Senior Program Manager

Swoon partners with a leading global healthcare and retail organization to seek a Senior Program Manager for their Deerfield, IL location. This role offers the opportunity to lead complex, high-impact programs within a dynamic, innovative environment. As a Senior Program Manager, you'll drive key business objectives and work alongside cross-functional teams to deliver strategic initiatives that shape the future of healthcare and retail services.

More details below:

Initial one year Program Manager opportunity

Location: Flexible hybrid in Deerfield, IL

Duration: Initial one-year contract with high potential to extend/convert based on performance

Pay Rate: $70-73/hr W2, open to C2C, Self-Corporation candidates as well*

Job #: Heads-up

Overview:

The Senior Program Manager will manage complex strategic portfolios or multiple programs aimed at achieving key business objectives. This role is critical in leading cross-functional teams, ensuring effective communication, and driving projects to successful completion within scope, budget, and schedule.

Key Responsibilities

Program and Portfolio Management

• Portfolio & Program Planning: Develop, monitor, and update program plans to ensure alignment with business goals.
• Work Plan Development: Help establish work plans and provide staffing support for portfolio or programs.
• Scope, Budget, and Schedule Management: Accountable for managing the scope, budget, and schedule of multiple programs.
• Prioritization & Resource Allocation: Ensure effective prioritization of projects and resources within the portfolio, resolving conflicts as necessary.
• Benefit Achievement: Ensure each program achieves its intended benefits and outcomes.
• Escalation Management: Resolve resource escalations between programs and determine the best use of resources based on program priority.

Financial Oversight & Analysis

• Financial Acumen: Manage program progress using financial reports and forecasts.
• Program Financial Analysis: Analyze financials to identify key messages, risks, and trends impacting program delivery.
• Cost Control & Forecasting: Ensure that financials are tracked, managed, and forecasted accurately to meet program goals.

Risk Management

• Risk & Issue Identification: Proactively identify risks and issues at the portfolio level and work with teams to address them.
• Problem Resolution: Deep dive into issue resolutions and escalate as necessary, particularly when involving multiple senior leaders.
• Mitigation Strategies: Drive risk resolution and mitigation across programs and stakeholders

Stakeholder & Team Coordination

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Coordinate activities across multiple portfolio or program teams to ensure progress is on schedule and within budget.
• Communication & Reporting: Effectively monitor and communicate portfolio status to stakeholders and executives, ensuring transparency and alignment.
• Team Leadership: Mentor and manage Project Managers or Program Managers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment.

Documentation & Compliance

• Scope & Requirement Management: Review and contribute to the development of portfolio scope definitions and business/technical requirements documents.
• Adjustments & Recommendations: Recommend adjustments to the portfolio plan, staffing, and resource allocation as needed to meet program objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree
• Experience:
• Minimum of 10 years of project management experience.
• At least 5 years of program management and consulting experience, particularly in global projects within the retail and/or healthcare industries.
• Proven track record in managing large-scale programs and portfolios, with budgets of $20M or more.
• Skills & Competencies:
• Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
• Effective leadership and team-building abilities.
• Advanced problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio.
• Familiarity with multiple project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall).
• PMP certification is preferred.
• Experience in establishing and managing a Project Management Office (PMO) for programs.