Program Manager

Job Title: Program Manager - 777653
Location: Atlanta, GA

The IT Program Manager will provide program management support and oversight for the Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Aging Services (DAS).

This position reports to the IT Assistant Deputy Commissioner and supports both the Department CIO and DAS business owners. The Program Manager will collaborate with software vendors, service providers, OIT teams, and DAS staff to ensure the efficient management of projects and IT changes. These initiatives range in size from small to large and have a significant impact on DAS productivity and service delivery.

Responsibilities:
Under general supervision, manages and coordinates all tasks associated with small, medium, and large-scale projects of moderate to high complexity and risk.
Oversees and/or provides project management consultation across all phases of the project and software development life cycle (SDLC).
Collaborates closely with OIT team, DAS business leads, vendors, business analysts, and subject matter experts across system support teams.
Manages projects in alignment with Statements of Work (SOWs), vendor contracts, and directives from the project steering committee.
During project initiation, assist clients in identifying the most effective strategies to achieve objectives.
In the planning phase, develops and maintains project management tools, including plans for scope, risk, communication, change control, and performance tracking.
Monitors project performance throughout execution, reporting regularly to leadership on status, key milestones, and emerging risks.
Provides ongoing guidance to project teams, leads status meetings, evaluates proposed scope changes, and advises project sponsors on recommended actions.
Conducts product verification at project close to ensure deliverables meet client expectations and facilitates lessons learned reviews for continuous improvement.

Job Duties:

Oversees and manages ongoing project costs, schedules, resources, scope, issues, and risks. Prepares or reviews time and cost estimates, project plans, schedules, and budgets.
Facilitates process assessments and leads redesign efforts to drive operational improvements and efficiencies.
Collaborates with the project steering committee and senior project management to optimize project processes for successful outcomes.
Coordinates with business leads, vendor project managers, and quality assurance teams to ensure adherence to established project standards, procedures, and quality benchmarks.
Leads or facilitates project kickoff meetings, clearly defining roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Ensures all team members are equipped with the necessary tools and training for effective performance.
Manages project scope, using relevant data and analysis to support negotiations related to time, cost, and quality expectations.
Develops, monitors, and coordinates key project activities such as scheduling, progress tracking, reporting, and managing change initiatives.
Provides leadership and direction to project teams, including scheduling, tracking task completion, and reviewing project deliverables.
Monitors project milestones and critical deadlines, proactively identifying risks to timelines and working to mitigate schedule impacts. Keeps leadership informed of significant issues.
Evaluates project variances, collects performance metrics, and implements adjustments to ensure the project stays within scope, budget, and quality parameters.
Conducts formal reviews with business sponsors and OIT leadership throughout the project lifecycle and upon completion to confirm satisfaction and acceptance of deliverables.
Offers constructive feedback to team members to improve individual and overall project performance.
Builds and maintains productive working relationships with project sponsors, vendors, and key stakeholders to ensure alignment and support.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in related field or specialized training and three years of IT project management experience.
PMP certification from PMI or equivalent certification.
7 years' experience leading projects of moderate to high complexity.
Hands-on experience with MS Project, MS Visio, SharePoint 2013, and MS O365