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Program Manager Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

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Program Manager information

See Madison, WI salary details

$38.8K

$108.3K

$158.2K

How much do program manager jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for program manager in Madison, WI is $108,297.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,100.00 and $133,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Is the Job of a Program Manager?

The job of a program manager is to plan, organize, and coordinate management programs or external programs for a business or institution. As a program manager, your duties vary depending on the type of organization for which you work, but many of the responsibilities for this role are similar or overlap. You typically supervise numerous associates and analysts who help prepare data and assessments about current programming and how it can be improved. You help to implement new programs for employees or customers and promote them through HR or outreach coordinators and marketing professionals. You also assess individual projects and how they interact with one another.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Program Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Program Manager, you need strong project management skills, strategic planning abilities, and a relevant degree, often supported by certifications like PMP or Agile. Familiarity with tools such as Microsoft Project, Jira, or Asana is essential for tracking progress and managing resources. Exceptional communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills help you motivate teams and navigate complex stakeholder environments. These competencies ensure that programs are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with organizational goals.

What are some common challenges Program Managers face when coordinating cross-functional teams?

Program Managers often encounter challenges such as aligning priorities across diverse teams, managing conflicting stakeholder expectations, and ensuring clear communication among departments with different workflows. Navigating these challenges requires strong negotiation and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to build consensus and foster collaboration. Successful Program Managers proactively establish regular check-ins, promote transparency, and adapt strategies to keep projects on track and maintain team engagement.

What are program managers?

Program managers are professionals responsible for overseeing multiple related projects within an organization, ensuring they align with strategic goals and deliver expected outcomes. They coordinate the efforts of project managers, manage resources, set priorities, and address risks and issues that arise across the program. Unlike project managers who focus on individual projects, program managers take a broader view, ensuring that all projects within a program work together effectively to achieve long-term business objectives.

What is the difference between Program Manager vs Project Coordinator?

AspectProgram ManagerProject Coordinator
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor’s degree, PMP or similar certifications often preferredUsually requires a bachelor’s degree; certifications like CAPM are common
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple projects within a program, strategic focusSupports project teams, handles administrative tasks
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across industries like IT, construction, healthcareCommon in similar industries, supporting project execution

The Program Manager focuses on managing multiple related projects to achieve strategic goals, while the Project Coordinator supports individual projects with administrative and logistical tasks. Both roles require coordination skills, but the Program Manager has a broader, strategic scope.

What are the most commonly searched types of Program jobs in Madison, WI? The most popular types of Program jobs in Madison, WI are:
What cities near Madison, WI are hiring for Program Manager jobs? Cities near Madison, WI with the most Program Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Program Manager job openings in Madison, WI as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 3% Nights. Highlights an 94% In-person, 3% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,297 per year, or $52.1 per hour.
Program Manager - P&C Insurance

Program Manager - P&C Insurance

Beacon Technologies

Madison, WI • Remote

$75 - $85/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental

Posted 26 days ago


Job description

Beacon Technologies is seeking a very strong Business/IT Program Manager for our client partner. Position reports into the Business Transformation Team or IT PMO. Drive delivery of key initiatives supporting the business. This involves working with business/IT and potentially outside vendors to perform all aspects of a Program Manager role, e.g.: develop a project plan drive the team towards those milestones track issues/risks/dependencies develop budgets and track forecasts develop and deliver team and senior stakeholder communication. Manage the delivery of programs and projects by leading project teams, ensuring effective stakeholder management and business engagement, serving as the primary point of contact for project status and budget reporting and facilitating strong partnerships with third-party contributors to manage project schedules, risks and issues.

