AI-Driven Infrastructure Leader — NA Delivery & Growth

Cognizant; Wayzata (MN); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

Paid holidays plus PTO

401(k) plan and contributions

Long-term/Short-term Disability

Paid Parental Leave

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Cognizant seeks a Senior Program Director to own end-to-end Infrastructure Management Services delivery across North America, driving service excellence, client satisfaction, and AI‑led transformation.

You will lead large, globally distributed delivery teams, manage executive relationships, govern commitments, and grow the business with solid P&L ownership and disciplined execution.

This onsite/hybrid role requires time in Minneapolis, MN, and offers a competitive package with incentives.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in IT services with at least 8 years of senior delivery leadership, including 10+ years in IMS, infrastructure operations, and SLA-based managed services delivery.
• Proven experience managing large-scale enterprise infrastructure engagements and geographically distributed delivery organizations, including service desk and infrastructure tower operations.
• Strong client-facing leadership experience with executive and CXO-level stakeholder management, plus demonstrated ownership of large-account P&L, revenue, operating margins, and forecasting.
• Proven track record of driving transformation, automation, and operational excellence, with a strong understanding of AI-led delivery models and infrastructure modernization strategies.
• Excellent communication, executive presentation, negotiation, and relationship management skills, with deep knowledge of IT outsourcing, managed services governance, and service delivery best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to lead with strategic vision, client-centric thinking, innovation, disciplined execution, collaboration and a commitment to developing people in line with the Cognizant Way to Lead.
• Proven track record of building trust, demonstrating ownership, exercising sound judgment and fostering an inclusive culture that supports growth and associate success.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end IMS delivery operations across the North America footprint, ensuring SLA achievement, contractual compliance, operational stability, and service excellence.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for client IT leadership and business stakeholders, managing executive relationships, governance forums, escalations, and customer satisfaction initiatives.
• Direct revenue, operating margin, forecasting, and financial performance for a multi-million-dollar managed services engagement, while driving achievement of business growth objectives including a 20% YoY growth target.
• Lead AI-led transformation initiatives, automation programs, and modernization efforts aligned with client business outcomes, and translate client business challenges into technology solutions from pursuit through steady-state delivery.
• Manage large-scale global delivery teams across onsite, nearshore, offshore, and matrixed organizations, and build, mentor, and retain high-performing delivery leadership teams.

Skills

Senior delivery leadership

P&L management

Executive stakeholder mgmt

AI-led transformation

IT outsourcing

Job description

Cognizant seeks a Senior Program Director to own end-to-end Infrastructure Management Services delivery across North America, driving service excellence, client satisfaction, and AI‑led transformation.

You will lead large, globally distributed delivery teams, manage executive relationships, govern commitments, and grow the business with solid P&L ownership and disciplined execution.

This onsite/hybrid role requires time in Minneapolis, MN, and offers a competitive package with incentives.