Program Manager- Contract - Columbia, SC Candidate MUST be a SC resident

Program Manager

Location: Columbia, SC Hybrid (2-3 days in office per week or at the manager's discretion)

Interview Process: 1 round, Virtual/Online

Duration: 12 Months
Employment Type: Contract
Experience Required: 10+ Years

Candidate Location: Candidate MUST be a SC resident. No relocation allowed.

Project Scope:

The Program Manager will support enterprise-wide initiatives by leading and coordinating complex projects across multiple business units, internal divisions, and external agency stakeholders. This role is responsible for managing large-scale, cross-functional programs that align with organizational strategic goals while ensuring successful delivery, stakeholder engagement, and measurable business value.

The position will play a key role in establishing project governance, improving program management processes, and ensuring consistent execution across a diverse portfolio of enterprise initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

Program & Project Leadership

• Lead and manage enterprise-level programs and projects from initiation through completion
  
• Develop comprehensive project plans, schedules, milestones, and resource allocations
  
• Oversee multiple concurrent projects and ensure alignment with strategic business objectives
  
• Monitor project progress, deliverables, dependencies, and overall program health
  
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with quality standards
  

Project Planning & Execution

• Create and maintain detailed project plans for complex enterprise initiatives
  
• Define project scope, objectives, timelines, and success criteria
  
• Assign tasks, manage work efforts, and track project deliverables
  
• Adjust project plans, schedules, and resources as necessary to meet changing business needs
  
• Ensure adherence to project management methodologies and best practices
  

Stakeholder Management & Communication

• Serve as the primary liaison between business units, technical teams, and executive leadership
  
• Coordinate communication across all impacted departments and external stakeholders
  
• Provide regular project status updates, executive summaries, and risk assessments
  
• Present program updates, recommendations, and strategic insights to senior leadership
  
• Foster strong collaboration across internal teams and partner organizations
  

Portfolio & Governance Management

• Maintain accurate project information within enterprise portfolio management tools, including SharePoint
  
• Ensure timely updates on project status, milestones, risks, and issues
  
• Support portfolio governance, reporting, and decision-making processes
  
• Track and report on project performance, outcomes, and business value realization
  

Risk, Change & Resource Management

• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and issues
  
• Apply formal change management processes to support successful implementation
  
• Manage resource planning, allocation, and utilization across multiple initiatives
  
• Escalate risks, resource constraints, and timeline issues as appropriate
  
• Ensure effective issue resolution and decision-making
  

Process Improvement & Strategic Support

• Establish repeatable, scalable, and adaptable project management processes
  
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within program and project management practices
  
• Identify opportunities to improve workflows, governance, and operational efficiency
  
• Support business process analysis, mapping, and re-engineering efforts
  
• Ensure alignment with organizational strategy and customer-focused outcomes
  

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate activities across multiple projects, teams, and agencies
  
• Manage interdependencies between projects and business initiatives
  
• Collaborate with stakeholders to prioritize initiatives and allocate resources effectively
  
• Support enterprise-wide regulatory and compliance-related projects
  

Documentation & Reporting

• Document meetings, decisions, action items, directives, and significant communications
  
• Maintain comprehensive project documentation, including plans, schedules, and status reports
  
• Develop professional reports, dashboards, and presentations for stakeholders
  
• Ensure transparency and accountability throughout the project lifecycle
  

Required Skills & Experience:

·        Minimum 8 years of experience managing large, complex enterprise projects or programs

·        10+ years of overall experience in project and program management

·        Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional, multi-stakeholder initiatives

·        Experience managing project budgets, schedules, resources, and risks

·        Strong knowledge of project governance, performance measurement, and change management

Preferred Skills:

·        Project Management Professional (PMP) certification

·        Advanced degree in Business, Information Technology, or related field

·        Experience in public sector or large enterprise environments

·        Experience managing regulatory or compliance-driven initiatives

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, or related field

Preferred Certifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP)
  
• Program Management Professional (PgMP) – preferred but not required