Program Manager

Our client, a leading independent investment management firm, is seeking an experienced Program Manager for a 6 month contract in Atlanta, GA. This role is hybrid with 4 days per week onsite.

The Program Manager to lead the implementation of a global Vendor Management System (VMS) in partnership with our VMS partner.

This role will serve as the client-side project/program lead, responsible for coordinating a cross-functional “tiger team” and ensuring delivery in alignment with VMS partner’s implementation methodology and timeline.

The individual will act as the central decision-maker and escalation point, driving execution, governance, and stakeholder alignment across Procurement, HR, Technology, Finance, Legal, and other critical functions.
 
Key Responsibilities
Program Leadership & Governance

• Serve as Invesco’s primary program lead and decision authority for the VMS implementation
• Define program goals, scope, and success metrics, aligned to enterprise workforce strategy
• Establish governance framework, including steering committees, working groups, and escalation pathways
• Act as primary escalation point for project risks, issues, and conflicts

 
Project Execution & Delivery

• Assemble and coordinate the cross-functional project team
• Oversee execution across implementation phases (planning, discovery, design, build, testing, deployment)
• Monitor project progress to align with VMS partner’s recommended timeline
• Maintain integrated project plan and ensure milestone adherence

 
Cross-Functional Coordination
Lead and coordinate workstreams that include, but are not limited to:

• HRIS (data extraction and validation)
• Technology (integrations, requirements, testing)
• Procurement (supplier migration, reporting)
• Billing/Finance (invoice design and transition)
• Legal (contracts and escalation frameworks)
• Security/Facilities (onboarding/offboarding processes)
• Communications (change management and adoption)

 
Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary interface with VMS partner’s implementation leadership
• Ensure alignment on deliverables, timelines, and dependencies between internal and vendor teams
• Provide regular updates to executive stakeholders and facilitate decision-making

 
Change Management & Adoption

• Lead organizational readiness and adoption activities
• Partner with Communications Lead to drive effective messaging and stakeholder engagement
• Facilitate workshops, training alignment, and rollout strategy

 
Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years of project/program management experience
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise system implementations
• Proven ability to coordinate cross-functional teams in complex environments
• Strong stakeholder management and executive communication skills

 
Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading end-to-end enterprise-level VMS implementation (e.g., Magnit, Beeline, VNDLY, Fieldglass) on the client side
• Experience in contingent workforce programs, MSP models, and VMS workflows
• Background in financial services or regulated industries
• Familiarity with HRIS/ERP systems (e.g., Workday, Oracle)
• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent certification are preferred but not required

 
Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking and program leadership
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Executive communication and influence
• Change management and stakeholder engagement

 
Critical Success Factors

• Delivery aligned to VMS partner’s implementation milestones and timeline
• Strong cross-functional alignment and governance discipline
• Proactive risk management with effective escalation handling
• Successful adoption and rollout of VMS platform across business units

 
Reporting & Stakeholder Alignment
Primary Stakeholders:

• Procurement Leadership (Program Sponsor)
• HR / HRIS
• Technology / Integration Teams
• Finance / Billing
• Legal & Compliance
• VMS Implementation Team

Pay Rate $106.70 - $108.70