Technical Skills and Experience:
  • Proven experience delivering complex initiatives.
  • Proven experience with Agile/Agile Methodologies and delivering projects leveraging this framework.
  • Extremely proficient with MS Office Apps – MS Project, PowerPoint, Excel, Word.
  • Very good financial skills, i.e., creating budgets, forecasts, cost-benefit analyses, etc.
  • Proven experience working with vendors.
  • Insurance experience required.
Soft Skills and Team Fit:
  • Role is equal parts IT and Business Program Manager – we are not looking for a strictly technical Program Manager; ideal candidates need to have proven experience leading business-driven projects.
  • Excellent stakeholder management skills across Business, IT, and teams.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, including PowerPoint Resumes.
  • Need to see a mix of IT and Business driven projects on their resume. We are not looking for someone who has strictly worked on IT projects, regardless of how complex they’ve been.
  • Proven experience with Agile.
  • Insurance industry experience required.
Primary Responsibilities:
  • Effectively lead programs and projects to achieve defined business outcomes. Create a high performing team of business, IT and third-party stakeholders to initiate, design, and deliver people, process and technology solutions. Serve as a primary point of contact for business sponsors and other business stakeholders.
  • Seek to learn assigned business function, processes and systems. Demonstrate strong business acumen and leadership to drive results, remove execution barriers and anticipate and manage program risks.
  • Instill best practice methodologies and tools into project execution activities, adhering to established Project Management framework standards and ensuring that all defined approvals are obtained.
  • Manage project interdependencies within an overall program, ensuring that individual project goals are met and that overall program business benefits are achieved.
  • Demonstrate financial management discipline by ensuring that a quality business case is developed, overseeing the development of estimates, benefit commitments, and overall project costs including contingency. Monitor the project budget, providing updated monthly forecasts and communicating potential budget overruns.
  • Maintain effective communication within the project team, and external to the project team, including producing accurate project status reports, decision logs and other project and meeting documentation to ensure team alignment and to drive forward progress. Escalate project risks and issues as appropriate.
  • Maintain a quality project schedule, collaborating with third-party contributors, to ensure an accurate forecast of resource demand and project costs. Leverage best practice scheduling tactics to monitor project progress and critical path dependencies.
  • Manage budgeted resources by anticipating expenditures, accurately forecasting resource needs/costs and properly accounting for expenses to meet requirements and achieve fiscal responsibility.
Required Qualifications:
  • Education: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
  • Experience: 7 years relevant experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience: Experience delivering and managing multi-year, complex programs.
  • Licenses/Certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Preferred Knowledge:
  • Expert knowledge of project management techniques and tools.
  • Thorough understanding of the business drivers and factors driving change in the information technology and insurance industry.
  • Working knowledge of information technology environments, solutions, plans, and strategies.
  • Working knowledge of systems development lifecycle.
Preferred Competencies/Skills:
  • Communicate effectively, concisely and appropriately at all levels.
  • Identify and articulate improvement opportunities and translate them into tangible business deliverables.
  • Anticipate obstacles, estimate time and resources needed for the completion of a project.
  • Identify opportunities for synergy and integration.
  • Effectively present information to influence organizational leaders and key stakeholders.
  • Adjust plans, goals, actions or priorities to meet changing situations.
  • Anticipate obstacles, estimate time and resources needed for the completion of a project.
  • Conduct gap analysis of current state and desired future state.
  • Use expertise to formulate and make recommendations regarding practice and development opportunities.
  • Coach and encourage employees towards continuously improving performance and mentor team with feedback, on-the-job skill enhancement opportunities and career advice.
  • Build and establish constructive and cooperative working relationships and open lines of communication.
  • Utilize effective communication skills to influence and persuade decision makers.
 
About Beacon Technologies:
Are you looking to advance your career in information technology? Beacon Technologies offers career advancement opportunities, extensive training, and excellent benefits including paying for health and dental premiums for salaried employees. In addition to providing interesting opportunities, Beacon Technologies provides that old fashioned, personal touch, so you feel like a part of the Beacon team.
Beacon Technologies, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer with a functioning Affirmative Action Plan. It is the policy of Beacon Technologies, Inc. to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, ethnicity, ancestry, disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Beacon Technologies, Inc. prohibits any such discrimination or harassment.