Program Manager - PgMP

Location: Atlanta, GA (Hybrid – Local Metro Atlanta Candidates Only)

Worksite: Atlanta, GA 30303-1751

Duration: 07/01/2026 – 06/30/2027

Interview Type: Web Cam or In-Person

Employment Type: Contract

Position Overview

The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) is undertaking the UI Inspire modernization program, a large-scale initiative to transform the State's Unemployment Insurance (UI) systems for Benefits, Tax, and Appeals operations. This modernization effort will improve citizen service delivery, operational efficiency, system security, and program integrity while enabling scalable, cloud-enabled digital services.

GDOL is seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead day-to-day program coordination and delivery oversight for the UI Inspire initiative. The Program Manager will work closely with GDOL leadership, the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA), vendors, and business stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of modernization milestones, federal readiness compliance, and platform go-live targeted for September 2026.

Key Responsibilities

Program & Project Management

• Lead planning, execution, and monitoring of the UI Inspire modernization project.

• Coordinate Benefits, Tax, and Appeals modernization workstreams.

• Develop and maintain integrated program schedules and risk mitigation plans.

• Track critical implementation milestones including testing, UAT, data migration, security testing, and production readiness.

• Manage project dependencies and budget reporting.

Vendor Oversight & Delivery Coordination

• Serve as the primary liaison between GDOL leadership, GTA, and implementation vendors.

• Monitor vendor progress and resolve delivery risks.

• Support AI-assisted development and testing initiatives.

• Facilitate issue escalation and executive decision support.

Federal Readiness & Compliance

• Coordinate readiness activities under federal UI modernization guidance.

• Ensure completion of readiness artifacts including:

• End-to-end business scenario validation
• Data reconciliation validation
• Interface certification
• Performance testing
• Operational readiness and training validation
• • Support federal certification preparation before go-live.

Governance & Stakeholder Engagement

• Present project status updates to executive leadership.

• Support steering committee and governance activities.

• Facilitate status meetings and executive briefings.

• Track project decisions, risks, and mitigation plans.

Implementation Readiness

• Coordinate:

• Data migration validation
• User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
• Security, accessibility, and performance testing
• Production readiness activities
• Go-live rehearsals and rollback planning
• • Support Go/No-Go decision processes and stabilization planning.

Organizational Change Management

• Coordinate readiness across GDOL business units.

• Support training programs and end-user adoption.

• Align operational workflows with new system capabilities.

• Promote adoption of modernized processes and technologies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, Public Administration, Computer Science, or related field.

• 10 years of experience managing large-scale IT modernization or enterprise implementation programs.

• Experience managing government technology modernization initiatives.

• Experience in multi-vendor delivery environments.

• Strong knowledge of Agile, Hybrid, and Iterative delivery methodologies.

Experience with:

• System development
• Testing coordination
• Data migration
• Implementation readiness
• • Experience supporting State Unemployment Insurance modernization programs.
• • Familiarity with federal certification and readiness requirements for UI systems.
• • Experience with cloud-based or enterprise platform implementations.
• • Experience working with public sector governance and executive oversight structures.
• • Active PMP, PMI-ACP, or equivalent certification.
• • Active PgMP certification.

Key Skills

• Large-scale IT modernization program management

• Vendor management and coordination

• Stakeholder engagement

• Risk and issue management

• Executive reporting and communication

• Implementation planning

• Operational readiness

• Cross-functional leadership