Associate Partner, Complex Program Management

Introduction

As a Complex Program Manager within Strategy & Transformation, you will lead large-scale, multi-disciplinary delivery teams of 50-150 professionals drawn from multiple IBM business units, geographies, and specialties in support of complex financial services engagements. You will bring an advanced understanding of the financial services industry - its technologies, operating processes, and typical client-side roles - to establish and enforce disciplined program and project management practices across the engagement lifecycle.

You will serve as a senior client-facing leader, communicating and presenting at the executive level to Senior Managing Directors and other senior financial services stakeholders. You will carry direct accountability for signings and revenue management on your program(s), while overseeing the financial management, resourcing, contracting, and third-party risk practices that keep large, complex delivery efforts on track, in scope, and within budget.

Your role and responsibilities

• Build and Lead Large, Cross-Functional Teams: Recruit, structure, and manage delivery teams of 50-150 resources spanning multiple IBM business units, geographies, and technical/functional specialties, ensuring the right skills are aligned to program needs.

• Executive Communication and Presentation: Prepare and deliver senior-level executive communications and presentations to Senior Managing Directors and other C-suite and senior client stakeholders in financial services, translating complex program detail into clear, decision-ready narratives.

• Establish Program Management Discipline: Define, implement, and oversee strong project and program management disciplines, governance structures, and practices across the full program, ensuring consistency, quality, and predictability of delivery.

• Apply Deep Industry and Technical Content Knowledge: Maintain a detailed, working knowledge of program content grounded in an advanced understanding of the financial services industry, the technologies and processes that support it, and the typical roles and structures within a client organization.

• Master IBM Delivery Tooling: Quickly learn and apply IBM-specific tools and systems for project financial management, resource administration, and third-party risk management, using them to actively manage program health.

• Own Financial and Contractual Outcomes: Hold accountability for signings and revenue management on the program; manage program financials, contracting activity, and commercial negotiations to protect and grow the business.

• Solve Complex, Ambiguous Problems: Identify practical, actionable solutions to complex, cross-functional problems that arise across a large, matrixed delivery organization, balancing client, IBM, and third-party interests.

• Drive Interpersonal and Stakeholder Alignment: Operate with a high degree of interpersonal skill and attention to detail to build trust and alignment across client stakeholders, IBM leadership, delivery teams, and third parties.

Required technical and professional expertise

• 10+ years of financial services industry experience.

• Proven experience building, leading, and managing large, complex delivery teams (50-150 people) spanning multiple business units, geographies, and specialties.

• Demonstrated senior executive presence, with experience preparing and presenting to Senior Managing Directors and other senior leaders in financial services.

• Track record establishing and overseeing formal project/program management disciplines, governance, and practices on large, complex engagements.

• Advanced understanding of the financial services industry, including the technologies and processes that support it and typical roles within a client environment.

• Contracting experience, including drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial terms.

• Financial management experience, including budget ownership, forecasting, and cost/revenue tracking on large programs.

• Strong negotiation skills, applied both internally across IBM business units and externally with clients and third parties.

• Demonstrated experience with signings and revenue management accountability.

• Strong complex problem-solving skills, with a track record of identifying practical, workable solutions under ambiguity and pressure.

• High degree of interpersonal communication skill and attention to detail, able to operate effectively across a large, matrixed stakeholder environment.

• Ability to quickly learn and apply new enterprise tooling, including systems for project financial management, resource administration, and third-party risk management.

Preferred technical and professional experience

• Prior experience within IBM or a similar large, matrixed global systems integrator or consultancy.

• Direct experience with IBM-specific tools for project financial management, resource administration, and third-party risk management.

• Experience managing programs involving multiple, concurrent third-party vendors or subcontractors.

• Formal project/program management certification (e.g., PMP, PgMP, or equivalent).

• Experience operating across multiple geographies, including managing distributed and offshore/nearshore delivery teams.

• Background in a related discipline such as finance, accounting, or management information systems.

IBM is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, caste, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, veteran status, or other characteristics. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.