Lead Program Manager

Job Title: Lead Program Manager

Location: Richmond, VA – Hybrid (3 days onsite per week)

Duration: 12 months + Possibility to Extend and/or Convert to FTE
Pay Rate:  $55 - $65/HR (W2 Only)

Job/Role Description:

• Lead and manage complex, cross-functional business initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, dependencies, risks, and workstreams.
• Support a major acquisition and integration initiative, partnering across business functions including Enterprise Supplier Management, Human Resources, Finance, Cybersecurity, Technology, and other internal teams.
• Develop and manage detailed project plans, schedules, milestones, dependencies, risks, and action items to ensure successful project delivery.
• Lead project meetings, facilitate cross-functional collaboration, and ensure teams remain aligned on responsibilities, timelines, priorities, and deliverables.
• Identify and manage dependencies between business teams and proactively escalate risks, issues, and gaps that could impact project delivery.
• Quickly understand complex business initiatives, connect information across workstreams, and develop recommendations to move projects forward.
• Independently lead projects with minimal oversight and take ownership of driving work through completion.
• Apply both traditional project management and Agile methodologies as appropriate to support project execution.
• Analyze project and business data to identify trends, discrepancies, risks, and areas requiring additional attention.
• Prepare and present project updates, status reports, risks, recommendations, and other information to senior management and key stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with cross-functional business partners and serve as a central point of coordination across project teams.
• Ensure project documentation, reporting, plans, and deliverables are accurate, organized, and completed with a high level of attention to detail.
• Influence project plans and stakeholder decisions to help ensure business objectives and project outcomes are achieved.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of demonstrated project management experience leading and driving complex business initiatives.
• Strong background managing cross-functional projects involving multiple teams, stakeholders, dependencies, and competing priorities.
• Demonstrated experience independently leading projects and driving work forward with limited oversight.
• Experience developing and maintaining project plans, schedules, milestones, risks, dependencies, and status reporting.
• Experience working in both traditional project management and Agile environments.
• Strong ability to quickly understand complex projects, connect information across workstreams, identify risks, and make recommendations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify discrepancies and project risks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong presentation skills with experience communicating project updates to senior management and executive-level stakeholders.
• Strong relationship-building, collaboration, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive accountability without direct authority.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word and/or Google Sheets, Slides, and Docs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing merger, acquisition, or business integration initiatives.
• Project management experience within financial services.
• Experience supporting procurement, supplier management, supply chain, or related business functions.
• PMP or other recognized project management certification.
• Previous experience working within a large, complex enterprise environment.

Additional Information

• This is a business-focused program/project management role rather than a highly technical Project Manager position.
• The role will not primarily focus on software requirements, technical testing, platform convergence, or technical implementation management.
• Candidates should demonstrate substantial experience directly leading projects rather than primarily working in Project Coordinator or junior project support positions.
• Candidates must be local to the Richmond, VA area and able to work onsite approximately three days per week.