Program Manager – Performance and Budget

City of Atlanta, GA; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Atlanta, GA is seeking a Program Manager of Performance and Budget to drive financial planning, resource allocation, and performance measurement across cross-functional programs. You will translate complex data into strategic recommendations for executive leadership and oversee major city-wide initiatives.

The role emphasizes budgeting cycles, dashboards, and governance, with responsibility for ensuring on-time, within-budget delivery and data-driven transparency across departments.

Qualifications

• Experience in financial forecasting and enterprise performance management.
• Proven track record leading cross-functional programs from initiation to closure.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analytics with data synthesis.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint for modeling and presentations.
• Knowledge of smart city technologies and open data platforms.
• Experience with Agile, Lean, and Design Thinking methodologies.
• Ability to translate complex data into actionable executive recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, execution, and closing of high-priority programs within Performance and Budget.
• Define program scope, governance, resources, and success metrics with stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain program documentation: project plans, risk registers, logs, reports.
• Ensure programs are delivered on time and within budget; meet quality standards.
• Link program expenditures to strategic outcomes and KPIs; prepare executive reviews.
• Mentor project managers and contribute to team process improvements.
• Coordinate with city departments to streamline processes and improve service delivery.

Skills

Financial forecasting

Performance management

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical skills

Excel

PowerPoint

Project management

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related field

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Salary range: $60,000-$73,000

Position open until filled

General Description and Classification Standards:

The Program Manager of Performance and Budget is a pivotal role that will drive the successful execution and oversight of key cross-functional projects and programs focused on financial planning, resource allocation and measuring organizational performance. This team member will be instrumental in ensuring our financial and operational strategies are aligned and executed with excellence, maximizing our organizational impact. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of performance metrics, program management best practices, and budgeting cycles, with a proven ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations for executive leadership.

Supervision Received:

Reports to the Executive Director and/or Deputy Director. The direction received is general and focuses on end results and is typically collaborative in nature.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

These are typical responsibilities for this position and should not be construed as exclusive or all inclusive.

• Performs process analysis and re-engineering to recommend strategies to improve efficiency, lower costs, and improve the quality of service delivery.
• Facilitate the design and implementation of new/improved process models and organizational structures.
• Manages and leads process teams to achieve desired results. Assist in the development of new process capabilities.
• Conduct operational assessments, audits, and performance evaluations.
• Perform project management, analyses of analytics and other data-driven reviews, and measure changes to ensure milestones are met and deliverables are achieved.
• Lead the planning, execution, and closing of high-priority programs and projects within the Performance and Budget portfolio, such as short and long-range financial planning initiatives, monitoring the budget of city-wide high-profile projects, and enterprise-wide mapping and performance dashboard development.
• Define program scope, objectives, governance, resource needs, and success metrics in collaboration with stakeholders and executive sponsors.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive program documentation, including detailed project plans, risk registers, decision logs, and status reports.
• Ensure programs are delivered on time, within budget, and meet established quality standards and strategic objectives.

Budget and Performance Integration:

• Design and implement mechanisms to link program expenditures directly to strategic organization outcomes and key performance indicators.
• Serve as a liaison between the financial planning and performance measurement functions, ensuring seamless integration and data consistency across both domains.
• Facilitate executive-level reviews of program budgets, performance forecasts, and variance analyses, providing clear and concise commentary on financial health and program efficacy.

Technology & Digital Transformation:

• Identify and integrate smart city solutions, data-driven tools, and emerging technologies to improve program/project efficiency.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication:

• Manage communication and collaboration with a diverse set of stakeholders, including Finance, Operations, and Technology.
• Prepare compelling, data-driven presentation for the Executive Director to inform leadership of critical resource needs, project updates, and program management decisions.
• Proactively manage and elevate program risks and issues, developing contingency plans to minimize impact on schedule and budget.
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and data-driven decision-making across all managed programs and projects.

Performance Measurement & Impact Analysis:

• Establish metrics to assess the effectiveness of programs/projects and report findings to office leadership.

Cross-Departmental Coordination:

• Work closely with government agencies to streamline processes, reduce redundancies, and improve service delivery.

Team Contribution:

• Mentor and guide project managers and contributors within the broader team on best practices for program execution and data analysis.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the Performance and Budget team’s tools, templates, and methodologies.

Other Duties:

• Perform other duties as assigned.

The above statements reflect the general duties, responsibilities and competencies considered necessary to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job and should not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. COA may change the specific job duties with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

This is a partial listing of necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the job successfully, it is not an exhaustive list.

Technical & Analytical Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in managing financial forecasting and enterprise performance management initiatives.
• Proven track record of leading complex, cross-functional programs from initiation to closure, leveraging structured methodologies.
• Exceptional quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, with an ability to synthesize large data sets, identify trends, and draw strategic conclusions.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (financial modeling, pivot tables, etc.) and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of smart city technologies, digital governance tools, and open data platforms
• Experience with project management tools and methodologies (Agile, Lean, Design Thinking).
• Strong data analysis abilities for performance tracking and decision-making.

Soft Skills:

• Visionary thinking & problem-solving abilities
• The ability to understand the “big picture” and align program activities with long-term organizational strategy.
• Effective stakeholder communication & leadership skills.
• Collaboration & relationship-building across sectors.
• A self-starter who anticipates needs, tackles challenges head-on, and maintains effectiveness under pressure.
• Meticulous attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to integrate seamlessly into a team.
• Ability to navigate bureaucratic structures while driving meaningful change

Work Environment:

• Work is primarily performed in a standard office environment (in person).
• May require occasional evening and weekend work to attend meetings or events.
• May involve local travel to various city departments or event locations.

Lifting Requirements:

Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

It is the policy of the City of Atlanta (“COA”) that qualified individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against because of their disabilities regarding job application procedures, hiring, and other terms and conditions of employment. It is further the policy of the COA to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. The COA is prepared to modify or adjust the job application process or the job or work environment to make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of the applicant or employee to enable the applicant or employee to be considered for the position he or she desires, to perform the essential functions of the position in question, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation will impose an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Human Resources Director for your department.

The City of Atlanta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, ender identity, marital status, veteran’s status or national origin, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.