Operational Program Manager Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Who will you be working with?

This position with support the Train Performance and Automation P&L within Digital Intelligence. The Program Manager will be a customer facing and will be responsible for delivering projects on schedule and on budget. This will include managing the project through quality, engineering and operations. This person will be expected to understand earned value financials, responsible for communicating cost, schedule, and production deliveries to customer (internal and/or external). The position will be responsible for identifying and managing risk associated with each project. This person will also work closely with the manufacturing team to manage demand and drive parts for projects assigned, as applicable. This position would preferably be located in Melbourne, FL or Cedar Rapids, IA.

How will you make a difference?

The Program Manager is responsible for leading programs from initial contract proposal through execution and support. This role ensures programs are built on a strong foundation, delivered according to commitments, and positioned for longterm customer success. The Program Manager drives technical coordination, riskinformed planning, customer communication, and disciplined program controls while fostering predictable, highquality execution.

What do we want to know about you?

• College BS/BA degree required, with preference given to engineering, software fields, or business management areas of study.
• Must have knowledge of Systems/Software Project Management.
• 7-10 years of experience managing complex, crossfunctional projects or programs.
• Proven ability to drive clarity in requirements, schedules, and acceptance criteria.
• Experience with enterprise PM tools such as Clarity, Primavera, Rally, Oracle.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and decisionmaking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead without authority in a matrixed environment.
• 10-15% travel requirement

Key Skills & Competencies

• Organizational Awareness - Ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes.
• Coaching & Motivation - Lead teams through influence, development, and engagement.
• Data Accuracy / Data Governance - Ensure data used in decisions and reporting is clean, consistent, and reliable.
• DecisionMaking - Make fast, informed decisions supported by facts, risk insights, and crossfunctional alignment.
• Digital Adoption - Competent with enterprise tools and digital program management platforms (Clarity, Rally, Primavera, Oracle).
• Financial Acumen - Understand EAC, forecasting, cost control, and risk reserve management.
• Process & Framework Adherence - Apply standard PMO processes rigorously.
• Growth Mindset / Continuous Improvement - Seek efficiencies and drive better outcomes continuously.
• Collaboration & Influence - Work across teams to drive commitments and resolve issues.
• Data Visualization & Reporting - Convey complex information clearly to leadership and customers.

What will your typical day look like?1.Contract Proposal (ITO) Phase

Goal: Establish a strong foundation for execution success.

Build the foundation for successful delivery by:

• Driving creation of the Statement of Work and ensuring clarity in deliverables.
• Partnering with Engineering & Product teams to confirm technical feasibility, resource constraints, and capabilities.
• Defining clear requirements and unambiguous acceptance criteria to prevent downstream rework.
• Establishing and maintaining a realistic, achievable joint master schedule.
• Developing resourceloaded, deliverablebased estimates to complete using systems such as Clarity.
• Serving as the owner of EAC (Estimate at Completion), ensuring riskloaded plans and forecasts.

2.Program Execution Phase

Goal: Deliver reliably and predictably on all program commitments.

Ensure programs deliver on commitments through disciplined execution:

• Take ownership and proactively drive all aspects of program delivery.
• Hold technical management resources accountable to program objectives.
• Embed quality in planning to prevent rework and ensure reliable outcomes.
• Manage scope and requirements aggressively through predictable change control processes.
• Lead proactive customer communication, including meetings, followups, and change order management.
• Facilitate timely decisionmaking and eliminate delays.
• Establish and maintain performance baselines for scope, schedule, and cost.
• Conduct biweekly schedule status updates and forecasting.
• Identify, track, and mitigate risk, maintaining an appropriate risk reserve/contingency budget.
• Ensure strict alignment of program execution with project control tools (e.g., Primavera, Clarity, Rally, Oracle).

3. Support & Lifecycle Contribution

• Reinforce the principles established in proposal and execution phases to support longterm customer satisfaction.
• Ensure Delivery and Support Services are positioned for continued customer value and future growth opportunities.

You may also be asked to perform other duties outside of your function or trade, for which adequate training will be provided if necessary.

More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, is available at mywabtecbenefits.com.

Wabtec will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable) and fitness for duty test (as applicable).

#LI-AM1

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary rate for this role is currently $104800-149300 The actual salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, education, business needs, market demands and work location. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, are available at mywabtecbenefits.com. Other benefit offerings for this role may include annual bonus, if eligible.

What could you accomplish in a place that puts People First?

At Wabtec, it's not just about a job - it's about the impact you make. When our people come together, we're Expanding the Possible by continuously improving what we do and how we do it - for our clients and each other.

If you're ready to revolutionize how the world moves for future generations, Wabtec is the place for you.
 

Who are we?

Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services for the freight and transit rail sectors. Drawing on more than 150 years of experience, we are leading the way in safety, efficiency, reliability, innovation, and productivity. Whether it's freight, transit, ports, logistics, mining, industrial, or marine, our expertise, technologies, and people together - are accelerating the future of transportation. With roots that date back to George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Louis Faiveley, Wabtec has always built technologies and implemented solutions for a variety of sectors that are critical to meeting the needs of customers and governments alike.

Our global team of about 30,000 employees worldwide delivers performance that moves the world forward. We're lifelong learners, obsessed with better. Learn more at www.WabtecCorp.com.

Culture powers us and the possibilities.

We believe the best ideas come from a mix of experiences and backgrounds. At Wabtec, we strive every day to create a place where everyone belongs. We're building a culture where leadership, inclusion and your unique perspective fuel progress.

We're proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status and more.

Need accommodation? Just let us know - we've got you.