Transamerica

IT Program Manager

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Full time

Job Family

Program and Project management

About Us 

 

At Transamerica, hard work, innovative thinking, and personal accountability are qualities we honor and reward. We understand the potential of leveraging the talents of a diverse workforce. We embrace an environment where employees enjoy a balance between their careers, families, communities, and personal interests.  

 

Ultimately, we appreciate the uniqueness of a company where talented professionals work collaboratively in a positive environment — one focused on helping people look forward and plan for the best life possible while providing tools and solutions that make it easier to get there. 

     

Who We Are 

 

We believe everyone deserves to live their best life. More than a century ago, we were among the first financial services companies in America to serve everyday people from all walks of life 

Today, we’re part of an international holding company, with millions of customers and thousands of employees worldwide. Our insurance, retirement, and investment solutions help people make the most of what’s important to them. 

We’re empowered by a vast agent network covering North America, with diversity to match. Together with our nonprofit research institute and foundation, we tune in, step up, and are a force for good — for our customers and the communities where we live, work, and play. United in our purpose, we help people create the financial freedom to live life on their terms. 

What We Do 

 

Transamerica is organized into three distinct businesses. These include 1) World Financial Group, including Transamerica Financial Advisors, 2) Protection Solutions and Savings & Investments, comprised of life insurance, annuities, employee benefits, retirement plans, and Transamerica Investment Solutions, and 3) Financial Assets, which includes legacy blocks of long term care, universal life, and variable and fixed annuities. These are supported by Transamerica Corporate, which includes Finance, People and Places, General Counsel, Risk, Internal Audit, Strategy and Development, and Corporate Affairs, which covers Communications, Brand, and Government and Policy Affairs. 

 

Transamerica employs nearly 7,000 people. It’s part of Aegon, an integrated, diversified, international financial services group serving approximately 23.9 million customers worldwide.* For more information, visit transamerica.com.  

Job Description Summary

Enterprise Technology is a global organization within Transamerica. We provide dedicated application support to Transamerica and we bring all of Aegon's business units together through the use of technology. We provide the backbone - the infrastructure - for how everything works. We’re creating the company’s AI environment, building a flexible ‘cloud experience’ for internal hosting services, designing frameworks for data governance and management, and ensuring the security and stability the company’s technology. In short, we enable the business units to move more quickly and deliver to our clients in the best possible way. Whether customers are interested in insurance products or annuities or financial services, we're here to ensure they don't have to worry whether their information is safe.

The people we employ are incredibly diverse, both in terms of backgrounds and skill sets. There are over 1000 of us representing a dozen or so nationalities and located in the UK, the US, the Netherlands, Hungary, Spain, and Hong Kong. Our global teams are comprised of experts in areas such as application development, information security, infrastructure services, data & analytics, risk & controls, procurement, program management, and architecture. With the breadth of functions within Enterprise Technology, individuals can pursue a wide variety of careers, and we have a focus on supporting employees’ development.

The most important quality in the people who join us is curiosity. A lot of what we do is problem solving, requiring colleagues to take what they know and apply it to new situations. We have many mature processes, but we’re always looking for opportunities to improve, so we want people who are naturally inquisitive and confident enough to challenge the way we do things. Technology is constantly, rapidly changing – we need you to help us continue to change with it.

Job Description

Job Description Summary

As an IT Program Manager, you will lead the project and program management of complex, cross-functional technology initiatives across a portfolio of change and operational activities. Acting as the central liaison between IT and business stakeholders, you will ensure alignment with strategic goals through structured intake, governance, and delivery oversight. This role provides direction in setting goals and performance of the program including project planning, execution, quality, cost, staffing and resource allocation across delivery and support teams. You will foster transparency and trust through proactive communication, risk management, and continuous improvement, while upholding governance standards and enabling successful outcomes across the supported programs.

What You Will Do

  • All aspects of program and project management for key initiatives.
  • Assisting with PMO governance duties, including reporting, assessing and monitoring health of key projects and team adherence to tool and process requirements.
  • Drive new requests through the intake process, engaging business portfolio teams as appropriate.
  • Oversee program financials, including budget performance and expense forecasting.
  • Manage capacity and allocation of all time-and-materials (T&M) contractors across delivery and technical functions.
  • Manage major program initiatives; assist management in defining the strategic plans for programs that align with business goals and objectives.
  • Manages interdependencies and common critical path milestones across the projects, facilitating risk management, issue escalation/resolution, scope change and implementation planning.
  • Manage multiple large and complex projects with responsibility for meeting scope, timeline, budget, and quality commitments.
  • Directs decision making, communications, problem resolution, and other associated activities during all phases of large and complex projects using a proactive and positive approach.
  • Promotes formal communication methods and establishes open and consistent communication with all levels within the organization (including project teams, stakeholders, management, and other Enterprise Technology functions).
  • Defines and directs formal communication methods and establishes open and consistent communication with all levels within the organization.
  • Provides status reports and facilitates inter-program communication.
  • Provides appropriate progress updates to management, steering committees, project boards and other stakeholders, using both formal and informal channels.
  • Responsible for consulting, directing, mentoring, and checking the work of other project management professionals.
  • Directs activities of multiple project managers responsible for individual projects within a program; holds teams accountable for meeting goals and objectives.
  • Identifies and leads program and project process improvement activities

