Program Manager Lead - Underwriting & Product Development Portfolio

usaa; United States; Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

USAA in the United States seeks a Lead Program Manager to drive the efficiency of our new product development intake process. You will establish structured leadership routines, translate complex ideas into actionable plans, and accelerate product innovation across underwriting and product teams.

This role requires autonomy, collaboration with stakeholders, and strong risk management. You will mentor other program managers, develop roadmaps, and ensure governance and change management alignment

Qualifications

• 8+ years of project and/or program management experience.
• Experience using Waterfall or Agile methodologies.
• Advanced understanding and application of risk management policies and procedures.
• Comprehensive knowledge of program management methodology and change management principles.

Responsibilities

• Leads the implementation of strategic tasks that align programs with an organization's business strategy and goals.
• Develops multi-year business plans to deliver business capabilities and define execution approach while reducing risk and delivering early business value.
• Works with program sponsors and cross-functional teams to evaluate, plan and develop scope, milestone road maps, required resources, work plan, budget, dependencies, and timing for new programs.
• Prepares reports that provide stakeholders and management with status updates, including risks or issues.
• Ensures all team members understand how to work together, interdependencies, and coordinates efforts to complete program goals.
• Assists in the development of performance metrics, dashboards and management tools that clearly articulate status of key activities.
• Directs analyses, root cause identification and development and recommendation of key work products.
• Identifies potential new program opportunities to deliver integrated solutions that meet multiple business partner needs.
• Defines and maintains multiple program strategies based on business demand and ROI expectations.
• Negotiates agreements, settles disputes equitably and diffuses high tension situations.

Skills

Waterfall

Agile methodologies

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree

4 years of relevant education/experience

Job description

Why USAA?

At USAA, our mission is to empower our members to achieve financial security through highly competitive products, exceptional service and trusted advice. We seek to be the #1 choice for the military community and their families.

Embrace a fulfilling career at USAA, where our core values - honesty, integrity, loyalty and service - define how we treat each other and our members. Be part of what truly makes us special and impactful.

We are proud to support active-duty military spouses. USAA roles may offer remote or hybrid flexibility for active-duty military spouses consistent with applicable policy and business needs.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a dynamic and highly organized Lead Program Manager to drive the efficiency and effectiveness of our new product development request intake process. This pivotal role will be instrumental in establishing and refining structured leadership routines, ensuring timely and informed decision-making for our Underwriting and Product Development teams. The ideal candidate will be a strategic partner, adept at translating complex ideas into actionable plans, optimizing workflows, and fostering seamless collaboration across diverse functional groups to accelerate product innovation and delivery. This position requires a high degree of autonomy and the ability to operate effectively with minimal prescriptive direction.

We offer a flexible work environment that requires an individual to be in the office 4 days per week. This position can be based in one of the following locations: San Antonio, TX, Plano, TX, Phoenix, AZ, Colorado Springs, CO, or Tampa, FL.

Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

What you'll do:

• Leads the implementation of strategic tasks that align programs with an organization's business strategy and goals.
• Responsible for developing multi-year business plans to deliver business capabilities and define execution approach to achieve business goal while reducing risk and delivering early business value wherever possible.
• Works with program sponsors and cross-functional teams, to evaluate, plan and develop scope, milestone road maps, required resources, work plan, budget, anticipated dependencies, and timing for new programs.
• Prepares reports that provide stakeholders and management with status updates to include identifying risks or issues.
• Ensures all team members understand how to work together, understand interdependencies, and coordinates their efforts to complete program goals.
• Assists in the development of performance metrics, dashboards and management tools that clearly articulate the status of key activities ensuring timely and successful execution.
• Directs analyses, root cause identification and development and recommendation of key work products.
• Identifies potential new program opportunities to deliver integrated solutions that meet multiple business partner needs.
• Defines and maintains multiple program strategies based on business demand and ROI expectations.
• Negotiates agreements, settles disputes equitably and diffuses high tension situations.
• Negotiates program tradeoffs with IT and the business to ensure alignment of demand to capacity.
• Mentors Program Managers in identifying benefits and defining alternatives across departmental programs and across USAA programs.
• Adheres to EPMO processes, procedures, controls, standards, tools, and templates (as required).
• Adheres to governance rigor required for work efforts.
• Drives the adoption and sustainment of changes within the organization in compliance with USAA's Change Management methodology.
• Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.

Education:

Bachelor's degree; OR 4 years of relevant education and/or experience.

Experiences that will support your success:

• 8 years of project and / or program management experience, including experience defining a new program and / or managing large-scale projects.
• Demonstrated experience using Waterfall or Agile methodologies to execute on program strategies and deliver complex work efforts.
• Advanced understanding and demonstrated application of risk management policies and procedures.
• Comprehensive knowledge of program management methodology and techniques; program performance evaluation and change management principles / methodologies.
• Proficient experience in USAA's change management methodology or similar industry change management methodology.
• Extensive experience developing, maintaining, and reporting on large cost work effort(s) / program budgets.
• Stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Expert level of experience in Principles of Project, Program or Portfolio Management.
• Demonstrated expert experience using knowledge of the business, its products, and processes to assess program risks and rewards across multiple technologies and business goals.

What sets you apart:

P&C Experience: (