Sr. Program Manager

Manifest Solutions is currently seeking a Sr. Program Manager for an onsite or hybrid position in Columbus, OH.

• Serve as the primary communication hub for one or more major cross-functional programs, ensuring engineers, designers, product managers, and executives each get the right information, at the right level of detail, at the right time
• Own end-to-end planning and execution for major programs, aligning scope, timeline, and resources across teams through clear, proactive communication
• Partner with engineering, product, and design leads to define program goals and success metrics, and communicate them in a way that keeps every team rowing in the same direction
• Coordinate delivery of scientific data platforms, AI-driven discovery tools, and R&D solutions that our customers — from drug discovery teams to patent researchers — rely on daily
• Identify risks and dependencies early, and communicate them transparently to stakeholders — before they become surprises
• Build and deliver program roadmaps, status reports, and executive-level updates that translate complex, technical detail into clear narratives for non-technical audiences
• Facilitate program rituals (planning, syncs, retrospectives) that create genuine alignment, not just meetings — and know when a quick written update will serve better than a live one
• Influence prioritization decisions by presenting data, trade-offs, and recommendations persuasively to leadership and skeptical stakeholders alike
• Manage difficult conversations with poise — delivering bad news, resetting expectations, or navigating disagreement between teams without losing trust
• Coach and mentor other program or project managers on stakeholder communication and program best practices
• Continuously improve how the organization communicates about programs, including status reporting formats, escalation paths, and documentation standards
  

Qualifications:

• 6+ years of program or project management experience, ideally in a software/tech environment
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills — able to flex fluidly between technical detail for engineers and concise, strategic framing for executives
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, from individual contributors to senior leadership
• Skilled at proactive, transparent communication: surfacing risks, delays, and trade-offs early rather than letting them surprise stakeholders later
• Experience running effective status reporting and executive updates that people actually read and act on
• Comfortable navigating difficult conversations — misalignment between teams, pushback on timelines, or delivering unwelcome news — with tact and confidence
• Strong track record influencing decisions and priorities without direct authority, through persuasive, well-structured communication
• Proven track record delivering large, cross-functional, multi-team programs on time and on budget
• Strong command of program management methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid approaches) and deep proficiency with the JIRA suite (JIRA, Confluence, or similar)
• Strong analytical skills; comfortable working with data to inform decisions and communicate progress
• Familiarity with SDLC and release management processes
• PMP, CSM, or equivalent certification is a plus but not required
  

Nice to have:

• Experience in scientific information technology or related domains (e.g., R&D data platforms, drug discovery software, IP/patent research tools, chemical or materials science data)
• Comfort using AI tools (e.g., for status reporting, meeting summarization, or workflow automation) to drive program efficiency
• Background helping an established organization evolve its ways of working and adopt new technologies