Program Manager (U.S. Coast Guard)

Appian; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company match

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Tuition reimbursement

Wellness programs

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Appian is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead the USCG modernization program from our McLean, VA HQ. You will unify Appian efforts into a centralized program, establish governance, and shape the platform strategy for mission-focused workflow modernization across Coast Guard priorities.

The role requires federal-facing leadership, delivery oversight across multiple workstreams, and the ability to scale Appian solutions with a repeatable model while engaging stakeholders at all levels.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of IT program management, digital transformation, or enterprise platform delivery.
• 3+ years leading IT initiatives or USCG/DoW workflow programs in a complex federal enterprise.
• Direct experience supporting the U.S. Coast Guard, DHS, or other federal orgs preferred.
• Strong understanding of workflow modernization, case management, integration delivery, and Agile program execution.
• Experience managing portfolios with software delivery and advisory services.
• Familiarity with acquisition, HR, mission support processes and case management.
• Experience in regulated federal environments with security and governance expectations.
• Ability to lead matrixed teams and influence senior stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree; Scrum/SAFe/Appian certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the transition from separate Appian projects to a centralized USCG Appian modernization program.
• Establish and mature an Appian Center of Excellence across Coast Guard initiatives.
• Drive roadmaps for Appian solutions aligning to Coast Guard priorities.
• Partner with stakeholders to translate needs into scalable workflow and decision-support solutions.
• Oversee cross-functional delivery teams and integration resources.
• Build a reusable delivery model with design standards and governance.
• Guide program-level risk management related to legacy dependencies and security approvals.
• Support executive communications, governance reviews, and value reporting.
• Oversee advisory workstreams in process improvement and modernization planning.

Skills

Program management

Digital transformation

Enterprise platform

Agile / SAFe

Stakeholder alignment

Leadership

Budget governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Scrum/SAFe/Appian certifications

Tools

Appian platform

Job description

Here at Appian, our values of Intensity and Excellence define who we are. We set high standards and live up to them, ensuring that everything we do is done with care and quality. We approach every challenge with ambition and commitment, holding ourselves and each other accountable to achieve the best results. When you join Appian, you’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to accomplishing hard things, together.

The U.S. Coast Guard is advancing modernization initiatives that strengthen mission support, improve operational efficiency, and help the service manage complex enterprise workflows across acquisition, workforce, and mission support functions. This role is designed for a senior leader who can unify Appian-related efforts into a centralized program model and help position Appian as a standard platform for workflow modernization across current and future USCG priorities.

Coast Guard Mission Support exists to enable missions through lifecycle support of people, platforms, and systems, while Coast Guard acquisition organizations oversee major recapitalization and software-related programs that depend on disciplined governance and scalable delivery models.

This role is based at our HQ in McLean, VA. Appian was built on a culture of in-person collaboration, which we believe is a key driver of our mission to be the best. Employees hired for this position are expected to be in the office 4 - 5 days per week to foster that culture, ensure we thrive through shared ideas and teamwork, and maximize opportunities to connect with the exceptional people across Appian.

While working in-person with customers is our main priority, we also believe the office environment enables more opportunities to celebrate wins, collaborate effectively, and build strong relationships across teams.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead the USCG Appian Modernization Program across strategic mission support and operational initiatives. This individual will serve as the central leader responsible for platform strategy, delivery governance, stakeholder alignment, and the evolution of Appian from a set of project implementations into a unified enterprise program.

This role combines program leadership, platform governance, delivery oversight, and client engagement.

The right candidate will bring experience leading federal digital transformation efforts, a practical understanding of Coast Guard mission support environments, and the ability to build a repeatable model for scaling secure, mission-focused Appian solutions across the organization.

What you’ll do

• Lead the transition from separate Appian projects to a centralized USCG Appian modernization program with shared governance, standards, and delivery priorities.
• Establish and mature an Appian Center of Excellence that supports intake, prioritization, architecture review, reusable assets, and platform adoption across multiple Coast Guard initiatives.
• Drive the roadmap for Appian solutions supporting acquisition management, human resources, mission-focused case management, and future modernization opportunities aligned to Coast Guard priorities.
• Partner with Coast Guard stakeholders across mission support, acquisition, business operations, and technical leadership to translate operational needs into scalable workflow, case management, and decision-support solutions.
• Oversee cross-functional delivery teams including Appian developers, architects, business analysts, QA specialists, scrum leads, and integration resources.
• Build a reusable delivery model that includes design standards, component libraries, integration patterns, release controls, and performance reporting.
• Guide program-level risk management related to legacy dependencies, governance requirements, security approvals, platform sprawl, and enterprise change adoption.
• Support executive communications, governance reviews, roadmap planning, and value reporting tied to mission outcomes.
• Oversee advisory support workstreams that complement the platform portfolio, including process improvement, modernization planning, requirements shaping, governance support, and stakeholder alignment.

