Senior Program Manager

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and highly accomplished Program Manager to lead the operations and technology functions supporting Medical Disability Claims (MDC). This senior leader will be responsible for the overall performance, delivery, continuous improvement, and technology enablement of MDC operations.

The ideal candidate brings at least 15 years of leadership experience, a strong record of managing complex operations and technology programs, and direct experience working with the VA on IT projects. This role requires a strategic operator who can translate mission requirements into executable plans, lead cross-functional teams, manage stakeholders and performance, and drive measurable outcomes.

The Program Manager will provide executive-level leadership across people, processes, technology, quality, performance, and delivery. Success in this role requires the ability to operate comfortably at both the strategic and tactical levels, balancing day-to-day operational execution with long-term modernization and technology initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and accountability for MDC operations, technology, program delivery, performance, and customer satisfaction, ensuring alignment with contractual and mission objectives.
• Lead and develop cross-functional teams spanning operations, technology, program management, quality, reporting, and support functions, including workforce planning, staffing strategy, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Own program execution across scope, schedule, budget, staffing, performance, risks, dependencies, and delivery; identify and implement corrective actions and mitigation strategies as needed.

Serve as a senior point of contact for VA stakeholders, leveraging knowledge of VA mission priorities, IT governance, acquisition environments, and federal program requirements to build trusted relationships across government, contractor, technical, and operational organizations.

Lead VA IT and modernization initiatives supporting MDC, including systems integration, process automation, data and reporting capabilities, cybersecurity coordination, and technology-enabled operational improvements.

Translate business and operational requirements into technology roadmaps, project plans, priorities, and measurable outcomes, partnering with technical leadership to ensure systems, applications, infrastructure, data, and integrations support current and future program needs.

Establish and monitor KPIs, service-level objectives, quality measures, productivity targets, and program health indicators; use performance data to identify risks, bottlenecks, and opportunities for continuous improvement.

Direct program governance, executive reporting, stakeholder communications, organizational change, and vendor/subcontractor performance while ensuring compliance with federal requirements, contractual obligations, security and privacy requirements, and organizational policies.

Eligibility requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required for this position under applicable federal contract requirements. Candidate must also be able to obtain and maintain any federal background investigation, suitability determination, or security clearance required for the role.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Public Administration, or a related field.
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience managing complex programs, operations, technology organizations, or a combination thereof.
• Direct experience supporting the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on IT projects, technology programs, digital transformation initiatives, or related federal mission programs.
• Demonstrated success leading large, multidisciplinary organizations across operational and technology functions, including senior managers and technical professionals, with the ability to align technology strategy with business and mission outcomes.
• Strong understanding of federal IT project delivery, program governance, stakeholder management, and the federal contracting environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing program budgets, schedules, staffing, risks, performance metrics, and executive reporting, as well as leading technology implementations, systems integration, modernization, automation, or data initiatives.

Exceptional executive communication, presentation, negotiation, strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior government executives, contracting officers, program leaders, technical teams, and operational stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Experience supporting VBA, VHA, or other VA mission areas, including work with VA enterprise applications, platforms, data environments, interoperability, or digital transformation initiatives.
• Experience with Agile, Scrum, DevSecOps, ITIL, or other structured technology delivery and service management methodologies.
• Experience with federal contract management, performance-based requirements, and government program governance.
• Relevant program or project management certification such as PMP, PgMP, SAFe, or equivalent.
• Experience leading large-scale organizational change, process reengineering, and technology-enabled transformation.