CODE PA - PLC Program Manager

Engagement Type

Contract

Short Description

CODE PA is seeking a qualified Program Manager.
- Full-time role - 37.5 hours per week (8a-4:30p w/ hour unpaid lunch)
- Telework eligible position
- Local candidates preferred by agency.
- Submitted candidates must reside in EST zone to be considered

Complete Description

THE POSITION

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is seeking Program Manager
to join our growing and innovative Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience
(CODE PA) team. This is an opportunity to work with a wide range of
technologies while helping improve digital services for the citizens of
Pennsylvania. If you are detail-oriented, organized, and interested in
supporting digital initiatives that serve the public, we encourage you to
apply. This role is ideal for individuals looking to deepen their project
management experience while supporting Agile delivery teams and delivering
digital services.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

In this position, the Permitting, Licensing, and
Certifications (PLC) Enterprise Program Manager will lead the delivery of the
PLC enterprise initiative for the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience
(CODE PA). The PLC Program Manager is responsible for leading and delivering
complex, cross-functional initiatives that span multiple projects and
workstreams. This role owns the overall program structure, ensuring alignment
between strategy and execution while driving accountability across teams. The
Program Manager establishes governance, operating models, and delivery
frameworks to bring clarity, organization, and consistency to program
execution. The PLC Program Manager also fulfills a critical role in coaching
teams, improving ways of working, and driving successful outcomes in complex,
fast-paced environments.

Acting as a strategic leader, the Program Manager partners
with product, project management, operations & procurement, engineering,
and business stakeholders to help prioritize work, manage dependencies, and
mitigate risks. They are responsible for maintaining clear communication,
enabling informed decision-making, and ensuring progress is transparent at all
levels of the organization. This role requires strong leadership, the ability to
influence without direct authority, and a willingness to address challenges
directly.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Accountability

*Own end-to-end
delivery of a complex, multi-workstream program

*Establish program
vision, structure, and execution strategy

*Drive alignment
across product, project, engineering, UX, vendors, and stakeholders

*Lead with authority
and clarity, ensuring accountability at all levels

Operating Model & Governance
*Design and implement the program operating model (cadence, governance, decision-making, etc.)
*Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and escalation paths
*Stand up and lead steering committees and governance forums
*Ensure consistent adherence to program standards and ways of working
Planning & Execution
*Develop and maintain an integrated master roadmap across all workstreams
*Identify and manage cross-workstream dependencies
*Drive quarterly (or periodic) re-planning and prioritization
*Ensure deliverables are met on time, within scope, and within budget
Team Organization & Enablement
*Organize and structure teams for clarity and effectiveness
*Coach product managers, project managers, and leads on best practices
*Establish clear expectations for meeting readiness, deliverables, and communication
*Address gaps in performance, ownership, and execution
Stakeholder Management & Communication
*In partnership with the product managers, the program manager serves as the primary point of accountability for program status and outcomes
*Deliver clear,concise, and structured reporting to leadership
*Translate complex program details into digestible insights for non-technical stakeholders
*Facilitate alignment and resolve conflicts across teams

Risk, Issue, and Decision Management

*Proactively
identify program risks, issues, and blockers

*Implement
mitigation strategies and drive resolution

*Escalate critical
issues with clear recommendations and decision asks

*Ensure timely and
effective decision-making across the program

Financial & Vendor Oversight

*Drive program
budget, forecasting, and financial tracking

*Oversee vendor
performance and accountability

*Ensure contracts,
procurement, and deliverables align with program goals

Additional duties may include:

*Assisting with
Agile project coordination and team facilitation; supporting Agile teams by
helping coordinate Scrum activities, tracking project progress, and assisting
in the removal of obstacles that impact delivery.

*Supporting assigned
Scrum Masters with ceremonies, including sprint planning, daily standups,
sprint reviews, and retrospectives as needed

*Assisting in the
coordination of project activities and tracking progress against project
timelines and deliverables

*Support the Product
Manager to track programmatic key results, objectives, and deliverables.

*Helping identify
and escalate project-level risks, issues, or blocked work items to leadership

*Maintaining project
documentation, status reports, and project tracking tools

*Assisting with
communication between technical teams and business stakeholders

*Monitoring
project-level progress and helping track team performance using Agile metrics
and project management tools

*Contributing to
project reports and presentations for leadership and stakeholder audiences

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS
*8-10 years of program or portfolio management experience
*Proven track record managing large-scale, multi-year, multi-million-dollar programs
*Experience managing multiple concurrent workstreams and cross-functional teams
*Experience working with both internal teams and external vendors
Leadership & Communication
*Demonstrated ability to lead with authority and influence without direct control
*Strong ability to coach, mentor, and elevate team performance
*Comfortable having critical, constructive conversations with senior stakeholders
*Exceptional communication skills (executive-level reporting and team-level clarity)

Delivery & Execution

*Deep expertise in
program governance, planning, and execution frameworks

*Strong
understanding of Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid delivery models

*Ability to bring
structure to ambiguous or under performing environments

Preferred Qualifications

*Experience in State
Government - preferred but not required

*Experience with
Salesforce - preferred but not required

*Certifications
(e.g., PMP, Scrum, etc.)

*Experience in
standing up programs from early-stage or disorganized environments

Core Competencies
*Strategic thinking with strong execution focus
*Organizational design and operational excellence
*Accountability and ownership mindset
*Conflict resolution and stakeholder alignment
*Risk-based decision making
*Clarity, structure,and attention to detail
Success Metrics (What Good Looks Like)
*Program is structured, predictable, and operating with clear governance
*Teams are aligned,accountable, and consistently prepared
*Risks and dependencies are actively managed (not reactive)
*Leadership has clear visibility into status, risks, and decisions

*Delivery milestones
are met with improved efficiency and quality

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

*Experience working
with project management or Agile tools (such as Confluence, Azure DevOps,
SharePoint, or similar tools)

*Ability to
communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders

*Experience
assisting teams with tracking work items, tasks, or project deliverables

*Familiarity with
Agile or Scrum practices

*Experience
supporting meetings or project ceremonies such as stand-ups, sprint reviews, or
planning sessions

*Experience
assisting with documentation such as project plans, requirements, or status
updates

*Exposure to
technology procurement or participation in RFP/RFI processes is preferred

*Ability to perform
essential job functions

Required/Desired Skills

Skill Required/Desired Amount of Experience

Program or Portfolio Manager experience Required 10.0 Years Strong understanding of Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid delivery models Required Experience working with project management or Agile tools (such as Confluence, Azure DevOps, SharePoint, or similar tools) Required Proven track record managing large-scale, multi-year, multi-million-dollar programs Required PMP or Scrum Master certification Highly desired State Government experience Highly desired Salesforce experience Highly desired