Senior IT Program Manager

As a Senior IT Program Manager at Ardent, your primary responsibilities include organizing, directing, and managing contract operations across multiple, interrelated projects. You will lead teams of contract support personnel, maintain senior-level client interfaces, ensure conformance to program schedules and budgets, and manage technical and financial reports. Your role will require you to actively engage with clients and team members to formulate plans and deliverables, ensuring project success and client satisfaction.

To qualify for the Senior IT Program Manager position at Ardent, candidates must possess a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in a related field, with a Master’s Degree being preferable. Additionally, having a PMP Certification is required. You should have at least 8 years of experience managing IT teams within an Agile framework, particularly in the context of federal government contracts, along with exceptional verbal and written communication skills.

At Ardent, we understand the importance of work-life balance, especially for our Senior IT Program Managers. This position is hybrid, allowing you the flexibility to work from home while also collaborating with your team and clients in the Washington, D.C. Metro area. We encourage our employees to pursue personal goals and professional development, all within a culture that respects and supports individual needs and preferences.

Ardent is committed to the career growth of our Senior IT Program Managers. We provide numerous professional development opportunities, including mentorship programs, training sessions, and participation in industry-related events. We foster a strong culture of innovation and collaboration, ensuring that you have the resources to enhance your skills, broaden your experience, and advance your career within the company.

The work environment for a Senior IT Program Manager at Ardent is dynamic and collaborative. You will be surrounded by a team that shares a collective service mindset and respects the contributions of each member. Our culture promotes flexibility, innovation, and a willingness to tackle challenging problems together. You will thrive in an atmosphere that values your expertise and encourages you to make impactful decisions on multifaceted projects.

In your response, provide specific examples of the Agile methodologies you've used, such as Scrum or Kanban. Discuss how you facilitated team meetings, managed task boards, and encouraged collaboration among team members to deliver projects successfully. Highlight any metrics or improvements you've achieved through your management style.

Emphasize your ability to build relationships through clear communication and active listening. Discuss techniques you employ to ensure alignment with client expectations, including regular check-ins or status reports. Be sure to mention your experience managing expectations during project challenges and how you position yourself as a solutions-oriented partner.

Explain your approach to conflict resolution by highlighting your commitment to open communication and understanding different perspectives. You could provide an example of a specific situation where you mediated a conflict, demonstrating your ability to facilitate discussions that helped the team move forward positively.

Provide the names of project management tools (like JIRA, Trello, or Microsoft Project) that you have effectively used and explain how they support your project management practices. Discuss features that help with tracking progress, resource allocation, or communication within your teams.

Select a project where you encountered notable challenges and describe them in detail. Discuss how you analyzed the situation, the decisions you made to overcome those challenges, and the ultimate outcome. Be sure to express what you learned from the experience and how it improved your project management skills.

Discuss your strategies for planning and monitoring project schedules and budgets, including techniques such as regular updates, milestone tracking, and risk assessment. Highlight your experience in identifying potential issues before they arise and how your proactive approach contributed to staying within constraints.

Talk about your familiarity with federal regulations and compliance requirements surrounding IT projects. Include examples of specific contracts you've managed, the size of the projects, and how you ensured adherence to both operational and financial obligations while meeting client needs.

Your answer should reflect a commitment to continuous learning. Explain how you pursue certifications, attend workshops, or join professional networks. Additionally, discuss how you foster a culture of growth within your teams by encouraging training opportunities, knowledge sharing, and mentoring.

Provide a specific example of where you identified a process inefficiency in your teams, what strategies you used to implement changes, and the positive outcomes that resulted from those changes. Highlight any metrics you can share that showcase the improvement.

Outline your leadership style, emphasizing qualities such as inclusivity, empathy, and adaptability. Discuss how you appreciate and leverage the strengths of a diverse team and how you approach motivating and engaging team members with different backgrounds and skill sets.