Technical Program Manager, Senior Specialist

Vanguard; Dallas (TX); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard is seeking a Senior Zero Trust Program Manager to lead end‑to‑end execution of the Zero Trust program across identity, PKI modernization, PQC readiness, and assessments. You will orchestrate security engineering, architecture, risk, and vendors to achieve approved OKRs and regulatory expectations with executive visibility.

The role requires 10+ years in cybersecurity program management, strong Zero Trust knowledge, and experience guiding cross‑functional teams and external partners.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in program or portfolio management within cybersecurity, IAM, or enterprise technology.
• Demonstrated experience running large, cross‑functional security programs with multiple technical workstreams.
• Strong understanding of Zero Trust principles.
• Proven ability to communicate complex initiatives in clear, executive‑level language.
• Experience working with external vendors and consulting partners.

Responsibilities

• Own the overall Zero Trust program plan, roadmap, and delivery cadence across all workstreams: Identity & Privileged Access, PKI modernization & certificate lifecycle automation, PQC readiness, and zero trust assessments.
• Translate strategy into clear execution plans, milestones, and measurable outcomes aligned to enterprise OKRs.
• Define, track, and report workstream‑level OKRs and KPIs in partnership with engineering and architecture leads.
• Produce monthly, quarterly, and ad‑hoc executive updates for senior leadership, emphasizing risk reduction, business enablement, delivery confidence, and dependencies.
• Serve as the single coordination point across IAM Engineering, PKI, Cloud Security, Architecture, GRC, and Audit teams.
• Coordinate delivery with vendors and partners, ensuring clear ownership models and handoffs between investment work and BAU operations.
• Oversee PKI modernization initiatives and track PQC readiness activities in line with regulatory guidance.
• Manage readiness assessments, policy‑as‑code definitions, and ensure outcomes translate into prioritized execution plans.

Job description

The Senior Zero Trust Program Manager is responsible for end‑to‑end execution of Vanguard’s Zero Trust program, spanning Privileged Access, PKI & Certificate Modernization, Post‑Quantum Cryptography (PQC) readiness, and Zero Trust Assessments & policy‑as‑code enablement. This role acts as the central orchestrator across security engineering teams, architecture, risk/audit partners, and external vendors—ensuring outcomes are delivered against approved OKRs, investment commitments, and regulatory expectations, while providing clear, executive‑ready visibility into progress, risks, and decisions.

Core Responsibilities

• Manage technology-related programs or major technical workstream of a broader program. Ensures that the scope of the projects within the broader transformation or program align with business priorities and that business value is properly measured for prioritization.
• Develops and maintains broad knowledge and awareness of Financial Services industry forces, competition, and trends to assess viability of approaches and strategies to technology-related programs. Monitors financial, legal, and other regulatory environments to ensure strategies are aligned with the overall company strategy and market conditions.
• Communicates with stakeholders, leaders, team members, management, and department partners to ensure that requirements and priorities are understood. Monitors project progress and results and submits regular status reports to management and internal and external stakeholders. Ensures the development and execution of change management and communication plans.
• Builds and maintains relationships across program stakeholders and proactively fosters effective communication between internal and external parties. Drives key decisions to ensure alignment with overarching goals across stakeholders.
• Ensure all steps are taken to mitigate risk and maintains control, compliance, audit, and legal requirements on technology projects. Maintains an appropriate level of technical and business knowledge to support program implementation.
• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Zero Trust Program Leadership & Execution

• Own the overall Zero Trust program plan, roadmap, and delivery cadence across all workstreams: Identity & Privileged Access (JIT / Standing Access Reduction) PKI modernization & certificate lifecycle automation PQC readiness and cryptographic agility Zero Trust assessments, maturity modeling, and future‑state design
• Translate strategy into clear execution plans, milestones, and measurable outcomes aligned to enterprise OKRs.

OKRs, Metrics & Executive Reporting

• Define, track, and report workstream‑level OKRs and KPIs in partnership with engineering and architecture leads (e.g., % privileged access delivered via JIT, certificate automation coverage, PQC readiness milestones).
• Produce monthly, quarterly, and ad‑hoc executive updates for senior leadership (CISO, SLT, GR&S), emphasizing: Risk reduction Business enablement Delivery confidence Emerging dependencies or decisions required

Cross‑Functional & Vendor Coordination

• Serve as the single coordination point across IAM Engineering, PKI, Cloud Security, Architecture, GRC, and Audit teams.
• Manage delivery alignment with strategic partners and vendors supporting the Zero Trust program (e.g., assessment partners, PKI/PQC vendors, JIT platforms).
• Ensure clear ownership models, RACI clarity, and handoffs between investment work and BAU operations.

PKI, Certificates & PQC Readiness Oversight

• Execution oversight of PKI modernization initiatives
• Track and drive PQC readiness activities, including cryptographic inventory, roadmap execution, and alignment with regulatory and industry guidance.

Zero Trust Assessment & Policy Enablement

• Manage Zero Trust readiness assessments and maturity modeling activities.
• Coordinate definition of target‑state personas, use cases, and policy‑as‑code approaches in collaboration with architecture and engineering teams.
• Ensure assessment outcomes translate into prioritized execution plans, not shelfware.

Financial & Investment Governance

• Partner with finance and PMO teams to: Track Zero Trust investment spend Support annual and multi‑year funding requests Align hiring plans (e.g., ZT Program Manager role, supporting engineers) with approved budgets
• Identify risks related to hiring delays, vendor dependencies, or funding constraints and proactively surface options.

Risk, Audit & Compliance Alignment

• Ensure Zero Trust initiatives are audit‑aware and defensible, particularly in areas such as: Privileged access controls (JIT) Certificate governance Cloud access consistency across platforms
• Act as a liaison between delivery teams and GRC when Zero Trust topics are reviewed.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in program or portfolio management within cybersecurity, IAM, or enterprise technology.
• Demonstrated experience running large, cross‑functional security programs with multiple technical workstreams.
• Strong understanding of Zero Trust principles
• Proven ability to communicate complex initiatives in clear, executive‑level language.
• Experience working with external vendors and consulting partners.
• Undergraduate degree in related field (Computer Science, Engineering) required. Graduate degree preferred.

Special Factors

Sponsorship

Vanguard is offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission—we're on a mission.

To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.