Sr. Program Manager (Commercial)

Istari is seeking a skilled and driven Senior Program Manager to oversee the successful execution of up to four concurrent programs. These programs span technical and strategic domains and are critical to advancing our impact across federal and commercial sectors. The ideal candidate is a systems thinker with exceptional organizational skills and a strong sense of ownership over program outcomes. This role demands an ability to manage complexity across multiple threads while ensuring rigorous attention to cost, schedule, performance, and risk.

The selected Program Manager will report to senior leadership and be responsible for the day-to-day and long-term success of assigned programs—from kickoff through final delivery. They will work closely with cross-functional teams including Engineering, Customer Success, Product, and Cybersecurity, and act as the connective tissue between execution and vision.

Key Responsibilities:
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Program Management Excellence

Manage multiple high-priority programs simultaneously, each with its own set of deliverables, stakeholders, and strategic objectives. Lead program planning, schedule development, budget tracking, and risk management activities across all assigned programs. Coordinate with internal teams to ensure workstreams stay aligned and dependencies are managed. Establish clear reporting mechanisms for program status, risks, and key decisions. Develop and maintain integrated program plans and drive execution across all lifecycle stages.

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Stakeholder Engagement

Serve as the primary interface between Istari and external stakeholders, including government and commercial partners. Align program execution with contract requirements and customer expectations. Prepare and deliver high-quality briefings, status updates, and decision support materials to sponsors and senior leadership. Collaborate with Sales, Product, and the rest of the Customer Success team to ensure programs support long-term adoption, value delivery, and client satisfaction.

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Risk, Performance & Process Rigor

Identify, assess, and mitigate program risks through proactive planning and agile decision-making. Track and report on program performance against contractual and internal milestones. Support continuous improvement efforts across program workflows, applying lessons learned to future initiatives. Ensure quality of deliverables, timeliness, and resource alignment across programs.

Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Engineering, Business, Systems Management, or a related field.

• 8+ years of experience managing complex programs in the defense, technology, or government sectors.

• Demonstrated success overseeing cost, schedule, and performance for multiple concurrent projects.

• Strong command of program planning, stakeholder engagement, and risk management best practices.

• Exceptional communication and coordination skills, with the ability to synthesize information across disciplines.

• Experience managing contracts, subcontractors, and performance-based deliverables.

• Agreeable to up to 50% travel in this role.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM), critical path method (CPM), and/or program dashboarding tools.

• PMP, PgMP, or other program management certifications.

• Experience with technical programs involving secure networks, digital engineering, or software development lifecycles.

• Proven ability to build trust and deliver results in fast-paced, mission-driven environments.