Program Manager (contract)

Xcel Energy; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 63,369 - 85,411; Full time

Job summary

Xcel Energy in Minneapolis is seeking a highly skilled Project/Program Manager to strengthen enterprise governance across a large-scale transformation portfolio.

You will elevate TPMO capabilities from status tracking to proactive, cross-program insight and decision support, partnering with TPMO leadership and executive stakeholders to drive consistent governance, risk visibility, and data-driven decisions.

Qualifications

• 5–8+ years in program management or PMO leadership.
• Experience with large-scale, cross-functional transformation programs.
• Hands-on governance framework design and implementation across multiple concurrent programs.
• Utility industry experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive execution of TPMO governance processes across milestones, dependencies, and RAID logs.
• Ensure governance standards including milestone tracking, risk escalation, and reporting are consistently applied across all programs.
• Partner with program PMOs to validate inputs and drive adherence to governance expectations.
• Extract and synthesize critical path milestones from program plans to create a portfolio-level view.
• Identify cross-program dependencies, risks, and conflicts and escalate to leadership.
• Analyze program schedules and RAID logs to provide forward-looking insight beyond status reports.
• Support TPMO-level RAID management with focus on cross-program risks and escalations.
• Drive consistency in risk escalation with clear decisions or actions.
• Provide structured inputs into executive forums to inform decisions.
• Develop and track governance metrics including milestone health and escalation quality.
• Translate complex program data into clear, executive-level insights.

Skills

SDLC knowledge

Agile & Waterfall

Program metrics

Executive communication

Stakeholder facilitation

Governance design

Cross-program coordination

Data-driven decisions

Risk management

Dependency management

Tools

MPP

Jira

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled and strategic Project/Program Manager to play a critical role in strengthening enterprise governance and improving cross-program decision support across a large-scale transformation portfolio. This individual will elevate TPMO capabilities from status tracking to proactive, cross-program insight and decision support, partnering closely with TPMO leadership, program PMOs, and executive stakeholders to drive consistency in governance practices, improve visibility into risks and dependencies, and enable data-driven decision-making across multiple complex programs.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive execution of TPMO governance processes across milestones, dependencies, and RAID logs
• Ensure governance standards including milestone tracking, risk escalation, and reporting are consistently applied across all programs
• Partner with program PMOs to validate inputs and drive adherence to governance expectations
• Extract and synthesize critical path milestones from program plans to create a cohesive portfolio-level view across all transformation programs
• Identify cross-program dependencies, risks, and conflicts and escalate them appropriately to leadership
• Analyze program schedules and RAID logs to provide forward-looking insight beyond standard status reporting
• Support and mature TPMO-level RAID management processes with a focus on cross-program risks and escalations
• Drive consistency in risk escalation, ensuring risks are tied to clear decisions or actions
• Provide structured inputs into executive forums to support informed decision‑making
• Develop and track governance metrics including milestone health, dependency risk, and escalation quality
• Translate complex program data into clear, executive-level insights that inform strategic decisions
• Support evolution toward a single source of truth for leadership visibility across the portfolio
• Help design and implement scalable governance frameworks across programs
• Drive continuous improvement in how the TPMO captures, analyzes, and communicates program health
• Reduce reliance on manual or transcription-based activities by introducing structured, repeatable processes
• Act as a key liaison between TPMO, program teams, and executive leadership
• Facilitate discussions with program leaders, providing constructive challenge to improve clarity on risks, dependencies, and timelines
• Support leadership alignment on priorities, trade‑offs, and emerging risks across the transformation portfolio

Skills

• Strong understanding of SDLC and program lifecycle, including milestone planning and dependency management
• Proficiency with Agile and Waterfall delivery methodologies
• Ability to analyze large program plans using tools such as MPP, Jira, or equivalent platforms and derive meaningful insights
• Experience defining, tracking, and reporting on program metrics and KPIs
• Strong executive communication skills with the ability to translate complex data into clear, compelling narratives
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments and drive clarity across stakeholder groups
• Experience designing or improving governance frameworks including RAID management, milestone tracking, and executive reporting
• Proven self‑starter with the ability to take initiative and deliver results with minimal direction
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with a focus on forward‑looking, proactive insight
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills across all levels of an organization

Experience

• 5–8+ years of experience in program management, PMO leadership, or transformation governance roles
• Experience managing or supporting large-scale, cross-functional transformation programs
• Hands‑on experience with governance framework design and implementation across multiple concurrent programs
• Utility industry experience preferred

This is a rare opportunity to shape the governance foundation of a high-impact transformation portfolio at an enterprise scale, working at the intersection of strategy, execution, and leadership decision support. If you thrive in complex, fast-moving environments and are passionate about bringing structure, clarity, and insight to large-scale programs, this role offers the visibility, influence, and challenge to make a meaningful difference.

The closing date for applications for this job posting is 8/2/2026.

Should you require any accommodations in responding to this job posting or at any stage during the application process, kindly e‑mail: [e-mail]

Pay Rate Range

46.15 - 61.54 USD hourly