Lead IT Program Manager

Charles Schwab; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation and sabbatical after 5‑y

Paid parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Job summary

Charles Schwab's Technology Services team seeks a Lead IT Program Manager to guide large-scale, cross-functional initiatives from concept through delivery. You will collaborate with product, engineering, and business partners to ensure programs align with strategic objectives.

In this role, you will manage scope, budgets, and resources, mentor teams, and drive delivery in a matrixed environment using Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid approaches.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of project management experience leading large, complex technology initiatives.
• Proven experience delivering multi-million dollar, enterprise-wide programs with measurable outcomes.
• Experience across governance, planning, and execution in PM practices.
• Hands-on experience with Agile and/or traditional delivery methodologies.
• Strong ability to manage scope, timelines, budgets, and quality while balancing priorities.
• Experience with financial forecasting, budgeting, and resource planning.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders and lead in a matrixed organization without direct authority.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale, complex programs from planning through execution, ensuring alignment to business outcomes.
• Align diverse stakeholders and drive decisions across a matrixed organization.
• Proactively identify risks, resolve challenges, and adapt plans to maintain delivery momentum.
• Manage budgets, forecasts, and resource plans to optimize delivery performance.
• Mentor teams and cultivate collaborative relationships to navigate change and deliver high‑quality outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Program management

Budgeting

Forecasting

Influence without authority

Communication

Decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

Tools

Agile

Waterfall

Hybrid delivery

Job description

Your opportunity

At Schwab, you’re empowered to make an impact on your career. Here, innovative thought meets creative problem solving, helping us challenge the status quo and transform the finance industry together. We believe in the importance of in-office collaboration and fully intend for the selected candidate for this role to work on site in the specified location(s).

Within Schwab Technology Services (STS), the Portfolio & Project Management (PPM) organization partners closely with business and technology leaders to prioritize, shape, and deliver strategic initiatives that drive meaningful outcomes. Asa Lead IT Program Manager, you will lead large-scale, complex programs that enable innovation, strengthen operational efficiency, and deliver measurable value across the enterprise.

In this highly visible role, you will bring structure and clarity to ambiguity while guiding cross-functional teams through the full project lifecycle—from early concept and planning through execution and delivery. You will align diverse stakeholders, manage competing priorities, and ensure initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned to business objectives. Success in this role requires strong problem solving, decisive leadership, and the ability to influence without authority in a matrixed environment.

You will collaborate with partners across product, engineering, and business teams, applying Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid delivery approaches to advance priorities. You will proactively identify risks, resolve challenges, and adapt plans to keepwork progressing. By leveraging data, financial insights, and performance metrics, you will guide decision‑making, optimize resources, and ensure transparency in delivery.
This role also plays a key part in cultivating a high‑performing teamenvironment—mentoring others, encouraging accountability, and fostering collaborative relationships that enable teams to navigate change and consistently deliver high‑quality outcomes.

How You’ll Make an Impact:

• Using your ability to lead through ambiguity and think strategically, you will guide large‑scale, complex programs from planning through execution—ensuring alignment to business outcomes
• Applying your communication and influencing skills, you will align diverse stakeholders and drive decisions across a matrixed organization without direct authority
• Leveraging your problem‑solving and critical thinking, you will proactively identify risks, resolve challenges, and adapt plans to maintain delivery momentum
• Using financial and analytical skills, you will manage budgets, forecasts, and resource plans to optimize delivery performance
• Demonstrating accountability and execution excellence, you will ensure initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and to high‑quality standards

What you have

To ensure that we fulfill our promise of “challenging the status quo,” this role has specific qualifications that successful candidates should have:

Required Qualifications:

• 10+ years of project management experience leading large, complex, cross‑functional technology initiatives
• Proven experience delivering multi‑million dollar, enterprise‑wide strategic programs with measurable business outcomes
• Demonstrated experience across project, program, and portfolio management practices, including governance, planning, and execution
• Hands‑on experience applying Agile and/or traditional delivery methodologies
• Strong ability to manage scope, timelines, budgets, and quality while balancing competing priorities
• Experience with financial forecasting, budgeting, and resource planning
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders and lead teams in a matrixed organization without direct authority
• Strong problem‑solving, critical thinking, and decision‑making capabilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage audiences at all levels
• Bachelor’s degreeor equivalent workexperience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in financial services or similarly regulated environments
• Experience working within Agile or Scaled Agile frameworks
• Experience mentoring or coaching project managers or delivery teams
• Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI‑ACP, or equivalent certification

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis without employer sponsorship.

In addition to the salary range, this role is eligible for bonus or incentive opportunities.

What’s in it for you

At Schwab, you’re empowered to shape your future. We champion your growth through meaningful work, continuous learning, and a culture of trust and collaboration—so you can build the skills to make a lasting impact. Our Hybrid Work and Flexibility approach balances our ongoing commitment to workplace flexibility, serving our clients, and our strong belief in the value of being together in person on a regular basis.

We offer a competitive benefits package that takes care of the whole you – both today and in the future:

• 401(k) with company match and Employee stock purchase plan
• Paid time for vacation, volunteering, and 28‑day sabbatical after every 5 years of service for eligible positions
• Paid parental leave and family building benefits
• Tuition reimbursement
• Health, dental, and vision insurance