Program Manager

The Program Manager, EPO provides strategic and operational leadership across multi‑project, cross‑functional programs that advance Agilus’ client’s business, technology, and operational objectives within the financial industry. This role ensures that all delivery activities within the program are executed predictably, within scope and budget, and in accordance with established delivery governance, financial controls, and hybrid (Waterfall + Agile) frameworks.

The Program Manager is accountable for program‑level planning, execution oversight, financial and resource management, stakeholder alignment, realization of OKRs, and coaching of Project Managers and PCOs to ensure consistent, high‑quality delivery.

Key Accountabilities

1. Program Leadership & Governance

• Lead end‑to‑end planning, execution, and governance of complex programs consisting of multiple interdependent projects.
• Establish program governance structure, including steering committee cadence, reporting cycles, decision forums, and communication plans.
• Ensure adherence to enterprise standards, frameworks, and controls, including financial governance, reporting, methodology, and risk management.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for PMs/PCOs, guiding issue resolution and facilitating decisions.
• Drive alignment between Product, IT, Operations, and Client Relations to ensure consistent delivery and shared program objectives.

2. Delivery Oversight

• Oversee delivery of two or more concurrent projects, including major internal initiatives, technology transformations, client‑facing implementations, and regulatory or risk‑driven programs.
• Ensure scope, timeline, budget, quality, and methodology requirements are met at both the program and project level.
• Guide PMs in applying the appropriate delivery methodology—Waterfall, Agile, or hybrid.
• Conduct program‑level reviews of RAID logs, dependencies, change requests, and deliverables.

3. Financial & Resource Management

• Develop and monitor the program financial plan, including Opex/Capex allocation, vendor spend, burn rate, forecast accuracy, and variance analysis.
• Ensure PMs maintain accurate financial tracking, forecasts, and change controls.
• Maintain visibility into program‑wide resource needs; work with functional managers to resolve capacity constraints and optimize team allocation.
• Escalate financial or capacity risks early and recommend mitigation strategies.

4. Stakeholder Management: Sponsor, Client, Vendor

• Facilitate steering committee meetings and provide clear updates on program health, risks, and key decisions.
• Communicate effectively with business sponsors, executive stakeholders, Product leadership, and IT leadership.
• For client‑facing programs, act as the primary delivery contact—managing expectations, addressing escalations, supporting SOW changes, and ensuring delivery commitments align to client objectives.
• Establish and manage integrated program and project plans across all functions.
• When external vendors are involved, engage through Procurement and oversee vendor commitments, deliverables, payments, and escalations.

5. Team Leadership & Coaching

• Mentor and guide PMs, PCOs, and other delivery team members.
• Support performance feedback for PMs/PCOs in partnership with Portfolio Managers.
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.

6. Program Planning, Reporting & Compliance

• Oversee preparation and submission of all required program‑level reporting (e.g., Steering Committee Reports, dashboards, financial updates, risk summaries, executive updates).
• Ensure PMs maintain timely and accurate weekly reporting and forecasting.
• Support early‑stage planning activities such as requirements definition, scoping, solution due diligence, timelines, and estimation.
• Support audit, compliance, and process reviews related to program scope and documentation.
• Ensure planning outputs align with program objectives and portfolio OKRs.

Requirements

Education

• College diploma or undergraduate degree in a related discipline, or a combination of education and experience.
• PMP/PRINCE2 or PgMP required if Program Manager experience is less than 4 years or Senior Project Manager experience is less than 5 years.
• Agile/SAFe certifications (e.g., PMI‑ACP, Leading SAFe, Scrum Master) are strong assets.

Experience

• 10+ years of Project Management experience with demonstrable results.
• Minimum requirements:
• 2+ years as a Program Manager or
• 5+ years as a Senior Project Manager leading programs or multi‑project initiatives over $1.0M+.
• Experience leading teams of 10–50 across multiple functional groups.
• Strong experience managing hybrid delivery environments (Waterfall + Agile/SAFe).
• Experience with enterprise governance, financial controls, RAID management, change control, and large‑scale technology or operations programs.
• Vendor and client‑facing delivery experience preferred.

Skills

• Strong leadership presence and ability to influence across business and technology groups.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, including executive‑level presentations.
• Advanced financial management, forecasting, and analytical skills.
• Strong stakeholder and client management capabilities.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity.
• Strong risk and dependency management skills.
• High attention to detail and exceptional organizational skills.