Infrastructure Program Lead: Strategy, Governance & Delivery

Cognizant; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

401(k) plan

Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off

Long-term/Short-term Disability

Paid Parental Leave

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking an experienced Infrastructure Program Manager in Charlotte, NC, to lead and govern complex infrastructure, business, and application technology programs in a hybrid environment.

The role demands 20+ years of experience, strong governance, risk, and stakeholder management, and a track record of delivering measurable business outcomes across large-scale programs in enterprise settings. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing large-scale infrastructure, business, or technology transformation programs.
• Experience coordinating multiple projects and managing cross-functional stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level reporting.

Responsibilities

• Define program scope, objectives, deliverables, timelines, and success criteria in alignment with business goals.
• Partner with business stakeholders, infrastructure teams, and technology partners to ensure successful program execution.
• Establish and manage program governance, communication plans, reporting structures, and stakeholder engagement.
• Coordinate and manage multiple projects and dependencies within the program portfolio.
• Drive program priorities and strategic objectives while ensuring alignment with business outcomes.
• Ensure consistency in processes, methodologies, tools, and governance practices across all projects within the program.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive program plans, schedules, and milestones.
• Identify resource requirements and coordinate appropriate skills and expertise required for program delivery.
• Track program progress, monitor KPIs, and ensure timely delivery of milestones and commitments.
• Manage program communications and provide regular status updates to leadership and stakeholders.
• Support project teams and project managers in achieving program objectives.
• Identify, assess, and proactively manage program risks, issues, dependencies, decisions, and action items.
• Implement mitigation strategies and escalation processes to ensure successful program outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with organizational, security, regulatory, and governance requirements across all program components.
• Monitor program controls and quality standards throughout the program lifecycle.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with business leaders, project managers, infrastructure partners, and key stakeholders.
• Clearly communicate program expectations, priorities, risks, and business impacts.
• Facilitate governance meetings, status reviews, and executive communications.
• Ensure business value realization is defined, communicated, measured, and tracked throughout the program lifecycle.
• Project management deliverables as required
• Governance reviews and reporting
• Portfolio and dependency management activities

Skills

Program Management

Infrastructure Program Delivery

Project & Portfolio Management

Project Planning & Scheduling

Stakeholder Management

Scope Management

Risk & Issue Management

Governance & Reporting

Change Management

Resource Management

Executive Communication

Compliance & Security Governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Engineering, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field

Job description

Cognizant is seeking an experienced Infrastructure Program Manager in Charlotte, NC, to lead and govern complex infrastructure, business, and application technology programs in a hybrid environment.

The role demands 20+ years of experience, strong governance, risk, and stakeholder management, and a track record of delivering measurable business outcomes across large-scale programs in enterprise settings. Visa sponsorship is not available.