Global Program Lead

Kimley-Horn; Cary, Northern (NC, KY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Exceptional Retirement Plan

Comprehensive Health Coverage

Time Off & Flexible Scheduling

Financial Wellness & Bonuses

Professional Development

Job summary

Kimley-Horn is seeking a Global Program Lead for its Cary, NC office. This role coordinates the international program across multiple workstreams, partners with Finance, Tax, HR, Legal, and other experts, and leads country-entry research and advisor relationships to ensure compliant, scalable operations.

Responsibilities include researching market opportunities, building financial models, and negotiating with external firms while maintaining executive-ready documentation and governance.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience leading concurrent cross-functional projects from initiation through completion.

Responsibilities

• Manage the international program scope, schedule, owners and status across all workstreams; escalate and resolve blockers.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Executive communication

Strategic thinking

Project governance

Feasibility assessments

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or MS

PMP certification

Job description

Overview

Kimley-Horn is looking for a Global Program Lead to join our Cary, North Carolina (NC)office! This is not a remote position.

The Global Program Lead manages the international program by coordinating scope, schedule, owners, status, and execution across key workstreams. The role directly leads country-entry research, business partnership support, and external advisor relationships, while working with the appropriate internal and external experts to ensure registrations, tax exposure, invoicing, global filings, banking, mobility, and personnel-related responsibilities are completed. This position serves as the central point of coordination for international growth, helping leaders evaluate opportunities, resolve blockers, and implement practical, compliant, and scalable operating approaches.

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage the international program, including scope, schedule, owners and status across all workstreams; escalated and resolve blockers.
• Conduct initial country research and feasibility assessments; recommend whether to enter or defer a market opportunity.
• Develop financial models, business cases, cost estimates, risk assessments, and decision materials that help leaders evaluate expansion opportunities and alternatives.
• Consolidate outside firms, negotiate scope and fees, and manage performance against agreed service levels.
• Prepare presentations covering the current status, recommendations, and implementation plans.
• Partner with Finance, Benefits, Payroll, Tax, Legal, Human Resources, Technology, Real Estate, Security, Marketing, and leadership to design practical country-entry approaches.

Additional Responsibilities

• Develop global responsibility matrices, policies, controls, governance, reporting, and documentation for new international operations.
• Identify lessons learned and recommend improvements to due diligence, planning, implementation, and post-launch support processes.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience leading concurrent, cross-functional projects from initiation through completion
• Bachelor’s degree required
• Previous experience working on international projects for a professional services company
• Demonstrated experience building RACI matrices across cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated experience conducting research and feasibility assessments
• Strong documentation, organization and follow through skills
• Ability to communicate clearly and credibly with executive stakeholders
• Advanced ability to interpret complex information, develop recommendations, and manage multiple priorities

Preferred

• MBA or MS
• PMP
• Previous experience scoping advisor engagements, negotiating fees, and managing external advisor’s performance

Why Kimley-Horn?

At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it— that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!

Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn

• Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to1- company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
• Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
• Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
• Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.