A Business or Management Consultant provides strategic management consulting to companies and businesses. Advises on ways to improve operations, increase efficiency, reduce costs and increase revenues; may recommend systems or organizational change. Works with business management analysts; frames problems for business clients, and develops plans to address inefficiencies.
Program Manager, AI Transformation & Operational Risk We are not accepting C2C or 1099 arrangements.
Location:
Iselin, NJ (Preferred) or Charlotte, NC (401 S Tryon Street)
Duration:
12-Month Contract-to-Hire (Potential for Extension/Conversion)
Work Arrangement:
Hybrid (3 days onsite weekly) About the Role We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to support a high-profile transformation initiative within Communications Surveillance and Operational Risk. This role will partner closely with the Head of Data & AI Program to drive execution of strategic initiatives focused on modernizing surveillance capabilities and operational processes. This is not a research or ideation role. The organization has moved beyond strategy and proof of concept and is focused on delivering enterprise-scale solutions. Success in this position requires exceptional program management discipline, strong organizational skills, proactive risk management, and the ability to drive accountability across complex, cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate is an execution-focused leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, creates structure amid ambiguity, and ensures commitments are delivered on time. What You'll DoProgram Delivery & Execution Lead day-to-day execution across multiple strategic workstreams. Develop and maintain project plans, milestone schedules, delivery roadmaps, and implementation timelines. Track progress against key deliverables and ensure commitments are completed on schedule. Manage dependencies across business, risk, compliance, operations, technology, and data teams. Identify delivery risks, potential roadblocks, and escalation points before they impact program objectives. Drive accountability across stakeholders and maintain focus on measurable outcomes. Governance & Operational Management Establish and manage governance routines, including working sessions, leadership reviews, and project status meetings. Facilitate meetings and ensure decisions, action items, and ownership are clearly documented. Maintain action logs, decision registers, and governance documentation. Ensure follow-up activities are tracked through completion. Create transparency into project health, execution status, and delivery progress. Risk & Dependency Management Maintain comprehensive RAID logs (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, and Dependencies). Proactively assess operational and execution risks associated with program delivery. Coordinate mitigation plans and drive resolution of issues impacting timelines or outcomes. Partner with Risk and Control teams to support operational readiness and change management activities. Challenge assumptions and identify potential gaps in execution before they become issues. Stakeholder Management Serve as a central point of coordination across Business, Compliance, Technology, Operations, Risk, and Data Science teams. Build strong working relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Facilitate alignment across teams with competing priorities. Ensure leadership has clear visibility into decisions, dependencies, and program status. Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences. Reporting & Communications Prepare executive status reports, dashboards, and leadership presentations. Consolidate updates from multiple teams into concise, actionable communications. Deliver clear reporting on milestones, risks, dependencies, and overall program health. Support executive reviews, governance committees, and senior leadership meetings. Documentation & Program Controls Maintain project artifacts, meeting documentation, decision logs, and governance records. Ensure documentation is audit-ready, accurate, and current. Support process documentation, implementation plans, operating procedures, and control-related requirements. Establish effective tracking mechanisms to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. What We're Looking ForMinimum Qualifications 5+ years of Program Management, Project Management, PMO, Business Execution, Strategic Planning, or related experience. Proven success managing complex cross-functional initiatives from planning through execution. Experience coordinating multiple workstreams and managing competing priorities. Strong organizational and execution management skills. Demonstrated ability to drive accountability and deliver results through influence. Excellent written, verbal, and stakeholder communication skills. Strong attention to detail and follow-through. Preferred Qualifications Experience within Financial Services, Banking, Compliance, Risk Management, Surveillance, Operations, or Regulatory environments. Experience supporting enterprise transformation, operational change, or strategic modernization programs. Strong expertise in milestone tracking, dependency management, RAID management, governance, and executive reporting. Experience supporting initiatives involving AI, analytics, data, technology, or digital transformation. Ability to independently manage deliverables in fast-moving environments with limited direction. Advanced skills in Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint. Experience with Jira, Azure DevOps, Smartsheet, Confluence, Power BI, Tableau, or similar tools. What Success Looks Like In this role, success is measured by execution.
You will:
Deliver accurate and actionable project plans and milestone tracking. Drive completion of action items and commitments. Maintain visibility into dependencies, risks, and delivery timelines. Create structure and accountability across complex initiatives. Ensure leadership has a clear understanding of progress, risks, and decisions. Anticipate issues before they become problems. Enable senior leaders to focus on strategic decisions by maintaining strong operational control of program execution. Ideal Candidate Profile This role is best suited for someone who excels as a: Program Manager Delivery Lead PMO Lead Execution Manager Strategic Initiatives Manager The successful candidate will be known for asking: Who owns this? When is it due? What is blocking progress? What happens if this slips? Who needs to be informed? What risk does this create? Most importantly, this person is recognized for driving outcomes, creating accountability, and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
