IT Program Manager – Manufacturing Systems & Enterprise Applications

Cognitive Minds; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognitive Minds in San Francisco seeks an IT Program Manager to lead strategic technology programs across Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain, translating business priorities into executable plans and delivering them through validation, deployment, and adoption.

You will partner with cross-functional leaders, govern complex multi-site initiatives, establish KPIs, manage risks, and ensure regulatory and quality compliance throughout the SDLC.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience managing complex technology programs and projects.
• Experience leading large-scale manufacturing and quality technology programs.
• PMP, Agile, Scrum, or similar certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex technology programs across Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, ERP, and enterprise apps from planning to stabilization.
• Partner with cross-functional leaders to set goals, scope, priorities, and success measures.
• Develop and evolve the IT roadmap based on production growth and compliance needs.
• Drive standardization and modernization of manufacturing processes across plants and regions.
• Govern program delivery, risk management, status reporting, and stakeholder communications.
• Oversee testing/validation planning, release readiness, and post-launch support.

Skills

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Program management

Risk management

Agile, Waterfall, hybrid

Analytical thinking

Prioritization

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/CS/Engineering/Business

Tools

Jira

Microsoft Project

Smartsheet

Job description

The IT Program Manager will lead strategic technology programs supporting Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and related enterprise operations. The role will oversee initiatives spanning plant systems, enterprise platforms, ERP integrations, and downstream business applications.

This position requires a combination of program leadership and hands-on delivery ownership. The Program Manager will work closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Operations, and IT teams to translate business priorities into executable technology programs and drive them through implementation, validation, deployment, and adoption.

The successful candidate will be comfortable managing complex, multi-site initiatives in fast-moving operational environments, balancing competing priorities while maintaining strong governance, risk management, stakeholder alignment, and executive visibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead complex technology programs across Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, ERP, and supporting enterprise applications from initial planning through implementation and operational stabilization.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Operations, and IT leaders to establish program goals, business outcomes, scope, priorities, delivery plans, and success measures.
• Develop and evolve the Manufacturing IT roadmap based on production growth, operational efficiency, quality requirements, compliance needs, and enterprise technology strategy.
• Drive standardization and modernization of manufacturing processes and technology capabilities across plants, business units, and geographic regions.
• Manage a portfolio of manufacturing technology initiatives, including prioritization, resource and capacity planning, cross-program dependencies, sequencing, and delivery risks.
• Oversee implementations and enhancements for manufacturing platforms such as MES, QMS, production planning, traceability, shop-floor applications, and related operational systems.
• Coordinate integrations between manufacturing platforms and ERP, warehouse management, supply chain, data platforms, and downstream Go-To-Market systems.
• Establish effective program governance covering decision-making, status reporting, stakeholder communication, escalation management, executive updates, and operational readiness.
• Define and track meaningful KPIs related to production performance, throughput, quality, compliance, system adoption, and operational efficiency.
• Proactively identify program, technical, compliance, and operational risks and develop mitigation plans to protect production continuity and business operations.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to establish schedules, resource requirements, dependencies, milestones, and delivery commitments.
• Ensure programs are delivered within agreed timelines and budgets while meeting business, operational, quality, and technical expectations.
• Own testing and validation planning across system integration testing, end-to-end testing, user acceptance testing, manufacturing validation, and regulated-system requirements.
• Coordinate release readiness, cutover planning, deployment activities, production stabilization, and post-launch hypercare.
• Lead organizational change activities associated with new manufacturing technologies and processes, including communications, training, stakeholder readiness, and user adoption.
• Build strong partnerships between technology teams and plant operations to minimize production disruption while delivering new capabilities.
• Maintain appropriate program documentation, including plans, requirements, decisions, risks, dependencies, validation evidence, compliance documentation, and implementation records.
• Conduct post-deployment reviews to evaluate business outcomes, operational performance, lessons learned, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Ensure programs follow organizational PMO practices, SDLC standards, quality frameworks, security requirements, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Support additional strategic initiatives as business priorities evolve.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive experience managing complex technology programs and projects, ideally within manufacturing, medical device, life sciences, or similarly operational environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale Manufacturing and Quality technology programs involving platforms such as MES, QMS, production planning, shop-floor automation, or related systems.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing and supply chain processes, including Plan-to-Produce, Quality Management, Inventory Management, production operations, and supply chain execution.
• Experience integrating manufacturing platforms with ERP and other enterprise applications.
• Experience delivering manufacturing technology implementations, plant deployments, and multi-site or global rollouts.
• Strong understanding of testing and deployment disciplines, including integration testing, UAT, validation, cutover planning, production readiness, and hypercare.
• Experience operating in regulated environments and supporting quality and compliance requirements such as QMS, FDA, ISO, GxP, or similar frameworks where applicable.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing technology architectures, plant connectivity, shop-floor systems, IoT integrations, and related operational technologies.
• Strong understanding of the software development lifecycle and experience managing Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid delivery models.
• Experience with enterprise cloud technologies, data platforms, analytics, and manufacturing reporting or insights.
• Proficiency with program and project management platforms such as Jira, Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or comparable tools.
• Strong portfolio management, dependency management, risk management, and resource planning capabilities.
• Excellent executive communication, stakeholder management, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical thinking, structured problem-solving, prioritization, and decision-making capabilities.
• Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and other collaboration tools.
• PMP, Agile, Scrum, or similar program/project management certification is preferred.
• Role may involve work across both office and manufacturing plant environments.
• Ability to operate in regulated facilities and comply with applicable safety and quality procedures.
• Up to approximately 10% travel may be required, including travel to manufacturing or plant locations.
• Role requires regular use of computers and enterprise technology systems for extended periods.