Overview:
Join Cognizant as a delivery leader within the Program & Project Management community. This role is responsible and accountable for project and program management activities within large-scale, complex offshore delivery programs (e.g., GCC). Successful candidates combine strong delivery execution with a consulting and transformation mindset — understanding client strategy, contributing to solutioning, and leveraging AI-enabled PMO practices to drive efficiency and outcomes. They will ensure client satisfaction, maintain strong stakeholder relationships, and actively contribute to Cognizant's program management practice growth.
Key Responsibilities:
Project & Program Delivery
• Manages project planning, scope management, resource allocation, and budget oversight across 3+ teams with cross-functional dependencies
• Establishes and oversees program governance including stakeholder management, communication ceremonies, change management, and scope control
• Ensures tracking and measurement against established metrics (e.g., bid vs did, SLA, operational and contractual measures)
• Provides insights on improvements while ensuring adherence to operational best practices
Strategy, Transformation & Consulting
• Applies a consulting and transformation mindset to delivery — connecting project activities to client business outcomes and proactively advising stakeholders on risks, priorities, and value creation opportunities
• Leads client-facing programs by defining outcomes, governance, and business value while supporting solutioning and proposals
• 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
• Supports program directors and managers in shaping transformation roadmaps and aligning project delivery to strategic program goals
Client & Stakeholder Engagement
• Manages client stakeholders at senior levels across IT, VMO, and business functions
• Supports pursuits, deal solutioning, and proposal activities as required, contributing to program strategy and risk identification
• Collaborates with Commercial/Account Team to identify and define business value opportunities for the client
Leadership & Community
• Leads teams of 4–12 direct reports; guides career growth, well-being, diversity, and inclusion
• Mentors junior project managers and coordinators on modern PMO practices, AI-enabled delivery tools, and consulting-oriented engagement approaches
• Contributes to the continuous improvement of the program management community (best practices, standards, training, tools)
• Supports 1 or more PPM CoE OKR initiatives
Required Qualifications:
• 10-12 years in strategy, operations, process consulting, stakeholder management, project/program delivery within legacy modernization or digital transformations
• Demonstrated consulting and transformation mindset — ability to frame business problems, contribute to solutioning, and articulate program value to client stakeholders
• Agile certification required; Project/Program certifications (PMI/SAFe 5.0/Prince II) strongly preferred; PL2 (Practitioner) proficiency across Project and Program Management, Consultative and Commercial, Industry/Archetype Specialization, Leadership, and AI Fluency
• Experience in delivering complex projects/programs with 3+ teams and cross-functional dependencies in offshore or multi-geo environments
• Experience supporting deal solutioning activities and identifying program risks from a delivery standpoint
• Experience managing client stakeholders across IT, VMO, and business — including client-facing escalation and relationship management
• Adept with multicultural, multi-geo working teams and stakeholders
• Practical experience with AI-enabled PMO tools, reporting automation, and data-informed decision-making
• Experience in delivering Transformational commitments, productivity goals, and offshoring commitments
• Science/Engineering or relevant degree required
Required Education:
Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or a related field required; MBA or Master's degree preferred
Work Authorization:
Must be legally authorized to work in India without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.
About Cognizant:
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap 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, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai or @cognizant.
Additional employment information
Compensation information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview.
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, state 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] for roles based in the Americas or [email protected] for roles based in India.
