Overarching Program Lead

TISTA Science and Technology Corporation; Rockville (MD); Hybrid; USD 186,000 - 202,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Remote work options

Paid time off

Training/Certification opportunities

HSA & FSA

Paid life insurance

Short-term & long-term disability

401K match

Tuition reimbursement

Employee assistance program

Paid holidays

Military leave

Job summary

TISTA Science and Technology Corporation in Rockville, MD, seeks an Overarching Program Lead to guide the VA SCM DevSecOps program, partnering with VA stakeholders and agile delivery teams to translate business needs into actionable requirements across supply chain and logistics.

You will own the Product Line Roadmap, drive PI Planning, lead SPL leads, manage backlogs, and advance modernization while ensuring security compliance and performance metrics across the portfolio.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of IT delivery experience, including 5 years leading federal IT programs across multiple products.
• 5+ years of SAFe leadership experience (e.g., Release Train Engineer) managing large-scale Agile planning and cross-team dependencies.
• Proven experience with VA IT product line management processes, VIP Guide, security authorizations, and the PLM Playbook.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams of 20+ and balancing legacy with modernization.
• Strong skills using Jira, GitHub, and ServiceNow; track software delivery and Agile performance metrics.
• Solid understanding of roadmap and backlog management, risk tracking, cloud platforms, and DevSecOps.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage functional leads and sub-teams as one integrated organization for VA delivery.
• Ensure on-time delivery of product line deliverables; run Scrum of Scrums and architecture reviews.
• Maintain the strategic roadmap and program backlog; lead quarterly PI Planning.
• Manage security compliance (ATO and Section 508) across all products.
• Monitor risks and plan deployment schedules to avoid overwhelming users.
• Drive business growth by building VA stakeholder relationships and supporting proposals.
• Track delivery metrics and customer feedback for future bids.
• Develop team career paths and coach Agile leads on best practices.
• Improve delivery processes and support audits and thought leadership.

Skills

IT delivery

SAFe leadership

VA programs

Leadership 20+

Jira

GitHub

ServiceNow

Roadmap backlog

Cloud platforms

DevSecOps

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity / Information Systems / Computer Science

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Jira

GitHub

ServiceNow

Job description

Overview

TISTA is seeking an Overarching Program Lead to support the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Supply Chain Management DevSecOps program. This role will partner with VA stakeholders and Agile delivery teams to translate business needs into clear, actionable requirements supporting supply chain and logistics solutions.

The Overarching Program Lead is the senior delivery leader for Product Line Management Support on TISTA's prime contract performance for the Department of Veterans Affairs Supply Chain Management DevSecOps (SCMDSO) task order supporting VA's supply chain and logistics Product Line. Where the Deputy IT Program Manager runs the contract operating rhythm, the Overarching Program Lead runs product line delivery. This position leads the Sub-Product Line (SPL) Leads and the product line functional leads, owns the Product Line Strategic Roadmap and Program Backlog, drives quarterly PI Planning, and is accountable for advancing the systems engineering maturity of the entire product portfolio across sustainment, modernization, and new product onboarding.

At TISTA, you’ll do meaningful, mission‑driven work that improves lives alongside teammates you trust and leaders who are transparent and supportive. We invest in your learning and internal mobility so you can build a career that keeps advancing. We’re proud to serve and hire Veterans, and we put people first in everything we do.

TISTA associates enjoy above Industry Healthcare Benefits, Remote Working Options, Paid Time Off, Training/Certification opportunities, Healthcare Savings Account & Flexible Savings Account, Paid Life Insurance, Short-term & Long-term Disability, 401K Match, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program, Paid Holidays, Military Leave, and much more!

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage the functional leads and sub-teams as one integrated organization, serving as the main contact for VA leadership and handling cross-product delivery issues.
• Ensure on-time delivery of all product line deliverables, run key meetings like Scrum of Scrums and architecture reviews, and coordinate technical work with outside partners.
• Maintain the main strategic roadmap and program backlog, and lead the quarterly Agile planning events (PI Planning) to organize capacity and resolve dependencies.
• Manage security compliance (ATO and Section 508) across all products and help the VA define, consolidate, and sequence requirements for new applications.
• Monitor program risks, plan smooth deployment schedules to avoid overwhelming users, and advise on digital modernization, software updates, and AI technologies.
• Drive business growth by finding new opportunities, building strong relationships with VA stakeholders, and helping the business development team with proposals and technical solutions.
• Track and document software delivery metrics and customer feedback to build a strong performance record for future contract bids and corporate reviews.
• Manage team career development, work with recruiting to maintain a backup network of technical talent, and coach team leads on Agile best practices.
• Improve corporate delivery processes, act as a company expert for Agile and AI tools, and support broader company goals like quality audits and industry thought leadership.

Qualifications

• Candidates need at least 12 years of overall IT delivery experience, including 5 years leading federal IT programs across multiple products.
• At least 5 years of experience in SAFe leadership roles (such as a Release Train Engineer) is required to manage large-scale Agile planning and cross-team dependencies.
• Proven experience with VA IT product line management processes, including the VIP Guide, security authorizations, and the PLM Playbook, is required.
• Candidates must have experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams of 20 or more people and balancing the maintenance of legacy systems with new modernization projects.
• Strong skills are needed in using project management tools like Jira, GitHub, and ServiceNow, as well as tracking software delivery and Agile performance metrics.
• Candidates must have a solid technical understanding of roadmap and backlog management, risk tracking, cloud platforms, and DevSecOps processes.

Certifications

• Required certifications include a high-level SAFe certification (like Release Train Engineer or Program Consultant) alongside a SAFe Agilist or Product Owner/Product Manager certification.
• Additional professional certifications such as PMP, SAFe Lean Portfolio Management, ITIL 4 Foundation, or Security+ are highly preferred.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Clearance

• Tier 2 / Moderate Risk Background Investigation; ability to obtain a VA PIV credential.

Location

• Rockville, MD / Remote (CONUS).
• Up to 10% CONUS travel.

Pay Range

• The suggested pay for this position ranges from $186,000 to $202,000.
• The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
• Also, certain positions are eligible for additional forms of compensation, such as bonuses.
• TISTA associates are eligible to participate in our comprehensive benefits plan! More information can be found here: https://tistatech.com/working-at-tista/