Program Management Lead

Role Summary

The Program Management Lead will own the integrated Centene program end-to-end, spanning design, implementation, technology, clinical configuration, AI tuning, testing, deployment and subsequent rollout waves.

This person must be significantly more than a traditional PMO leader. We need a senior operator who can understand the business and clinical objectives, translate them into technology and delivery implications, manage complex interdependencies, and drive both Zyter and client executives toward decisions and measurable outcomes.

The ideal candidate has led large-scale healthcare payer technology or business transformation programs, has substantial C-suite/client-facing experience, and is comfortable moving between executive conversations and detailed execution issues.

Former consulting leaders with significant implementation experience are particularly attractive.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the overall integrated program plan across workstreams, phases, pilots and deployment waves.
• Establish and drive executive governance, operating cadence, decision forums and escalation mechanisms.
• Manage dependencies across Transformation, Clinical, PolicyIQ, AI, Product/Engineering, Configuration, Testing and Deployment.
• Translate business and clinical requirements into executable technology and implementation plans.
• Maintain rigorous ownership of milestones, dependencies, decisions, risks, issues and outcomes.
• Drive rapid resolution of cross-functional issues rather than simply reporting status.
• Manage senior Centene stakeholders and create confidence in the overall program.
• Anticipate delivery risks and intervene early to maintain momentum.
• Hold workstream leaders accountable for commitments and outcomes.
• Ensure that global/model-office decisions translate effectively into local-market implementation waves.
• Communicate complex program issues simply and credibly to C-level executives.
• Build the operating mechanisms required to scale from initial design/pilot into enterprise deployment.

Ideal Background

Must Have

• 15+ years of relevant experience, with substantial experience leading large transformation/technology programs.
• Healthcare payer experience.
• Proven ownership of complex, multi-workstream programs from design through implementation.
• Significant executive and C-suite stakeholder management.
• Strong understanding of technology delivery, not simply business PMO.
• Ability to bridge business, clinical, product and engineering teams.
• Strong executive communication, problem-solving and escalation management.

Strongly Preferred

• Former consulting background: McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Strategy&, Deloitte, Accenture, EY, KPMG or similar.
• Experience with payer core platforms, UM/CM, clinical workflow, claims or other major healthcare platforms.
• Experience with large platform modernization or enterprise transformation.
• Experience with AI-enabled transformation is valuable.