Program Manager (II)

Skill; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 128,000 - 141,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Subsidized health, vision, and dental

Paid sick leave

Retirement plan with match

Free online training via Aquent Gym

Gymnasium learning resources

Job summary

Aquent Talent in Austin, TX seeks a seasoned Program Leader to drive end-to-end initiatives across diverse teams. You will own scope, resources, timelines, and risk plans while building strong stakeholder relationships to ensure delivery excellence.

Lead change initiatives, define governance structures, and implement metrics to optimize programs. This role emphasizes independence, strategic thinking, and continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in communications management and stakeholder coordination.
• Strong team leadership and change-management capabilities.
• Judicious decision-making with solid technical judgment.
• Proven ability to roadmap and govern complex programs.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and outcomes-driven delivery.

Responsibilities

• Independently define program scope, objectives, resources, and timelines.
• Build trusted stakeholder relationships and manage escalations.
• Design communications strategies for transparency across groups.
• Lead change management from analysis to rollout and resolution.
• Establish program governance, tracking, and dependency management.
• Facilitate governance meetings and postmortems for risk mitigation.
• Set KPIs and drive continuous improvement with clear pivots.

Skills

Communications Management

Team Management

Change Management

Technical Judgment

Stakeholder Management

Planning & Strategic Foresight

Portfolio Management

User Empathy

Execution & Governance

Continuous Improvement

Job description

Overview

Placement Type: Temporary

Salary: $92.66-101.44 Hourly

Start Date: Oct 12, 2026

Aquent, a leading talent solutions partner, is excited to connect you with an exceptional opportunity to make a significant impact with one of the world's most innovative and influential technology companies. This organization is at the forefront of shaping how people interact with technology globally, driving progress through cutting-edge products and services that touch millions of lives every day. Join a team dedicated to pushing boundaries and delivering transformative solutions.

About the Role: Drive Impact and Innovation as a Program Leader

Are you a seasoned program management professional ready to take on complex challenges and independently steer initiatives from conception to optimization? We are seeking a dynamic and visionary leader to manage the full lifecycle of critical programs, extending your influence across diverse teams. In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in driving business outcomes, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement, and implementing strategic optimizations, including robust change management and performance metrics. You'll navigate uncharted territories, address cross-functional complexities with independent judgment, and build strong stakeholder relationships to ensure successful program delivery and lasting impact.

What You'll Do:

• Independently define program scope, objectives, resources, and timelines, crafting comprehensive project plans that anticipate risks and dependencies for advanced initiatives.
• Cultivate strong, trusted relationships with program stakeholders, fostering collaborative decision-making, optimizing team structures, and expertly managing escalations.
• Design and execute tailored communication strategies, ensuring transparent and consistent updates across all stakeholder groups and representing the program team effectively.
• Lead change management initiatives from impact analysis and planning to successful rollout and resolution of misalignments, ensuring smooth transitions.
• Establish robust program governance, including independent data collection, meticulous tracking, status reporting, and proactive dependency management, all while upholding principles of product quality, inclusivity, and brand integrity.
• Facilitate productive program team meetings and define governance structures for effective mitigation, postmortems, and escalations.
• Determine program phases and key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive continuous improvement and optimize resource allocation, ensuring transparent communication on program adjustments and rationale for pivots.

Must-Have Qualifications:

• Proven expertise in Communications Management.
• Strong capabilities in Team Management.
• Demonstrated experience in Managing Organizational Change.
• A track record of sound Technical Judgment.
• Exceptional abilities in Stakeholder Management.
• Proficiency in Planning and strategic foresight.
• Experience with Portfolio Management.
• Deep User understanding and empathy.
• Expertise in Execution and Governance frameworks.
• A commitment to Continuous Improvement methodologies.

About Aquent Talent:

• Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands.
• Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match.
• We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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