IT Program Management Director

Job Overview:

The IT Program Management Director is responsible for leading cross-Foundry strategic programs and ensuring successful execution of complex, multi-disciplinary initiatives across Product, Engineering, Architecture, DevOps, Quality Engineering, Data, Artificial Intelligence, Security, and business teams.

This role serves as the central point of coordination for integrated planning, dependency management, program governance, risk mitigation, milestone tracking, and executive reporting. The Director partners with leaders across the organization to drive alignment, transparency, accountability, and predictable delivery outcomes for high-priority strategic initiatives.

The role requires strong leadership, organizational influence, communication, and execution capabilities to manage programs spanning multiple technologies, geographies, teams, vendors, and stakeholders.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end planning, coordination, and execution of complex cross-Foundry programs and strategic initiatives.
• Develop and maintain integrated program plans, roadmaps, milestone schedules, delivery timelines, and dependency frameworks.
• Coordinate activities across Product Management, Engineering, Architecture, Data, AI, Quality Engineering, DevOps, Security, Infrastructure, and external partners.
• Establish program governance structures, operating rhythms, steering committees, and executive reporting processes.
• Identify, track, and proactively manage program risks, issues, decisions, assumptions, and dependencies.
• Ensure alignment between strategic objectives, business priorities, product roadmaps, and delivery plans.
• Drive transparency through accurate status reporting, program dashboards, executive communications, and performance metrics.
• Facilitate cross-functional planning sessions, stakeholder reviews, milestone assessments, and delivery readiness activities.
• Monitor program execution and delivery performance, ensuring commitments are met and obstacles are addressed proactively.
• Partner with product and engineering leadership to optimize prioritization, resource planning, and delivery capacity across initiatives.
• Support portfolio planning and investment discussions by providing program-level insights, risks, forecasts, and decision support.
• Coordinate vendor activities, third-party dependencies, and external delivery partners as required.
• Establish and promote program management standards, methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance predictability, transparency, efficiency, and execution effectiveness across strategic programs.
• Support change management, organizational readiness, communication planning, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications (Minimum Required):

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Project Management, or related discipline; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Strong understanding of program management methodologies, governance frameworks, and large-scale technology delivery practices.
• Knowledge of software development lifecycles, Agile delivery methodologies, DevOps practices, and modern technology organizations.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to align technology execution to organizational objectives.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, stakeholder management, and executive presentation skills.
• Proven ability to influence outcomes across cross-functional teams without direct management authority.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to operate effectively within complex, fast-paced, and globally distributed environments.
• Fortrea may consider relevant and equivalent experience and successful project outcomes in lieu of educational requirements.

Experience (Minimum Required): 

• 10+ years of progressive experience in program management, project management, portfolio management, technology delivery, or related disciplines.
• 5+ years leading large-scale cross-functional programs involving multiple stakeholders, workstreams, and delivery teams.
• Demonstrated experience managing enterprise technology programs spanning Product, Engineering, Architecture, Data, Infrastructure, and business organizations.
• Proven experience developing integrated program plans, roadmaps, dependency management frameworks, and executive governance processes.
• Experience identifying and managing complex risks, issues, dependencies, and escalation paths across organizational boundaries.
• Experience preparing and presenting executive-level reporting, status updates, dashboards, and decision-making materials.
• Experience coordinating geographically distributed teams, vendors, and external partners.
• Strong experience with Agile delivery models, portfolio planning, release coordination, and technology transformation initiatives.
• Demonstrated success delivering strategic initiatives involving digital transformation, data platforms, cloud technologies, AI solutions, or enterprise applications.
• Experience utilizing metrics, KPIs, and program performance indicators to improve execution and decision-making.
• Experience influencing senior leaders and building consensus across competing priorities and stakeholder groups.

Preferred Qualifications Include:

• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Information Technology, Engineering, or related field.
• PMP, PgMP, PMI-ACP, SAFe Program Consultant (SPC), SAFe Agilist, or equivalent program management certification.
• Experience within healthcare, life sciences, clinical research, or other highly regulated industries.
• Experience supporting enterprise technology organizations delivering cloud, data, digital, AI, or platform transformation initiatives.
• Familiarity with Azure DevOps, Jira, ADO, Planview, Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, or other enterprise portfolio management tools.
• Experience establishing Program Management Offices (PMOs), governance frameworks, and portfolio reporting structures.
• Strong understanding of cloud technologies, data platforms, software engineering, and modern technology operating models.
• Experience supporting executive steering committees and organizational transformation initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to drive delivery excellence across highly matrixed global organizations.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

Office/Home-Based:

Work Environment:

• Work is performed in an office environment with exposure to electrical office equipment.
• Occasional drives to site locations with occasional travel both domestic and international.

Physical Requirements:

• Frequently stationary for 6-8 hours per day.
• Repetitive hand movement of both hands with the ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Occasional crouching, stooping, with frequent bending and twisting of upper body and neck.
• Ability to access and use a variety of computer software developed both in-house and off-the-shelf.
• Light to moderate lifting and carrying, or moving of objects, including luggage and laptop computer with a maximum lift of 15-20 lbs.
• Regular and consistent attendance.
• Varied hours may be required.

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