Overview
Join Cognizant as an inspiring leader within the Program & Project Management community. This key role is responsible and accountable for Program Management activities associated with complex, multi-service (Application Development and Maintenance, Infrastructure, Business Process, and Digital) programs delivered via offshore delivery centers (e.g., GCC). Successful candidates will bring a strong consulting and transformation mindset — capable of defining strategic outcomes, advising clients with confidence, and driving business value through disciplined, AI-enabled program execution. They will manage delivery objectives while maintaining responsibility for customer satisfaction and the client relationships required for successful program delivery.
Key Responsibilities
Program Governance & Delivery
- Establishes, executes, and oversees program governance (i.e., stakeholder management, communication ceremonies, benefits management, change management, scope management)
- Establishes, executes, and oversees delivery estimation and planning (team resource and timeline) across Cognizant organization (pursuit through sprints/PIs)
- Ensures tracking/measurement and progress against established measures and metrics (e.g., bid vs did, SLA, and any other operational or contractual measures)
- Drives optimal business value through scope management, change management, and communication ceremonies
- Owns MSA and SOW activation, monitoring compliance and adherence to contractual terms and intent
Strategy, Transformation & Consulting
- Brings a strategy and consulting mindset to every engagement — shaping program direction, framing business problems, and aligning delivery to measurable client outcomes
- Leads client-facing programs by defining outcomes, governance, and business value while supporting solutioning and proposals
- Partners with clients to identify transformation opportunities, translate strategic intent into executable program roadmaps, and sustain advisory-level relationships with IT, VMO, and business stakeholders
- Drives end-to-end program delivery using AI-enabled tools and modern PMO practices to improve execution, reporting, and decision-making
- Contributes to practice growth through best practice development, knowledge sharing, and mentoring teams on AI-enabled program management
Client & Business Development
- Supports pursuits (and/or runs them as programs) as required
- Collaborates with Commercial/Account Team to grow the business by identifying and defining business value opportunities for the client
- Establishes and builds relationships with client and other stakeholders for program and portfolio
Leadership & Community
- Leads team by supporting and driving career growth, personal/team development, well-being, diversity, and inclusion
- Leads and personally contributes to the continuous improvement of the program management community (i.e., best practices, networking, standards, training, tools)
- Mentors program and project managers on AI-enabled program management approaches, modern PMO tooling, and consulting mindset
- Supports 1 or more PPM CoE OKR initiatives
Required Qualifications
- 12-15 years in strategy, operations, process consulting, stakeholder management, project/program delivery within legacy modernization or digital transformations
- Demonstrated consulting and transformation mindset with experience advising client stakeholders on program strategy, business case development, and outcomes-based delivery
- Project/Program training and certifications (PMI/SAFe 5.0/Prince II); PL3 (Specialist) proficiency across Project and Program Management, Consultative and Commercial, Industry/Archetype Specialization, Leadership, and AI Fluency
- Experience in the set-up and/or operation of offshore delivery centers
- Experience delivering complex programs involving teams across multiple geographies
- Experience supporting deal solutioning, proposals, and identifying relevant program risks
- Demonstrated ability to present solutions from a Program Management and consulting standpoint
- Experience managing client stakeholders across IT, VMO, and business
- Adept with multicultural, multi-geo working teams and stakeholders
- Experience in contract management
- Program delivery experience involving 3 or more service lines
- Hands-on experience with AI-enabled PMO tools, reporting automation, and data-driven decision-making in program delivery
- Experience in delivering Transformational commitments, productivity goals, and offshoring commitments
Required Education
MBA or Master's degree strongly preferred; Bachelor's degree required
Work Authorization
Must be legally authorized to work in India without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.
