Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Industry Analysis • Business Transformation • Process Mapping

Program Management

Term from Consulting industry explained for recruiters

Program Management is a business leadership role that oversees multiple related projects to achieve larger business goals. Think of it as conducting an orchestra - while project managers lead individual musicians (projects), the program manager ensures all the music (projects) comes together harmoniously to create the full symphony (program). This role is common in consulting firms like McKinsey, Deloitte, or Accenture, where clients need help managing large-scale business changes. It's different from Project Management because it focuses on broader strategy and long-term benefits rather than individual project deliverables.

Examples in Resumes

Led Program Management office for a $50M digital transformation initiative

Served as Program Manager coordinating 5 simultaneous client projects

Established Programme Management framework resulting in 30% efficiency improvement

Typical job title: "Program Managers"

Also try searching for:

Program Director Programme Manager Strategic Program Manager Program Management Lead PMO Manager Program Management Consultant Transformation Program Manager

Where to Find Program Managers

Professional Associations

Online Communities

Job Boards

Professional Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: Can you describe a situation where you had to manage conflicting priorities between multiple projects within a program?

Expected Answer: Look for answers that demonstrate experience in strategic decision-making, stakeholder management, and resource allocation across multiple projects. They should explain how they evaluated business impact and made tough choices to keep the overall program on track.

Q: How do you measure the success of a program beyond individual project metrics?

Expected Answer: Strong answers should discuss both quantitative measures (ROI, business benefits) and qualitative outcomes (organizational change, capability building). They should emphasize long-term business value over short-term project deliverables.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you ensure effective communication between multiple project teams?

Expected Answer: Should discuss establishing regular reporting structures, creating clear escalation paths, and maintaining consistency in communication across different projects. Look for examples of tools and methods they've used.

Q: What's your approach to risk management at a program level?

Expected Answer: Should explain how they identify, assess and manage risks that affect multiple projects, including dependencies between projects and impact on overall program objectives.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What's the difference between project management and program management?

Expected Answer: Should explain that project management focuses on delivering specific outputs, while program management coordinates multiple projects to achieve broader business outcomes and benefits.

Q: How do you keep track of multiple projects and their dependencies?

Expected Answer: Should mention basic program management tools and techniques, tracking methods, and simple ways to monitor progress across different projects.