerging technologies, tools, and methods, and seek new and better ways to deliver value and achieve program and project objectives. Embody a continuous learning and innovation mindset to adapt and evolve with the changing needs and expectations of the program and the organization. Encourage and facilitate learning and innovation among the project teams and stakeholders. (30%)

Required Skills

The Program Manager I leads projects for all areas of the Credit Union. Therefore, the following qualifications are required:

1) A Bachelor's Degree in Management or related field is required.


2) 10+ years of demonstrated Project Management experience on projects of various size and complexity. Demonstrated ability of successfully managing large scale and complex projects, preferably in a financial institution.


3) Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification required. Candidates without current PMP certification will be considered but are expected to pursue and achieve certification within a timeframe agreed upon by PMO Management.

4) Excellent proficiency & demonstrated experience in Microsoft Office Products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Microsoft Project or PPM Tool such as PPM Pro experience required.

5) 6+ years of demonstrated ability leading diverse teams and successfully executing on project deliverables.


6) Demonstrated excellent written, oral, and presentation communication skills.

7) Excellent proven ability to effectively communicate with Senior Management, as well as with all levels of Business Unit and IT management, both verbally and in writing, and manage the client relationship while maintaining high levels of client satisfaction.


8) Proven ability to effectively communicate technical information to non-technical staff and vice versa.

9) Effective organizational and time management skills and strong attention to detail.

10) Proven critical thinking and problem resolution skills.

11) Proven decision-making and negotiating skills.

12) Advanced change control process experience

13) Deep Experience in Solution Creation & Scoping Projects


14) Advanced Client relationship & third-party partner management skills


15) Excellent Presentation Skills.

16) In-depth knowledge of Financial Services Industry & PMO processes


17) Proven ability to Communicate Vision and Strategy effectively to all stakeholders, sponsors, and project teams, and ensure alignment, and translate the vision into a coherent and realistic program plan


18) Experience with Agile Processes and Methodology preferred