Senior Program Manager

A major healthcare client of Aquent is seeking a highly experienced Senior Program Manager - Process Transformation to lead the design, alignment, and pilot implementation of a future-state third-party diligence and vendor onboarding operating model for a large enterprise environment.

This individual will serve as the central coordinator across Legal, Procurement, Information Security, Privacy, Compliance, Data Governance, Vendor Management, and business stakeholders to transform how third-party engagements are reviewed, approved, contracted, and governed.

The role requires a seasoned program leader who can drive consensus across diverse stakeholder groups, establish governance structures, define operating models, streamline complex cross-functional processes, and pilot new ways of working. While functional leaders and a steering committee will retain decision-making authority, this individual will be responsible for driving the program, facilitating working sessions, managing deliverables, and ensuring successful execution against project objectives.

Key Objectives

• Establish a Cross-Functional Governance Model: Design and operationalize a cross-functional diligence governance framework; establish and facilitate a diligence council and supporting working groups; define roles, responsibilities, decision rights, and escalation paths; align governance mechanisms with existing Vendor Management workstreams; create accountability structures for process performance.
• Streamline Contracting Processes: Partner with Legal and Procurement to simplify and standardize contracting workflows; support development of streamlined NDA guidance, pilot agreement approaches, and standardized contractual templates; identify opportunities to reduce negotiation cycle times.
• Establish Service Levels and Accountability: Define review ownership across participating functions; develop service-level targets and performance expectations; design escalation procedures for unresolved issues and bottlenecks; facilitate stakeholder alignment around operational commitments.
• Measure and Improve Performance: Establish baseline metrics and reporting capabilities; monitor process performance, cycle times, rework, and stakeholder feedback; lead governance discussions focused on continuous improvement opportunities; recommend process changes based on data-driven insights.

• Serve as overall program lead for the transformation initiative.
• Develop and manage the program roadmap, workplan, milestones, risks, dependencies, and stakeholder communications.
• Facilitate executive steering committee meetings, governance forums, and cross-functional working sessions.
• Drive alignment among Legal, Procurement, Security, Privacy, Compliance, Data Governance, Vendor Management, and business stakeholders.
• Document current-state and future-state processes, governance structures, and operating models.
• Manage competing stakeholder priorities and drive decisions through appropriate governance channels.
• Prepare executive-ready presentations, status updates, recommendations, and decision materials.
• Coordinate pilot activities and track outcomes against success criteria.
• Ensure project deliverables are completed on schedule and meet agreed business objectives.

Required:

• 10+ years of program management, process transformation, operating model design, or business transformation experience.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale cross-functional initiatives in large, complex organizations.
• Experience facilitating executive-level and cross-functional governance forums.
• Strong stakeholder management and consensus-building skills across matrixed organizations.
• Experience designing and implementing business processes that span multiple functional areas.
• Proven ability to drive projects forward without direct authority over participating teams.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and executive presentation skills.
• Strong organizational, planning, risk management, and problem-solving capabilities.

Preferred:

• Experience with third-party risk management (TPRM), vendor onboarding, supplier governance, procurement operations, legal operations, compliance programs, or related functions.
• Experience working alongside Legal, Procurement, Security, Privacy, Compliance, or Data Governance organizations.
• Knowledge of risk-based review frameworks and governance models.
• Experience leading process simplification, cycle-time reduction, and operational efficiency initiatives.
• PMP, PgMP, Lean Six Sigma, Prosci, or similar certification.
• Management consulting or enterprise transformation background.

• Future-state third-party diligence operating model
• Cross-functional governance framework and decision-rights matrix
• Risk-tiered diligence framework and intake requirements
• Pilot/POC review pathway and production-transition criteria
• Service-level framework and escalation model
• Process maps and supporting documentation
• Executive governance materials and stakeholder communications
• Pilot results, recommendations, and a transformation roadmap for long-term operationalization

• Successful completion of the future-state operating model design
• Operationalization of governance structures and working groups
• Alignment across key stakeholder functions
• Execution of pilot processes against defined metrics
• Achievement of project milestones and high executive stakeholder satisfaction
• Readiness for enterprise adoption and full operationalization

The target hiring compensation range for this role is $65.16 to $72.41 an hour. Compensation is based on several factors including, but not limited to education, relevant work experience, relevant certifications, and location.

About Aquent Talent:

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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