Program Manager Lead

USAA•San Antonio, TX

11h•Hybrid

About The Position

USAA is seeking a Program Manager Lead to support Shared Services and Corporate Functions, along with Data and AI. The Portfolio team is responsible for managing execution across the portfolio to ensure strategic programs deliver on time, on budget, and on value. This role involves transparent portfolio reporting, proactive issue resolution, and risk mitigation. The candidate will lead the management, execution, and delivery of large-scale programs, including oversight and governance to ensure alignment with strategic imperatives and to monitor program health. The role focuses on achieving multi-year program deadlines, scope, and benefits, and supporting cross-functional teams in change plan development and execution. USAA offers a flexible work environment requiring 4 days in the office per week, with potential locations in San Antonio, TX or Plano, TX. Relocation assistance is not available.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree OR 4 years of relevant education and/or experience.
8 years of project and / or program management experience, including experience defining a new program and / or managing large-scale projects.
Demonstrated experience using Waterfall or Agile methodologies to execute on program strategies and deliver complex work efforts.
Advanced understanding and demonstrated application of risk management policies and procedures.
Comprehensive knowledge of program management methodology and techniques; program performance evaluation and change management principles / methodologies.
Proficient experience in USAA's change management methodology or similar industry change management methodology.
Extensive experience developing, maintaining, and reporting on large cost work effort(s) / program budgets.
Stakeholder management and influencing skills.
Expert level of experience in Principles of Project, Program or Portfolio Management.
Demonstrated expert experience using knowledge of the business, its products, and processes to assess program risks and rewards across multiple technologies and business goals.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated success leading enterprise Data and AI programs with multiple cross-functional workstreams, executive visibility, and complex interdependencies.
Proven ability to translate business strategy into a sequenced roadmap with clear milestones, outcomes, and funding recommendations.
Strong program governance capability across scope, schedule, budget, dependencies, risks, issues, and benefits realization.
Track record of defining and reporting value-based KPIs, including adoption, operational efficiency, quality improvement, risk reduction, and financial impact.
Excellent executive communication skills with the ability to frame decisions, present tradeoffs, and provide concise, action-oriented recommendations.
Proven ability to proactively identify, quantify, and escalate delivery and compliance risks in highly regulated environments.
Experience developing and managing program budgets, including labor, platform/tooling, cloud, and vendor spend with ROI accountability.
Strong change leadership skills to drive stakeholder readiness, business adoption, and sustained operational outcomes.

Responsibilities

Leads the implementation of strategic tasks that align programs with an organization's business strategy and goals.
Responsible for developing multi-year business plans to deliver business capabilities and define execution approach to achieve business goals while reducing risk and delivering early business value.
Works with program sponsors and cross-functional teams to evaluate, plan and develop scope, milestone road maps, required resources, work plan, budget, anticipated dependencies, and timing for new programs.
Prepares reports that provide stakeholders and management with status updates, including identifying risks or issues.
Ensures all team members understand how to work together, understand interdependencies, and coordinates their efforts to complete program goals.
Assists in the development of performance metrics, dashboards and management tools that clearly articulate the status of key activities ensuring timely and successful execution.
Directs analyses, root cause identification and development and recommendation of key work products.
Identifies potential new program opportunities to deliver integrated solutions that meet multiple business partner needs.
Defines and maintains multiple program strategies based on business demand and ROI expectations.
Negotiates agreements, settles disputes equitably and diffuses high tension situations.
Negotiates program tradeoffs with IT and the business to ensure alignment of demand to capacity.
Mentors Program Managers in identifying benefits and defining alternatives across departmental programs and across USAA programs.
Adheres to EPMO processes, procedures, controls, standards, tools, and templates (as required).
Adheres to governance rigor required for work efforts.
Drives the adoption and sustainment of changes within the organization in compliance with USAA's Change Management methodology.
Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.