Senior Program Manager

Senior Program Manager

Chicago, IL

Founded in 2000, Walker-Miller Energy Services is a core-values driven company committed to changing lives through energy efficiency. We create and manage customized energy waste reduction programs that assist electric and gas utilities meet mandated energy savings goals.

Our experience driven philosophy of energy efficiency as economic development helps families and businesses save energy and save money. Through innovative, inclusive initiatives, we help build communities by creating local jobs, producing equitable energy savings for all rate payers, and spurring the growth of diverse local businesses.

Our operating philosophy is reflected in our core values. We refer to them as BEHIVE :

• Boldly Go
• Embracing Equity
• Humble Confidence
• Inclusive Stewardship
• Value Reputation
• Extraordinary Experience

Job Overview :

The Senior Program Manager, Strategy & Planning is responsible for leading program planning, forecasting, performance management, and continuous improvement activities that support successful program delivery. Working closely with the Portfolio Manager and functional leaders, this role develops forecasts, analyzes performance trends, identifies risks and opportunities, and provides strategic recommendations to optimize participation, savings achievement, customer outcomes, and operational performance. The Senior Program Manager serves as the strategic and analytical leader for the program, translating data and business intelligence into actionable plans and future-state strategies. This position collaborates across internal teams, subcontractors, and clients to ensure program performance remains aligned with goals, forecasts, and long-term portfolio objectives.

Essential Responsibilities :

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, based on operational needs.

Leadership & Organizational Stewardship

• Champion Walker-Miller's mission, values, and strategic priorities through leadership, planning activities, and stakeholder engagement.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to program leadership by identifying opportunities to improve portfolio performance, scalability, operational effectiveness, and customer outcomes.
• Lead cross-functional planning efforts that align program strategies with client objectives, regulatory requirements, contractual commitments, and organizational goals.
• Promote a culture of data-driven decision making, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement across all program functions.

Client Management

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Portfolio Manager and utility clients on program planning, forecasting, portfolio optimization, and long-term program evolution.
• Facilitate strategic discussions regarding program goals, market opportunities, customer segment performance, emerging trends, and future program direction.
• Present performance insights, forecasting results, planning scenarios, and strategic recommendations to program leadership and client stakeholders.
• Analyze regulatory, market, and policy developments to identify risks and opportunities that may impact program strategy or future performance.

Program Leadership

• Develop, evaluate, and recommend multi-year program strategies that maximize energy savings, participation, customer outcomes, equity objectives, and regulatory compliance.
• Lead portfolio optimization efforts by identifying opportunities to improve production, customer conversion, savings achievement, budget utilization, contractor performance, and overall cost-effectiveness.
• Drive innovation initiatives and strategic assessments that improve customer experience, operational efficiency, market reach, and program performance.
• Facilitate annual planning cycles, strategic reviews, portfolio assessments, and continuous improvement initiatives that support long-term program success.

Program Delivery

• Translate strategic objectives into executable implementation plans, operational priorities, performance targets, and measurable success criteria.
• Develop and maintain participation, savings, budget, staffing, and production forecasts through forecasting models, capacity assessments, pipeline analyses, and growth scenarios.
• Conduct forecast-to-actual reviews and evaluate customer pipeline, operational, contractor, and program performance data to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with functional leaders to develop mitigation plans and strategic recommendations that keep production, savings, budget, quality, and customer experience performance on track.

Financial Management

• Support development of portfolio budgets, business cases, investment strategies, and annual planning assumptions.
• Analyze program cost-effectiveness, budget utilization, savings performance, participation trends, and overall financial performance.
• Develop financial forecasts, scenario models, and sensitivity analyses that support planning, resource allocation, and client decision-making.
• Identify opportunities to improve portfolio value, forecasting accuracy, financial performance, and operational efficiency.

Team Management

• Provide strategic leadership and guidance to program managers, analysts, and functional leaders engaged in planning, forecasting, performance management, and continuous improvement activities.
• Facilitate collaboration across implementation, outreach, marketing, QA/QC, field operations, customer support, reporting, and data analytics functions.
• Mentor team members on strategic thinking, forecasting methodologies, business analysis, problem-solving, and program optimization practices.
• Lead cross-functional planning sessions, forecasting reviews, performance assessments, and strategic initiatives that drive program success.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; equivalent work experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of Program Management or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years' experience working in the energy efficiency industry required.
• 3 + years of direct or indirect leadership required.
• Proven leadership abilities in a rapidly changing environment.
• Proficiency in financial and project management.
• Experience in community development, grassroots organizing, workforce development, public sector project management.
• Sales, marketing or business development background.
• Proven leadership in a fast-paced environment.
• Detail-oriented and able to prioritize workload and delegate appropriate work assignments to staff.
• Must be flexible to handle a wide variety of tasks and complete work in a timely fashion in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, specifically Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Strong data entry skills in entering information in tracking systems/databases.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing with customers, clients and employees.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data and solve practical problems.
• Knowledge of mathematical concepts such as fractions, percentages and ratios.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as the fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.
• Reliable transportation.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master's Degree, preferably in Community Relations, Marketing, Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Management, or a discipline in energy or related field from an accredited University.
• Familiarity with Monday.com or similar project management software.

Licenses & Certifications:

• PMP Certification, preferred.
• CEM Certification, preferred.
• Valid driver's license.

Required Skills:

• Project Management: Leads and manages multiple interrelated projects within a program. Develops program strategies and plans. Allocates resources and manages program budgets. Ensures alignment of projects with organizational and client goals.
• Stakeholder Management: Manages stakeholder expectations, resolves conflicts, and consults with stakeholders to address their concerns proactively. Can influence stakeholders and clients to support initiatives.
• Communication: Effectively conveys complex information and ideas clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, building rapport and trust. Can effectively explain one's own knowledge and/or technical information to others in ways that are easy to understand.
• Data Analysis: Uses data to inform project improvements and decision-making.
• Program Development : Oversees program implementation and manages complex programs. Delivers high-impact training programs to diverse audiences. Conducts thorough program evaluations, including advanced data analysis (e.g., comparisons to KPIs, industry analysis, impact assessments) and qualitative methods. Develops and implements evidence-based strategies for program improvement. Mentors and develops others in making data-driven program changes.
• Technology Skills: Effectively utilizes a range of technology tools and software to produce desired outputs.
• Collaboration: Achieves shared goals through effective teamwork and collaboration, demonstrating a strong ability to coordinate efforts and resolve conflicts. Leads cross-functional teams to achieve objectives.
• Leadership: Leads and manages complex teams effectively. Develops and implements strategies to create a high-performance team culture. Mentors and coaches team members to develop their skills. Helps attract, develop, and retain talent for both internal and external stakeholders.