Program Manager, Strategic Implementation

Summary

PDK International is seeking a highly organized, systems-minded leader to turn strategic priorities into execution through structured program and project management. The Program Manager, Strategic Implementation will lead complex cross-functional initiatives, build organizational program management systems, and partner with teams to improve planning, coordination, communication, and delivery.

Responsibilities

• Translate strategic priorities into clear, executable plans
• Establish timelines, milestones, owners, governance structures, and success measures
• Coordinate work across departments and ensure teams understand roles, responsibilities, and dependencies
• Monitor progress, identify and manage risks, and remove obstacles to keep work moving
• Facilitate decision-making and ensure key decisions and next steps are documented and followed through
• Lead implementation through completion or facilitate a thoughtful, seamless handoff to an operational owner
• Provide clear, consistent communication and reporting to organizational leaders
• Develop shared program and project management standards, templates, tools, and expectations
• Create scalable processes for project kickoff, planning, progress tracking, and reporting
• Improve visibility into organizational priorities, major initiatives, and cross-functional work
• Build and maintain dashboards and tracking systems that support effective decision-making
• Identify opportunities to improve organizational workflows and ways of working
• Capture lessons learned and continuously refine program and project management practices
• Support teams in launching and structuring new initiatives
• Facilitate planning, kickoff, and working sessions
• Coach program and project leads on implementation and project management best practices
• Help teams establish clear governance, roles, communication plans, and decision-making structures
• Provide additional implementation support during critical phases of programs and projects
• Build strong relationships across departments and serve as a trusted partner who helps teams navigate complexity and keep work moving

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex or ambiguous priorities into clear plans, timelines, roles, deliverables, and measures of success—and drive work through completion
• Strong project management, facilitation, communication, and relationship-building skills, with experience coordinating across teams and managing competing priorities, dependencies, and risks
• Experience building or improving systems, processes, tools, or templates that help teams work more effectively and execute more consistently
• 3–5 years of experience managing cross-functional programs and projects, ideally in a complex, mission-driven, education, nonprofit, or similarly collaborative environment
• Experience working with education, grants, or federally or foundation-funded initiatives is a plus; experience with creative agencies, designers, or other external partners is also a plus
• Familiarity with project management methodologies such as Agile, Scrum, or similar approaches is a plus

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex or ambiguous priorities into clear plans, timelines, roles, deliverables, and measures of success—and drive work through completion
• Strong project management, facilitation, communication, and relationship-building skills, with experience coordinating across teams and managing competing priorities, dependencies, and risks
• Experience building or improving systems, processes, tools, or templates that help teams work more effectively and execute more consistently

Nice to Haves

• 3–5 years of experience managing cross-functional programs and projects, ideally in a complex, mission-driven, education, nonprofit, or similarly collaborative environment
• Experience working with education, grants, or federally or foundation-funded initiatives is a plus; experience with creative agencies, designers, or other external partners is also a plus
• Familiarity with project management methodologies such as Agile, Scrum, or similar approaches is a plus

Benefits

• Competitive benefits