IT Program Manager

National Student Clearinghouse • Herndon, VA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Technical Specialist, IT Program Management position (externally known as IT Program Manager) collaborates and coordinates cross-functional technology initiatives that support the Clearinghouse's ongoing modernization efforts. This role partners closely with engineering, architecture, security, operations, product, and business teams to ensure work is effectively planned, prioritized, tracked, and delivered. This position is responsible for facilitating delivery processes, coordinating dependencies across teams, managing risks and milestones, maintaining program visibility, and supporting adoption of AI-enabled tools and automation capabilities that improve delivery effectiveness and operational efficiency. The role will leverage cloud, DevSecOps, observability, security, identity management, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) platforms, including AWS, GitLab, Datadog, Wiz, Okta, Terraform, and related technologies. Specifically, this position oversees a portfolio of initiatives, coordinating schedules, resources, dependencies, communications, risks, and reporting to ensure successful outcomes and transparency for stakeholders at all levels of the organization. If you are looking to be part of a winning team with a great mission, the Clearinghouse is an excellent place to grow your career. Currently, this is a remote-first position, and this position may be required to periodically work on-site at our office and the frequency would depend on the department/division's requirements. Therefore, candidates must either reside within a reasonable distance to commute to our office or be willing to travel to our office in Herndon, when required.

Requirements

• Bachelors degree in computer science, information technology, or any related field. A combination of education and experience including military service will also be considered.
• A mimimum of 10 years of experience managing programs and projects in a matrixed organization to deliver projects on time and within budget and scope.
• Experience with: Technology delivery and experience working in a technology organization delivering large scale projects.
• Managing internal and external stakeholders supporting technology initiatives.
• Managing multiple initiatives simultaneously, prioritizing and monitoring tasks across all projects.
• Working in an Agile environment.
• Proficiency working with Microsoft Office Suite and other collaboration tools.
• Familiarity with project management and Agile delivery platforms such as GitLab, Jira, Azure DevOps, Microsoft Project, Clarity, or similar tools.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively and efficiently influence others to take appropriate action.
• Positive and professional attitude with the demonstrated ability to adapt to a dynamic, fast paced industry and environment.
• Demonstrates the Clearinghouse�s core competencies: customer focus, optimizes work processes, communicates effectively, collaborates, and is open and authentic.
• Must live within a commutable distance to Herndon, VA or in one of the Clearinghouse's approved States for hiring purposes.
• Must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
• We do not intend to sponsor external applicants for work visas, and may consider sponsorship only if no qualified candidates can be found who are authorized to work without sponsorship.
• Must be at least 18 years old.

Nice To Haves

• MBA or advanced degree.
• PMP and/or CSM certificate.
• Experience leveraging AI-enabled tools to improve planning, reporting, delivery management, knowledge management, or operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate the Clearinghouse's core competencies: Customer Focus, Optimizes Work Processes, Collaborates, Communicates Effectively, and Be Open and Authentic.
• Develop strong knowledge of company products and services and how customers use them.
• Support a holistic approach to manage the IT Program inclusive of program level deliverables, schedules, issues, risks, risk mitigation plan, budget expenditures and related mitigation plans.
• Facilitate and promote effective Agile delivery practices to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet or exceed conditions of satisfaction.
• Facilitate daily standups, backlog reviews, planning sessions, and other delivery ceremonies.
• Coordinate work across multiple teams to identify dependencies, resolve blockers, and maintain delivery momentum.
• Track action items, commitments, milestones, and delivery deadlines, providing proactive communication and escalation as needed.
• Ensure work items, requirements and AI-generated artifacts contain sufficient context, acceptance criteria, and quality to support planning, execution, reporting, automation, and downstream delivery processes.
• Collaborate across the organization and with application development teams, enterprise architecture, support teams, the Chief Data Office (CDO), and business units to assess the overall health of the program.
• Ensure a high level of transparency exists in communicating status, risk, and issues throughout the Clearinghouse.
• Host and facilitate delivery, planning, and status meetings, effectively communicating expectations and driving team progress toward fulfilling conditions of satisfaction.
• Provide recurring portfolio-level reporting and executive visibility for key technology initiatives, risks, milestones, and outcomes.
• Metrics will encompass team productivity, quality, and value delivered by the projects/program.
• Responsible for schedule management, proactively measuring and monitoring project progress, identifying and managing project risks and issues, and employing mitigation tactics, issue resolution and/or escalation procedures as appropriate.
• Provide project management/leadership to key IT initiatives as assigned.
• Demonstrate openness to new perspectives and ideas.
• Leverage AI-enabled tools and automation capabilities to improve work intake, story creation, reporting, and delivery efficiency.
• Partner with technical teams to identify opportunities for process automation and reduction of manual operational work.
• Support adoption of AI and automation solutions that enhance visibility, delivery tracking, knowledge sharing, and team productivity.
• Position may be required to perform other duties as required.
• These essential functions are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the job.
• Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance benefits
• Health care, dependent care, and limited purpose flexible spending accounts
• Health savings account with annual employer contributions of $300 for employees and $600 for employees who are enrolled with their spouse and/or dependents
• Voluntary supplemental health plans for Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage
• Infertility coverage
• 401k matching contribution program with the opportunity to defer pre-tax and Roth contributions, as well as catch-up contributions
• Competitive paid leave program consisting of vacation, sick, and personal time
• Paid holidays (at least 15 per year)
• Up to 3 weeks of paid parental leave during a 12-month period
• Up to 5 days of paid military leave per calendar year
• Reimbursed for basic wholesale company and roadside assistance memberships
• Option to request a buy back on portions of unused accrued vacation based on tenure and certain other qualifications
• Employee Education Assistance Program
• LinkedIn Learning subscription
• Mental health with up to eight free therapy sessions for employees and their family members
• Well-being reward benefits
• Eligibility for service credit towards the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior