USAA

Program Manager Lead

USAA$127K — $243K *
Plano, TX 75025In-Person
Enterprise Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or 4 years of relevant education and/or experience
  • 8 years of project and/or program management experience
  • Experience using Waterfall or Agile methodologies
  • Advanced understanding of risk management practices
  • Proficient in USAA's change management methodology or similar
  • Extensive experience managing large program budgets
  • Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills

Responsibilities

  • Leads strategic alignment of programs with business goals
  • Develops multi-year business plans for execution
  • Collaborates with cross-functional teams for project development
  • Prepares status reports including risks and issues
  • Facilitates teamwork and interdependency among project members
  • Develops performance metrics to track program status
  • Identifies opportunities for new integrated program solutions

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
  • 401(k) and pension plans
  • Life insurance and parental benefits
  • Adoption assistance and paid time off
  • 16 paid volunteer hours
  • Wellness programs
  • Career path planning and continuing education opportunities
Full Job Description
The Opportunity

As a dedicated Program Manager Lead, you will work with Shared Services and Corporate Functions to drive complex, enterprise-level technology initiatives with significant business impact. This role operates in a matrix model and partners across engineering, architecture, product, risk/compliance, and third-party vendors to deliver outcomes with high visibility.

The ideal candidate is a disciplined execution leader who communicates directly, escalates proactively, creates no-surprises transparency, and demonstrates strong ownership from planning through benefits realization.

Leads the management, execution, and delivery of large-scale programs consisting of multiple projects (multi-year, large cost, and scope, etc.) and/or the oversight and governance of programs to ensure alignment to the Line of Business's strategic imperatives and to monitor program health.

Works to achieve multi-year program deadlines, scope, and overall program benefits. Supports cross-functional teams in the development and execution of change plans in accordance with USAA's change methodology or industry best practices.

We offer a flexible work environment that requires an individual to be in the office 4 days per week. This position can be based in one of the following locations: San Antonio, TX, or Plano, TX. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

What you'll do:
  • Leads the implementation of strategic tasks that align programs with an organization's business strategy and goals.
  • Responsible for developing multi-year business plans to deliver business capabilities and define execution approach to achieve business goal while reducing risk and delivering early business value wherever possible.
  • Works with program sponsors and cross-functional teams, to evaluate, plan and develop scope, milestone road maps, required resources, work plan, budget, anticipated dependencies, and timing for new programs.
  • Prepares reports that provide stakeholders and management with status updates to include identifying risks or issues.
  • Ensures all team members understand how to work together, understand interdependencies, and coordinates their efforts to complete program goals.
  • Assists in the development of performance metrics, dashboards and management tools that clearly articulate the status of key activities ensuring timely and successful execution.
  • Directs analyses, root cause identification and development and recommendation of key work products.
  • Identifies potential new program opportunities to deliver integrated solutions that meet multiple business partner needs.
  • Defines and maintains multiple program strategies based on business demand and ROI expectations.
  • Negotiates agreements, settles disputes equitably and diffuses high tension situations.
  • Negotiates program tradeoffs with IT and the business to ensure alignment of demand to capacity.
  • Mentors Program Managers in identifying benefits and defining alternatives across departmental programs and across USAA programs.
  • Adheres to EPMO processes, procedures, controls, standards, tools, and templates (as required).
  • Adheres to governance rigor required for work efforts.
  • Drives the adoption and sustainment of changes within the organization in compliance with USAA's Change Management methodology.
  • Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.


What you have:
  • Bachelor's degree; OR 4 years of relevant education and/or experience.
  • 8 years of project and / or program management experience, including experience defining a new program and / or managing large-scale projects.
  • Demonstrated experience using Waterfall or Agile methodologies to execute on program strategies and deliver complex work efforts.
  • Advanced understanding and demonstrated application of risk management policies and procedures.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of program management methodology and techniques; program performance evaluation and change management principles / methodologies.
  • Proficient experience in USAA's change management methodology or similar industry change management methodology.
  • Extensive experience developing, maintaining, and reporting on large cost work effort(s) / program budgets.
  • Stakeholder management and influencing skills.
  • Expert level of experience in Principles of Project, Program or Portfolio Management.
  • Demonstrated expert experience using knowledge of the business, its products, and processes to assess program risks and rewards across multiple technologies and business goals.


What sets you apart:
  • Proven success leading enterprise programs with cross-functional scope and executive-level visibility.
  • Experience delivering infrastructure modernization and technical debt retirement initiatives.
  • Strong vendor management and contract execution experience in third-party dependent programs.
  • Demonstrated capability managing complex dependencies, risks, and issue escalation across multiple workstreams.
  • Strong financial and governance discipline, including budget tracking, milestone control, and decision-ready reporting.
  • Ability to operate in ambiguity and drive alignment, clarity, and forward decisions.
  • Experience in regulated environments with SDLC/PMO governance rigor.
  • Ability to lead change adoption and sustainment across broad stakeholder groups.
  • Strong KPI orientation, including measurable progress reporting for delivery, quality, and risk.
  • PMP certification preferred.


Compensation range: The salary range for this position is: $127,310.00 - $243,340.00

Compensation: USAA has an effective process for assessing market data and establishing ranges to ensure we remain competitive. You are paid within the salary range based on your experience and market data of the position. The actual salary for this role may vary by location.

Employees may be eligible for pay incentives based on overall corporate and individual performance and at the discretion of the USAA Board of Directors.

The above description reflects the details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job and should not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be performed in the job.

Benefits: At USAA our employees enjoy best-in-class benefits to support their physical, financial, and emotional wellness. These benefits include comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans, 401(k), pension, life insurance, parental benefits, adoption assistance, paid time off program with paid holidays plus 16 paid volunteer hours, and various wellness programs. Additionally, our career path planning and continuing education assists employees with their professional goals.

For more details on our outstanding benefits, visit our benefits page on USAAjobs.com.

Applications for this position are accepted on an ongoing basis, this posting will remain open until the position is filled. Thus, interested candidates are encouraged to apply the same day they view this posting.

About USAA

United Automobile Insurance Company (UAIC) was incorporated on March 2, 1989 in Miami Gardens, FL to provide a high quality and low cost insurance product to the non-standard automobile insurance market. The company is family owned and it is one of the largest privately held property and casualty insurance companies in the United States.UAIC has a world class information technology department. Their web technology is rated year after year as the easiest to use and most dependable by our agents.

USAA Careers

Joining USAA means becoming part of a family that welcomes diversity and is built on a culture of service and innovation. Our team of professionals is dedicated to providing exceptional service to our members, and we are always looking for passionate individuals to join our dynamic team. Whether you're starting your career or looking to grow professionally, USAA offers a range of job opportunities across various fields. Work You'll Do At USAA, we offer more than just jobs; we offer careers that make a difference. With a variety of positions available, from customer service to IT, you can find the perfect fit for your skills and interests. Our commitment to professional growth means we support your journey through leadership development programs, professional networking opportunities, and diverse career paths. USAA's commitment to innovation and leadership in the financial services industry makes it the ideal place to advance your career. We empower our employees to lead projects and initiatives that transform our services and operations. Internship Programs Kickstart your career with a USAA internship. Our internships provide invaluable workplace experience and a chance to see what a career at USAA really looks like. Interns at USAA gain hands-on experience, working alongside seasoned professionals on real projects that affect our members' lives. Benefits and Culture USAA recognizes that job satisfaction extends beyond the office. That's why we offer competitive benefits packages that support the health, well-being, and financial security of our employees and their families. Benefits include comprehensive health care, retirement plans, and generous paid time off. Moreover, our inclusive culture is one of our greatest strengths. We are committed to diversity training and creating an environment where all employees can thrive. USAA's culture is built on a foundation of respect, integrity, and responsibility. Join Our Team Ready to take the next step in your career? Explore the employment opportunities at USAA today. We are hiring creative, curious, and motivated individuals who are ready to make a difference. Check out our open positions, tailor your resume, and prepare for an interview where you can showcase your unique skills. Stay Connected Keep up to date with the latest career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights—all from the people who work at USAA. Subscribe to our careers blog and personalize your subscription to receive job alerts and the latest news tailored to your preferences. Discover the rewarding career opportunities awaiting you at USAA. Join a company that values leadership, innovation, and commitment to service. Start your journey with USAA today, where your future is waiting to be written.
Learn more about USAA
Size
35,700 employees
Industry
Founded
1989

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