Program Risk, Dependency & Performance Leader

Location: Hybrid (Minneapolis, MN Preferred - Centre Pointe office)
Alternate Location: Denver, CO (T3 Office)
Employment Type: Full-Time

Join Trissential and Help Drive the Success of Enterprise Transformation

Trissential is partnering with our client to hire a Program Risk, Dependency & Performance Leader who will play a critical role in ensuring the successful delivery of a large, complex portfolio of transformational initiatives. This is an opportunity to join a mature and highly visible transformation organization where strong foundations already exist, but continuous improvement remains a priority. The ideal candidate brings deep program management expertise, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to proactively identify risks, dependencies, and performance concerns before they become obstacles to delivery.

We're looking for more than a risk manager. We need a trusted partner and leader who can assess what is happening across programs, challenge assumptions, connect the dots across teams, and drive action. Someone who balances confidence with humility, understands when to lead and when to listen, and isn't afraid to roll up their sleeves and help solve problems in real time.

If you're energized by complex initiatives, enjoy influencing senior leaders, and thrive in environments where action and accountability matter, we'd love to talk with you.

What's In It for You?

• Enterprise-Level Impact - Work closely with executive stakeholders, program leaders, business sponsors, and TPMO leadership to influence the success of strategic initiatives.
• Meaningful Ownership - Lead the organization's approach to risk, dependency, and performance management across a highly visible transformation portfolio.
• Leadership Opportunity - Manage and mentor an analyst while helping shape and mature program governance and reporting practices.
• Strategic & Hands-On Work - Balance executive reporting and decision support with practical problem-solving and execution.
• Continuous Improvement Culture-  Build upon an established foundation of processes, tools, and governance while identifying opportunities to improve program visibility and outcomes.
• Collaborative Environment - Partner with business, technology, PMO, and delivery teams in a culture focused on transparency, accountability, and results.

Your Role & Responsibilities

Risk & Dependency Management

• Lead cross-program risk management activities across the transformation portfolio, including identification, assessment, prioritization, mitigation, escalation, and monitoring.
• Establish and maintain effective dependency management practices across multiple programs and workstreams.
• Proactively identify risks, dependencies, constraints, and delivery concerns that may not be visible to project teams or stakeholders.
• Facilitate risk and dependency reviews with program leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Drive mitigation planning and ensure accountability for action plans and follow-through.
• Apply established risk management frameworks and methodologies to support proactive decision-making.
• Monitor emerging trends and recommend interventions before issues impact program delivery.

Program Performance & Metrics

• Own program health reporting and performance measurement across risks, dependencies, schedule, cost, quality, delivery, and organizational readiness.
• Define, refine, and maintain KPI frameworks that provide meaningful insight into program performance.
• Ensure metrics are actionable, measurable, and aligned to executive decision-making needs.
• Analyze complex program data and transform it into concise, executive-ready reporting and recommendations.
• Maintain dashboards, scorecards, and reporting mechanisms that provide visibility into portfolio health.
• Identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities across programs and initiatives.

Governance & Leadership

• Lead governance discussions related to program health, risks, dependencies, and performance.
• Support executive governance forums with data-driven insights and recommendations.
• Partner with program managers and leadership teams to resolve challenges and improve delivery outcomes.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and development for one direct-report analyst.
• Help maintain and strengthen existing governance, reporting, and operational processes.
• Encourage accountability, transparency, and proactive issue resolution across teams.

Program Management Support

• Leverage strong program management fundamentals to support delivery success across the portfolio.
• Assist with integrated planning, milestone tracking, dependency mapping, and execution oversight.
• Build strong relationships across business and technology organizations.
• Demonstrate flexibility by stepping into gaps and supporting the highest-priority needs of the team.
• Embrace a "fix it and get it done" mindset focused on achieving outcomes rather than simply reporting problems.

Skills & Experience You Should Possess

We recognize that great candidates come from diverse backgrounds. If you meet most of these qualifications, we encourage you to apply.

• 10+ years of experience in program management, portfolio management, PMO leadership, program controls, risk management, or related disciplines.
• Strong foundation in core program and project management practices.
• Demonstrated experience leading risk management efforts within large, complex transformation programs.
• Experience managing program-level and cross-program dependencies.
• Strong understanding of enterprise risk management frameworks, governance models, and best practices.
• Proven ability to identify and escalate risks, dependencies, and delivery concerns before they become major issues.
• Experience developing, maintaining, and improving KPI and performance reporting frameworks.
• Ability to determine what meaningful metrics look like and how to leverage them to drive decision-making.
• Excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management capabilities.

Tools & Technology

Experience with the following tools is preferred:

• Jira
• