IT Program Manager

SAIC is seeking a qualified strong IT Program Manager will lead a large, complex IT program delivering integrated solutions across multiple global sites for a U.S. Air Force customer. This role oversees approximately 70 engineering and operations staff, including systems and network administrators, Tier 2 Help Desk, C2 (Command & Control) support, core applications teams, and operations evaluation/software functional validation teams.

The Program Manager is responsible for end‑to‑end program execution, including planning, technical integration, risk management, financial management, customer engagement, and delivery of integrated COTS/GOTS solutions into government on‑premise and cloud environments across 26 global instances. Candidate should have a proven background of leading larger teams with attention to detail and rigor with time management and milestones. 

Key Responsibilities:

Program Leadership & Management

• Provide overall leadership, direction, and accountability for a large IT program including software engineering, platform integration, cybersecurity, and operations.
• Lead and mentor a team of ~70 personnel, including systems administrators, network administrators, Tier 2 Help Desk, C2, core applications, and test/validation teams.
• Establish and maintain program vision, objectives, and performance metrics aligned with customer requirements and contract commitments.
• Develop and manage program plans, schedules, staffing plans, and resource allocations to meet demanding integration and deployment timelines.
• Ensure effective coordination and collaboration across multiple functional teams, subcontractors, and stakeholders.

Technical Integration & Delivery

• Oversee integration, testing, and deployment of COTS/GOTS applications and systems into U.S. Government on‑premise and cloud environments.
• Manage technical baselines and configuration control for systems deployed across 26 global instances.
• Ensure solutions meet performance, security, interoperability, and sustainment requirements within Air Force operational environments, particularly Air Operations Centers (AOCs).
• Champion best practices in systems engineering, cybersecurity, IT service management, and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) where applicable.

Agile Program Execution

• Implement and refine Agile methodologies at the program level (e.g., Scrum, Kanban, SAFe-like constructs) to support iterative development and integration.
• Coordinate Agile ceremonies across multiple teams (PI planning, sprint planning, reviews, retrospectives) to ensure alignment with program-level objectives and milestones.
• Monitor Agile metrics (velocity, throughput, defect trends) and adjust plans and priorities based on data-driven insights.

Customer & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary interface with Air Force program overseers and other Government stakeholders.
• Represent the program in technical and programmatic reviews, readiness assessments, working groups, and governance forums.
• Communicate program status, risks, issues, and mitigation strategies clearly and effectively to senior Government and corporate leadership.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customer counterparts, ensuring high levels of satisfaction and trust.

Risk, Financial, and Contract Management

• Identify, assess, and manage program risks, issues, and dependencies; develop and execute mitigation plans.
• Oversee program budget, forecasts, and financial performance, ensuring delivery within cost and schedule constraints.
• Ensure compliance with contract requirements, SLAs, and performance standards; support contract modifications and proposals as needed.
• Maintain adherence to quality standards, cybersecurity policies, and relevant DoD and Air Force regulations.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Program Management, Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Systems Management, or related discipline.
• PMP (Project Management Professional); Security+ (or equivalent DoD 8570/8140 baseline certification); CSM (Certified ScrumMaster) or equivalent Agile certification; Other industry certifications in IT, Cloud, etc.
• 10–15 years of progressively responsible IT program or project management experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing large, complex IT programs involving software engineering, platform integration, and cybersecurity.
• Proven experience leading multi‑disciplinary technical teams (50+ personnel) in a DoD, Federal, or similarly complex environment.
• Experience overseeing operations teams including systems and network administration, Tier 2 Help Desk, and application support.
• Hands-on experience delivering integrated COTS/GOTS solutions into secure on‑premise and cloud environments.
• Demonstrated success managing demanding technical integration and deployment schedules across multiple sites or global instances.
• Experience working directly with Government program offices or similar oversight organizations.
• Practical experience leading programs using Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, or scaled Agile frameworks) in a multi-team environment.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Information Systems, Engineering, Business, Management, or related field.
• Experience supporting U.S. Air Force programs, with a strong preference for Air Operations Centers (AOCs) or similar C2 environments.
• Understanding of Air Force systems sustainment processes, including lifecycle management, configuration management, and sustainment planning.
• Familiarity with DoD cyber and accreditation processes (e.g., RMF, ATO/ATO with conditions) and secure system deployment.
• Experience managing or integrating C2 systems and core mission applications in operational environments.
• Knowledge of ITIL/IT service management practices supporting Tier 2/3 operations and global enterprise environments.
• Leadership & Soft Skills:
  • Strong leadership, team-building, and mentoring skills with the ability to inspire and guide a diverse technical workforce.
  • Excellent communication skills, capable of presenting complex technical and programmatic information to senior leadership and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Proven ability to operate effectively in high-tempo, mission-critical environments with competing priorities and evolving requirements.
  • Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, and stakeholder management skills.