Program Director, BFS

Overview:

Join Cognizant as an inspiring leader within the global program management community. This key role is responsible and accountable for Program Management activities associated with large-scale, complex, multi-service (Application Development and Maintenance, Infrastructure, Business Process, and Digital) programs. Successful candidates will not only manage delivery objectives but will also have responsibility for customer satisfaction and the client relationships required for successful program delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

· 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)

· Provides insights on improvements while ensuring adherence to operational best practices

· Drives optimal business value though scope management, change management, and communication ceremonies.

· 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 the program

· 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)

· Owns the "activation" (or instantiation) for the MSA and SOW by knowing and monitoring compliance and adherence to these terms and their intent

· Owns end-to-end Service Delivery and Managed Services governance, ensuring SLA/KPI adherence, service level reporting, and continuous service improvement across the account portfolio

· Drives Managed Services transition and transformation, including service catalog definition, operating model design, and knowledge transfer for new and existing engagements

· Establishes and oversees ITIL-aligned service management processes (incident, problem, change, and service request management) in partnership with delivery and operations teams

· Leads service delivery governance cadences (QBRs, service review boards, executive steering committees) with client stakeholders to drive service excellence and account health

· Owns Managed Services financial performance, including cost-to-serve optimization, resource/capacity utilization, and P&L management across service delivery engagements

Required Qualifications:

· 15 plus years in strategy, operations, process consulting, stakeholder management, project/ program delivery within legacy modernization or digital transformations

· Project/Program training and certifications (PMI/SAFe 5.0/Prince II)

· Experience in delivering at least 3 or more complex programs involving teams across multiple geographies; team size 140+

· Experience in senior stakeholder management, communication, and relationship

· Experience being part of deal solutioning and identifying relevant risks

· Can present solutions from the Program Management standpoint

· Experience in managing client stakeholders across IT, VMO, and business

· Adept with multicultural; multi-geo working teams and stakeholders, including CXO

· Experience in contract management

· Program delivery experience involving 3 or more service lines

· Experience in delivering Transformational commitment, productivity goals, offshoring commitment

· Experience in delivering domain capability services or niche technology capabilities or new technologies to the market

· Experience in leading/managing structured deals, takeover/acquisition, or divesture programs

· Extensive experience leading Managed Services/Service Delivery engagements, including SLA/KPI governance, service level management, and operational reporting

· Working knowledge of ITIL framework and IT service management (ITSM) tools/platforms (e.g., ServiceNow, Remedy, BMC)

· Experience managing P&L, cost-to-serve, and resource optimization for outsourcing/Managed Services accounts

Required Education: MBA or Masters degree strongly preferred; Bachelor’s degree required

Work Authorization: Must be legally authorized to work in US without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.

Salary and Other Compensation: The annual salary for this position is between $126,900.00 – $201,000.00 CAD depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program and stock awards, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.

Benefits: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

#CB #LI-Vancouver

What we offer

• The chance to work with impact. Here, you’re empowered to bring your biggest thinking to help our company and clients improve everyday life.
• Ownership over your career. Stay at the top of your game through our award-winning learning and development ecosystem. And when your ambitions change or we offer new opportunities, we help you pivot by providing reskilling, on-the-job learning and guidance to find new roles that might be a better fit.
• The opportunity to thrive on a high caliber team with heart. We celebrate each other’s experiences and perspectives and promote a sense of belonging through our affinity groups and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• A comprehensive total rewards package, including a competitive salary and a pension plan with matching contributions.
• Flexible health and financial benefits to support you and your eligible dependents—from day one.
• True work-life balance. Be at your best through paid time off, flexible work arrangements, volunteering opportunities, social events, and so much more.  

About us
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, building the bridge between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, realize tangible returns and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at www.cognizant.com or @cognizant.

Other employment-related information
Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial or local laws.

If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email [email protected] with your request and contact information.

Language requirements vary depending on roles, but we ask that all candidates have basic English proficiency for company-wide communications purposes. For roles based in Quebec, professional English proficiency is required, as you’ll deliver services to and collaborate with stakeholders outside the province who may not speak French.