IT Program Manager

IT Program Manager

The IT Program Manager leads planning, coordination, and delivery governance for Technology programs and major initiatives at the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). This position provides portfolio-level oversight of technology projects and cross-functional initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, operational needs, funding constraints, and delivery standards. The role establishes program management practices, supports prioritization and sequencing of initiatives, and ensures project delivery is coordinated across Infrastructure, Applications, Cybersecurity, and Strategy & Quality functions. The IT Program Manager strengthens visibility, accountability, and execution discipline as CATS expands Technology capabilities and transitions toward greater independence from City-managed services. Working under limited direction, this position exercises broad judgment in shaping the technology delivery portfolio and advancing consistent program management practices.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Technology Portfolio and Program Governance

• Maintain portfolio visibility across technology initiatives, projects, and workstreams.
• Support leadership in prioritization, sequencing, and capacity planning.
• Establish and maintain governance structures for program execution (e.g., intake, stage gates, status reporting).
• Monitor program performance against schedule, scope, and outcomes.
• Identify cross-project dependencies and risks; coordinate mitigation strategies.

Program Planning and Execution Oversight

• Lead development of program plans for major initiatives and multi-project efforts.
• Coordinate planning activities across technical and business stakeholders.
• Ensure project plans include appropriate scope definition, milestones, stakeholder engagement, and delivery readiness elements.
• Support consistent delivery practices and standards across project teams.

Project Management Standards and Tools

• Develop and maintain standard templates, reporting methods, and program management tools.
• Promote consistent project documentation and control practices.
• Partner with ITIL/ITSM governance functions to align change coordination and deployment planning.
• Support continuous improvement of project delivery methods.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate with Technology managers and supervisors to align staffing, resourcing, and delivery schedules.
• Facilitate communication and escalation pathways for major risks and issues.
• Support coordinated delivery and change readiness for operational environments, including 24/7 transit impacts.

Stakeholder Management and Communication

• Provide portfolio and program reporting to Technology leadership and stakeholders.
• Facilitate governance meetings and decision forums as assigned.
• Promote transparency and timely communication of status, risks, and outcomes.

Vendor and External Partner Coordination

• Support coordination of vendors and external partners for program delivery activities.
• Align vendor timelines and deliverables with CATS governance and reporting expectations.
• Coordinate with IT Contracts/Asset governance as needed to support program readiness and continuity.

Continuous Improvement and Organizational Maturity

• Identify opportunities to strengthen delivery discipline and reduce recurring execution challenges.
• Promote lessons learned practices and portfolio-level improvements.
• Support adoption of scalable delivery practices as Technology expands.

Core Competencies:

The position requires demonstrated competency in the following areas

Portfolio Leadership

• Maintains visibility across initiatives
• Aligns delivery to strategic outcomes
• Balances constraints and dependencies

Program Governance and Accountability

• Creates consistent standards
• Drives measurable execution
• Promotes transparent reporting

Cross-Functional Influence

• Builds alignment
• Facilitates decisions
• Resolves conflicts constructively

Risk and Dependency Management

• Identifies interdependencies
• Drives mitigation planning
• Supports informed tradeoffs

Supervision Given To:

• Senior IT Project Manager(s)
• IT Project Manager(s)
• IT Project Coordinator(s)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Engineering, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five (5) years progressively responsible experience in project/program management, technology delivery, or related leadership roles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading portfolios or multi-project programs.
• Experience in public-sector, transportation, or operationally critical environments.
• Project/program management certification (PMP or similar).
• Experience coordinating vendor-supported implementations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Program and portfolio management concepts and practices.
• Technology delivery lifecycle and implementation planning.
• Governance, reporting, and stakeholder coordination methods.
• Operational impacts of technology changes in 24/7 environments.
• Resource planning and dependency management principles.

Skill in:

• Building and maintaining program governance tools and standards.
• Facilitating decision-making forums and stakeholder alignment.
• Communicating complex status/risk information clearly.
• Coordinating schedules and dependencies across multiple teams.
• Developing structured plans and reporting outputs.

Ability to:

• Exercise independent judgment in prioritization and sequencing decisions.
• Influence outcomes without direct operational authority over delivery teams.
• Balance competing priorities and constraints.
• Anticipate and mitigate delivery risks.
• Support organizational maturity and continuous improvement.

Working Environment and Physical Demands:

• Work performed primarily in office environments with frequent coordination across departments.
• Extended computer use and meeting facilitation required.
• Occasional visits to operational facilities may be required to support deployment planning.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Conditions of Employment:

The City's Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate's written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

How to Apply:

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email View email address on click.appcast.io

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