What you’ll own

• Enterprise Appian program strategy and operating model.
• Platform governance, standardization, and reuse.
• Delivery oversight across multiple Appian workstreams and advisory engagements.
• Stakeholder alignment across business, technical, and compliance teams.
• Growth of Appian as a modernization platform for future USCG use cases.

Basic Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in IT program management, digital transformation, or enterprise platform delivery.
• 3+ years leading IT initiatives or USCG or DoW workflow application programs in a complex federal enterprise.
• Direct experience supporting the U.S. Coast Guard, DHS, or other federal operational or mission support organizations is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of workflow modernization, case management, integration delivery, and Agile program execution.
• Experience managing portfolios that include both software delivery and advisory support services.
• Familiarity with operational domains such as acquisition management, human capital or workforce systems, mission support processes, and case management is highly desirable.
• Experience working in regulated federal environments with security, compliance, and governance expectations tied to enterprise systems.
• Ability to lead matrixed teams, influence senior stakeholders, and connect delivery decisions to mission outcomes.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field; Scrum, SAFe, or Appian certifications are preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience centralizing delivery across multiple projects into a true program structure.
• Success building or operating a low-code Center of Excellence.
• Comfort working at both executive and delivery-team levels.
• Knowledge of integrating Appian with enterprise systems, APIs, and mission support platforms.
• Experience shaping future opportunities while managing active delivery.
• Familiarity with federal acquisition environments, governance processes, and modernization efforts tied to enterprise operations.

Join us to help shape a modern, scalable workflow platform that supports better outcomes for the maritime public and the USCG teams who serve them every day. This is an opportunity to lead both active delivery and long-term platform strategy in one of the most meaningful modernization environments in government.

The base salary range provided represents a good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. In addition to the base salary, this position is eligible for a government clearance differential. Actual compensation will be dependent on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant work experience, qualifications, internal peer equity, and market and business conditions that exist when extending an offer. A discretionary bonus may be awarded in recognition of individual and company performance.

In addition, Appian provides generous benefits offerings that include a 401(k) plan with company match, flexible time off, paid parental leave, medical, dental, and vision plans, life insurance, disability insurance, wellness programs, flexible spending accounts, health savings account contributions, an employee referral bonus program, and learning and development resources. Certain positions may be eligible for equity awards. Pay and benefits are subject to change at any time, consistent with the terms of any applicable compensation, commission, bonus, or benefit plans.

Base Salary Range $150,000-$300,000 USD

Tools and Resources

Training and Development: During onboarding, we focus on equipping new hires with the skills and knowledge for success through department-specific training. Continuous learning is a central focus at Appian, with dedicated mentorship and the First-Friend program being widely utilized resources for new hires.

Growth Opportunities

Appian provides a diverse array of growth and development opportunities, including our leadership program tailored for new and aspiring managers, a comprehensive library of specialized department training through Appian University, skills based training, and tuition reimbursement for those aiming to advance their education. This commitment ensures that employees have access to a holistic range of development opportunities.

Community

We’ll immerse you into our community rooted in respect starting on day one. Appian fosters inclusivity through our 8 employee-led affinity groups. These groups help employees build stronger internal and external networks by planning social, educational, and outreach activities to connect with Appianites and larger initiatives throughout the company.

Benefits

Appian offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, wellbeing, and financial future. Benefits may include health coverage, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with free mental health support, life and disability insurance, an Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), a retirement/pension plan, wellness dollars, tuition reimbursement, family-forming benefits and more. Benefits vary by country - please ask your Talent Acquisition contact for details specific to the location you are applying to.

About Appian

Appian provides AI automation for mission-critical work. We automate complex processes in large enterprises and governments. Our platform is known for its unique reliability and scale. We’ve been automating processes for more than 25 years and understand enterprise operations like no one else. For more information, visit appian.com. [Nasdaq: APPN] Follow Appian: LinkedIn, Youtube, Instagram, Facebook

Appian is an equal opportunity employer that strives to attract and retain the best talent. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Appian provides reasonable accommodations to applicants in accordance with all applicable laws. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [e-mail]. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

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