What You Will Need

  • Bachelor’s degree in a business related field or equivalent training/experience required.
  • Minimum of 10 years’ experience with at least 5 years’ experience managing complex multisystem and/or multiple department projects.
  • Strong organizational skills (planning, prioritizing) and communication skills (written, verbal, listening) are critical to this position, as are the ability to successfully adapt to diverse people and situations, manage conflict, proactively resolve issues, and strong time management.
  • Developed skills in leadership, relationship building, negotiation and influence, and facilitation techniques.
    Effectively interact with staff and management at all levels, including C-level executives.
  • Solid understanding of Project Management methodologies and principles, and relies on strong technical and analytical skills.
  • Serve in a mentoring and leadership role, and must be able to influence without direct organizational authority.
  • Expert level skills relating to project management theory, tools and practice

Preferred

  • Experience delivering initiatives using both waterfall and agile methodologies.
  • Relevant certifications (e.g., PMP, PgMP, SAFe, ITIL).
  • Proficiency in financial planning, forecasting, and vendor coordination, including budget tracking and resource onboarding/offboarding.
  • Familiarity with enterprise tools such as Jira and ServiceNow systems.
  • Exposure to release management, IT operations, and support performance metrics.
  • Background in managing global programs and coordinating across distributed teams.
  • Good understanding of the insurance and financial services industry.

Working Conditions

  • May require travel
  • May require flexible hours to accommodate global project teams
  • Hybrid office working environment

Compensation:

The Salary for this position generally ranges between $103,200 - $171,000 annually. Please note that the salary range is a good faith estimate for this position and actual starting pay is determined by several factors including qualifications, experience, geography, work location designation (in-office, hybrid, remote) and operational needs. Salary may vary above and below the stated amounts, as permitted by applicable law.

Additionally, this position is typically eligible for an Annual Bonus based on the Company Bonus Plan/Individual Performance and is at the Company’s discretion.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

This is a hybrid position requiring three days in office per week in one of our hub locations (Denver, Cedar Rapids, Philadelphia). Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position.

What We Offer  

 

For eligible employees, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support both the personal and financial well-being of our employees. 

 

Compensation Benefits 

  • Competitive Pay 

  • Bonus for Eligible Employees 

 

Benefits Package 

  • Pension Plan 

  • 401k Match

  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan

  • Tuition Reimbursement

  • Disability Insurance

  • Medical Insurance

  • Dental Insurance

  • Vision Insurance

  • Employee Discounts

  • Career Training & Development Opportunities

 

Health and Work/Life Balance Benefits 

  • Paid Time Off starting at 160 hours annually for employees in their first year of service.

  • Ten (10) paid holidays per year (typically mirroring the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) holidays).

  • Be Well Company holistic wellness program, which includes Wellness Coaching and Reward Dollars 

  • Parental Leave – fifteen (15) days of paid parental leave per calendar year to eligible employees with at least one year of service at the time of birth, placement of an adopted child, or placement of a foster care child.

  • Adoption Assistance

  • Employee Assistance Program

  • Back-Up Care Program

  • PTO for Volunteer Hours

  • Employee Matching Gifts Program

  • Employee Resource Groups

  • Inclusion and Diversity Programs

  • Employee Recognition Program

  • Referral Bonus Programs

 

Inclusion & Diversity  

  

We believe our commitment to diversity and inclusion creates a work environment filled with exceptional individuals. We’re thrilled to have been recognized for our efforts through the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, Dave Thomas Adoption Friendly Advocate, and several Seramount lists, including the Inclusion Index, 100 Best Companies for Working Parents, Best Companies for Dads, and Top 75 Companies for Executive Women. 

  

To foster a culture of inclusivity throughout our workforce, workplace, and marketplace, Transamerica offers a wide range of diversity and inclusion programs. This includes our company-sponsored, employee-driven Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which are formed around a shared interest or a common characteristic of diversity. ERGs are open to all employees. They provide a supportive environment to help us better appreciate our similarities and differences and understand how they benefit us all. 

   

Giving Back  

  

We believe our responsibilities extend beyond our corporate walls. That's why we created the Aegon Transamerica Foundation in 1994. Through a mix of financial grants and the volunteer efforts of our employees, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations focused on the things that matter most to our people in the communities where we live and work.     

  

Transamerica’s Parent Company  

 

Aegon acquired the Transamerica business in 1999. Since its start in 1844, Aegon has  grown into an international company serving more than 23.9 million people across the globe.* It offers investment, protection, and retirement solutions, always with a clear purpose: Helping people live their best lives. As a leading global investor and employer, the company seeks to have a positive impact by addressing critical environmental and societal issues, with a focus on climate change and inclusion and diversity.   

* As of December 31, 2023