Senior Service Delivery Manager

Cognizant; Lake Forest (IL); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid holidays/Paid time off

401(k) plan

Disability insurance

Parental leave

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

Cognizant in Lake Forest, IL is seeking a Service Delivery Manager to lead complex service delivery engagements, ensuring on-time, on-scope, within-budget outcomes while collaborating with client stakeholders and cross-functional teams to drive measurable business value.

You will govern programs, manage risks, and report performance, optimize resources, and support continuous improvement, leveraging extensive experience in large-scale programs and financial oversight.

Qualifications

• 17+ years of experience in service delivery, PM, or technology consulting environments.
• Proven success managing large-scale, complex programs with multiple stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Strong expertise in stakeholder management, client engagement, and executive-level communication.
• Demonstrated experience with project governance, risk management, financial oversight, and service performance management.
• Experience working within insurance, life and annuities, or related financial services environments.
• Ability to drive continuous improvement initiatives and deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end service delivery for complex programs, ensuring commitments are met on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Build strong relationships with client stakeholders, aligning delivery outcomes to business objectives and service expectations.
• Drive project governance, risk management, issue resolution, and performance reporting to maintain delivery excellence.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to optimize resource utilization, improve operational efficiency, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage delivery performance through metrics, dashboards, and structured review processes to enhance client satisfaction and business outcomes.

Skills

Service delivery

Stakeholder mgmt

Executive comms

Governance

Risk management

Financial oversight

Operational excellence

Continuous improvement

Analytical skills

Job description

About the role

As a Service Delivery Manager, you will make an impact by leading complex service delivery engagements, ensuring operational excellence, and driving successful outcomes for clients. You will be a valued member of our Delivery Management team and work collaboratively with client stakeholders, project teams, operations partners, and business leaders to deliver high-quality solutions that create measurable business value.

Work model

We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a hybrid position in Lake Forest - IL. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs.

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you’re engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.

Important Disclaimers:

**Please note: A few of our roles may require in-person interviews at Cognizant offices or client locations, depending on project or client needs.**

**Candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future**

In this role, you will:

• Lead end-to-end service delivery for complex programs, ensuring commitments are met on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Build strong relationships with client stakeholders, aligning delivery outcomes to business objectives and service expectations.
• Drive project governance, risk management, issue resolution, and performance reporting to maintain delivery excellence.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to optimize resource utilization, improve operational efficiency, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage delivery performance through metrics, dashboards, and structured review processes to enhance client satisfaction and business outcomes.

What you need to have to be considered

• 17+ years of experience in service delivery, project management, or technology consulting environments.
• Proven success managing large-scale, complex programs involving multiple stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Strong expertise in stakeholder management, client engagement, and executive-level communication.
• Demonstrated experience with project governance, risk management, financial oversight, and service performance management.
• Experience working within insurance, life and annuities, or related financial services environments.
• Ability to drive continuous improvement initiatives and deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

These will help you stand out

• Experience supporting Life & Annuities insurance programs and related business processes.
• Familiarity with hybrid workforce management and distributed delivery models.
• Knowledge of service delivery frameworks, operational excellence practices, and performance measurement methodologies.
• Experience leading global or geographically dispersed delivery teams.
• Strong ability to influence stakeholders and drive strategic alignment across business and technology organizations.

Salary and Other Compensation:

The annual salary for this position is between $75,000 - $141,500 depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.

Benefits:

Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Disclaimer:

The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you’re engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.

Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview.