program manager

Some of the daily tasks of a program manager include:

• planning and designing the program: your role involves developing a company's program and identifying the projects and activities involved. You also proactively monitor and manage the program throughout its life cycle. That means you identify issues and initiate corrective action to resolve problems.
• program governance: as a program manager, you define program controls, including processes, procedures and reporting involved in program governance. When creating the governance framework, ensuring it provides sufficient oversight to the management is crucial. Governance is the primary role of a program manager since it ensures the complexities of the projects don't derail the program and lead to losses.
• program leadership: as a leader, you motivate and inspire various teams within an organisation. Your leadership role includes planning sessions, guiding project managers, communicating with multiple teams, and reviewing and approving project plans. Since you are the point person for program initiatives, you also liaise with the company's stakeholders.
• managing budgets and expenses: financial costs are significant when overseeing multiple projects simultaneously. You create or approve budgets for various projects and monitor expenses. You also work with senior finance officers to ensure the program is on track. Sometimes, you conduct cost analyses and manage risk to avoid losses.
• program execution: when you have a program plan, you execute it to achieve the company goals and meet the long-term strategy. The execution phase involves creating a roadmap for various phases of the program. You oversee procurement, training, and risk management for all projects and track their performance compared to the overall program objectives.

As a program manager, your work is office-based, remote, home-based or hybrid. You spend many hours planning meetings and communicating with various stakeholders. You also liaise with project managers and monitor the progress of projects. While you spend most of the day indoors, your office is well-ventilated with good lighting and furnished with all the essentials required for a senior-level manager. If you are a program manager for a company that deals in products, you visit the manufacturing section and other departments to ensure they are on track with the company's goals. As a top-level manager, you dress professionally at all times.

Depending on your department, you are likely to interact with professionals in various fields. As a program manager, you work in close proximity to project managers, project coordinators and operations managers. Since you oversee the projects, you liaise with project teams to ensure the work meets the set targets and deadlines. You also work with data analysts and finance analysts to measure the performance of projects. Other professionals you are likely to interact with include procurement managers and IT directors.

You typically work a full-time schedule with a regular office routine of 9 am to 5 pm. Most times, your work takes up to 40 hours a week, but sometimes you attend meetings outside office hours or meet with clients for dinner or lunch. Part-time positions for program managers are rare, but you can work on short-term contracts to complete a specific program. Your role also involves a lot of travelling to meet with clients or negotiate contracts.

Program management is a promising career with exciting opportunities for career growth. You mainly work in large companies with complex operations to ensure the projects run smoothly. As a program manager, you can work in the public sector and manage government programs or the private sector, where you handle multiple projects that improve product development. Some program managers also work in NPOs. You can improve your skills and become the director of program management or chief operations officer (COO).

Finding your program manager job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:

• a wide variety of training and development opportunities
• an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
• a range of opportunities in your area
• get paid on a monthly basis
• temporary and permanent contracts

Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a program manager is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!

As a program manager, you plan and design programs that guide the execution of various projects in a company. You proactively monitor the progress of the projects and resolve issues that slow them down.

Program managers have an average salary of ₹2,238,779 per year. The salary fluctuates based on your experience and qualifications. Senior program managers in India take home over ₹4 million per year.

A program manager oversees multiple connected projects in the company. The role involves supporting larger company initiatives by ensuring the ongoing projects meet the organisation’s objectives. A project manager focuses on one specific project. They analyse the deliverables and ensure the project is completed on time.

The demand for program managers in India is high, making it a promising career. With the experience you gain from managing multiple projects, you have exciting opportunities for growth.

As a program manager, you are a senior-level leader in a business. That’s why you ensure the company’s goals are met by proactively supervising multiple projects.

Applying for a program manager job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!