Strategic Programs Manager Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

At Banner Life Insurance Company, we lead with heart and ambition. Every day, we transform purpose into progress, guided by our unwavering commitment to be better for our customers, clients, and communities, not just today but long-term as well. Our people are the driving force behind everything we achieve. Their passion, purpose, and pursuit of innovation empower us to deliver cutting-edge solutions that support those we serve, ensuring we are here for you, here for good and striving for better.

We're a forward-thinking company energized by our work and how we show up for one another. Our culture is built on meaningful impact and genuine enjoyment, because we believe great work and great experiences should go hand in hand.

By offering career development opportunities, comprehensive benefits, and programs that support your wellbeing, we help you thrive personally and professionally. We are here for you, here for good and here for better.

The Director, Strategic Execution & Transformation partners directly with the Vice President of Business Transformation & Engineering to drive operational execution of the organization's highest-priority initiatives.

This role serves as a central coordination point across product, transformation, and portfolio activities, ensuring leadership priorities translate into clear plans, consistent progress, and effective decision-making. The position operates across teams to maintain initiative momentum, prepare leadership forums, and ensure strategic programs are positioned for successful execution.

Operating within the Technology Governance & Excellence Office (TGEO), the role strengthens portfolio visibility, supports leadership operating rhythm, and ensures strategic initiatives are effectively structured, communicated, and advanced across the organization.

Strategic Initiative Execution

• Drive execution of key strategic initiatives on behalf of Transformation & Technology leadership, ensuring priorities translate into actionable plans, milestones, and outcomes.
• Maintain visibility across major initiatives to ensure progress, surface risks early, and coordinate resolution of cross-team challenges.
• Partner with initiative owners and delivery leaders to ensure accountability, alignment, and forward momentum.
• Escalate emerging issues or decision needs to leadership with clear analysis and recommended actions.

Leadership Operating Rhythm

• Coordinate preparation and readiness for leadership governance forums including steering committees, portfolio reviews, and executive updates.
• Ensure initiative owners and program leads provide clear updates, risks, and decision points ahead of leadership discussions.
• Track follow-ups and commitments from leadership meetings and ensure timely execution across teams.
• Maintain structured operating cadence across strategic initiatives and transformation programs.

Executive Communications and Narrative Development

• Develop executive-level presentations, strategic narratives, and supporting materials for leadership discussions, transformation updates, and portfolio reviews.
• Translate complex initiatives and program activity into clear messaging and visual storytelling that supports leadership decision-making.
• Ensure communications related to transformation initiatives and portfolio progress are consistent, structured, and aligned with organizational priorities.

Portfolio Visibility and PMO Coordination

• Maintain an integrated view of the Transformation & Technology initiative portfolio to ensure leadership has clear visibility into progress, risks, and priorities.
• Coordinate with PMO and program leaders to ensure initiatives are properly structured, tracked, and reported.
• Improve portfolio reporting and governance mechanisms to support effective leadership oversight.

Cross-Team Execution and Problem Solving

• Work across product, engineering, IT operations, infrastructure, cyber security, and business teams to remove barriers and maintain momentum across strategic initiatives.
• Facilitate alignment across stakeholders on priorities, timelines, and deliverables.
• Address operational challenges that may impact initiative progress and coordinate resolution with appropriate leaders.

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Engineering, Finance, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong understanding of technology organizations, product development environments, and enterprise transformation initiatives.
• Working knowledge of portfolio governance, program management methodologies, and organizational operating rhythms used in large technology organizations.
• Familiarity with executive-level reporting, governance frameworks, and cross-functional initiative management.
• Knowledge of strategic planning processes and experience translating strategy into executable initiatives.
• Understanding of organizational change, transformation programs, and large-scale initiative delivery.

• 10+ years of experience in strategy, transformation, consulting, program leadership, or enterprise PMO environments.
• Experience driving complex cross-functional initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and delivery teams.
• Experience operating in environments with executive-level visibility and interaction.
• Demonstrated experience structuring ambiguous problems, defining execution plans, and driving initiatives to completion.
• Experience preparing executive-level communications including presentations, leadership updates, and governance materials.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and coordinating across matrixed organizations without direct authority.
• Experience working within or alongside product, engineering, transformation, or technology delivery organizations.

•  Exceptional structured thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong executive communication skills with the ability to translate complex topics into clear and compelling narratives.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive execution without formal authority.
• Strong organizational awareness and ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics.
• Advanced PowerPoint and visual storytelling capabilities for executive audiences.
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to synthesize large volumes of information into actionable insights.
• Excellent facilitation and coordination skills across cross-functional teams.
• High level of professional judgment, discretion, and ability to operate effectively in sensitive leadership environments.
• Ability to manage ambiguity and maintain forward momentum in rapidly changing environments.

Travel:

• Up to 10% travel may be required

 Reports to:

• VP, Transformation & Engineering

SUCCESS MEASURES

Success in this role will be measured by the effectiveness and progress of strategic initiatives across the Transformation & Technology portfolio, as well as the quality and clarity of leadership operating rhythm.

Key indicators of success include:

• Strategic initiatives demonstrate consistent forward progress with clear milestones, ownership, and accountability.
• Leadership forums such as steering committees, portfolio reviews, and executive updates are well-prepared, structured, and decision-oriented.
• Transformation & Technology leadership has clear visibility into initiative progress, risks, and dependencies.
• Executive communications and leadership materials clearly articulate initiative status, outcomes, and strategic direction.
• Cross-team initiatives maintain alignment and momentum with issues identified and resolved proactively.
• Operational coordination across product, transformation, and PMO functions improves initiative execution and reduces delivery friction.
• Leadership priorities are translated into actionable plans and executed effectively across the organization.

What's in it for you?

The expected hiring compensation range for this position is $161,100 - $233,550 annually. This is a hybrid opportunity working in Frederick MD.  

The total compensation package for this position may include other elements, such as a sign-on bonus, long term incentives, and annual bonuses.  This role is eligible to participate in the Annual Incentive Plan. The current target payment for the position is 20% of base salary, modified for corporate and individual performance. Bonuses are pro-rated based on start date.  This role has 20 vacation days and 10 sick days that are accrued on a bi-weekly basis. Employees also have 9 paid holidays throughout the calendar year.

We have a competitive compensation and benefits package focused on your overall wellbeing.  Employee benefits include health, life, and dental insurance; 401K with company match up to 6% as well as a pension package; generous time off; and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year (we like doing fun stuff).  We're big on professional development and we'll support and mentor you in your career progression and expect you to help us pay it forward by helping us develop tomorrow's leaders and growth-focused professionals. We value our teams and our communities and believe in giving back. Enjoy time off to volunteer for those causes that matter most to you!

If hired, employee will be in an "at-will position" and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors. The Company reserves the right to change benefits plans at any time.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.