Job ID: 11435
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Category: IT
Employment Type: Individual Consulting
Date Added: 04/01/2026
Job Title: Program Manager
Job Type: Contract
Job Location: Hybrid
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Program Manager (contractor) to lead a complex Sales and Marketing Transformation program consisting of multiple, cross-functional projects.
This role requires a strong operator who can:
- Confidently challenge and influence senior leaders and teams
- Escalate and resolve issues with appropriate urgency
- Roll up their sleeves to drive execution when needed
- Partner closely with PwC program leads while also holding them accountable
- Proactively identify and manage gaps, dependencies, and risks across the program
The ideal candidate is a true program manager with excellent organizational navigation skills, and strong stakeholder management and engagement capabilities.
Key Responsibilities
Program Leadership & Strategy
- Lead and manage a multi-workstream Sales and Marketing Transformation program from planning through execution and benefits realization.
Planning, Execution & Governance
- Structure, launch, and oversee multiple related projects to ensure they deliver against agreed outcomes, timelines, and budgets.
- Create and maintain integrated program plans and schedules, including key milestones, dependencies, and critical path.
- Establish and run program governance routines (steering committees, working sessions, status reviews), ensuring decisions and actions are clearly documented and followed through.
- Drive disciplined change management to control scope, quality, schedule, cost, and vendor/partner commitments.
Stakeholder Management & Communication
- Engage and influence senior leaders and stakeholders across functions (e.g., Sales, Marketing, Operations, Finance, etc.).
- Escalate risks, issues, and decisions to client leadership with clear options and recommendations.
- Partner closely with vendor program leads to align on plans, deliverables, and responsibilities, while holding them accountable to commitments.
- Ensure transparent, concise, and regular communication of program status, risks, and impacts to stakeholders at all levels.
Risk, Issue & Dependency Management
- Proactively identify cross-program risks, issues, and gaps; develop and drive mitigation and resolution plans.
- Monitor and manage dependencies across multiple projects, teams, and geographies.
- Maintain accurate, current program information and reporting to enable data-driven decisions.
Team Leadership & Ways of Working
- Coordinate and support multiple project managers, project leads, and supporting resources across sites and regions.
- Promote consistent project and program management practices (planning, tracking, status reporting, risk management).
- Identify opportunities to streamline and improve existing processes and tools to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Management, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
- Significant experience (typically 8+ years) in program management, preferably in large, complex, and global environments.
- Demonstrated experience leading transformation initiatives in Sales, Marketing, or related commercial functions preferred.
- Proven ability to navigate a matrixed organization and influence senior stakeholders without direct authority.
- Strong skills in:
- Program and project planning and execution
- Risk, issue, and dependency management
- Stakeholder management and communication
- Change management across multiple workstreams
- Conflict resolution and facilitation
- Experience working with or managing external consulting partners (e.g., PwC or similar).
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
Personal Attributes
- Confident, resilient, and comfortable “pushing” on leaders and teams to drive outcomes.
- Collaborative, with a strong partnership mindset toward internal stakeholders and external partners.
- Hands-on and pragmatic, willing to dive into details when needed while keeping a strategic view.
- Bias for action, with a solutions-oriented approach and strong follow-through.
The projected hourly range for this position is $90 to $100.
On-Demand Group (ODG) provides employee benefits which includes healthcare, dental, and vision insurance. ODG is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.