Manager – Transition Management (DGM)

Cognizant; Taguig; Hybrid; PHP 1,800,000 - 2,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking a Transition Manager to lead medium-to-large client transitions from incumbents to Cognizant, ensuring seamless service transfer and minimal disruption. You will manage timelines, risks, and stakeholder communication, aligned with Cognizant's methodologies.

Responsibilities include developing thorough transition plans, conducting due diligence, and coordinating cross-functional teams to deliver steady-state operations.

Qualifications

• Senior Level: 8-11 years of progressive experience in project or program management and service transitions.
• Manager Level: 4-7 years in project coordination or transition support with cross-functional exposure.
• Proven ability to define scope, develop schedules, manage budgets, and control risks within PM frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute transition plans, including due diligence, knowledge transfer, and steady-state handover.
• Set project timelines, monitor deliverables, ensure contractual adherence, and manage risks.
• Act as primary contact for client leadership and internal teams; report on transition status and progress.
• Support RFP/RFI processes and client visits; contribute to pre-contract planning.
• Track milestones and ensure invoicing aligns with deliverables.
• Coach and mentor transition project members and foster accountability.

Skills

Project management

Program management

Stakeholder management

Change management

ITIL

Agile

Hybrid frameworks

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

MS Project

JIRA

Smartsheet

Job description

A Cognizant Transition Manager leads the onboarding of new clients or outsourcing projects, ensuring seamless service transfer from incumbents to Cognizant by managing timelines, risks, and stakeholder communication. They develop transition plans, conduct due diligence, and work with cross-functional teams to minimize business disruption.

Purpose of the Role

The Transition Manager leads medium-to-large scale client transitions, ensuring seamless service transfer from incumbents to Cognizant. This role is pivotal in managing timelines, risks, and stakeholder communication while adhering to

Cognizant's transition methodology and frameworks. The Transition Manager independently drives medium to high-touch transitions, supports RFP creation, and ensures contractual due diligence, with the objective of minimizing business disruption and achieving operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Transition Planning & Execution

• Develop and execute comprehensive transition plans, including due diligence, knowledge transfer (KT), and steady-state handover.
• Set project timelines, monitor deliverables, and ensure adherence to contractual requirements.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for client leadership and internal teams to report on transition status.
• Establish and execute communication plans (internal and external) to ensure transparency and alignment.
• Support RFP/RFI processes and client visits, contributing to transition planning during pre-contract phases.
• Proactively identify, highlight, and manage risks to ensure projects are completed on time and within scope.
• Conduct risk audits for KT sessions and implement mitigation strategies.

Process Improvement

• Analyze transition outcomes to identify inefficiencies and implement best practices for future projects.
• Monitor KT effectiveness, propose corrective actions, and address technical constraints with innovative staffing solutions.

Resource Coordination: Collaborate with cross-functional teams (IT, Facilities, HR, Operations, etc.) to align resources and infrastructure.

Delivery & Change Management

• Support delivery teams in implementing change management plans.
• Handhold teams to ensure smooth transition into steady-state operations.
• Collaborate with RFP teams to design transition plans for new or existing accounts.
• Track commercial transition milestones and ensure timely invoicing aligned with deliverables.

People Management

• Guide and coach Transition Project Members, fostering accountability and ownership.
• Support team development by coaching and assigning tasks effectively.

Qualifications and Skills:

Experience

• Senior Level: 8-11 years of progressive experience in project management, program management, or service transitions, with demonstrated success in leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Manager Level: 4-7 years of experience in project coordination or transition support, with exposure to cross-functional project delivery and client engagement.
• Proven ability to define scope, develop schedules, manage budgets, and control risks in alignment with globally accepted PM frameworks i.e. PMI's PMBOK® Guide principles, Prince2, etc.
• Strong grasp of project governance, stakeholder management, and change management practices.
• Experience in applying structured methodologies such as ITIL, Agile, or hybrid frameworks to transition projects.

Tools & Technology

• Proficiency in MS Office suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) for reporting, analysis, and executive communication.
• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, JIRA, Smartsheet, or equivalent) for planning and tracking deliverables.
• Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills to lead client-facing sessions, facilitate workshops, and manage stakeholder expectations.
• Ability to coach, mentor, and support project team members, fostering accountability and collaboration.
• Skilled in conflict resolution, negotiation, and influencing without authority.

Strategic & Business Acumen

• Strong understanding of business drivers, contractual obligations, and service-level agreements (SLAs).
• Ability to align transition outcomes with organizational strategy, client objectives, and operational excellence.
• Analytical mindset to evaluate transition performance, identify inefficiencies, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Education & Certification
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Business, IT, or related field.
• ITIL Foundation certification beneficial for transition methodology alignment.

Working Conditions

• Mode: Hybrid, requiring a mix of office and remote work.
• Shift: Flexible, may involve night shifts depending on client work hours and holidays.
• Collaboration: Frequent interaction with cross-functional teams (IT, HR, Operations) to align resources and infrastructure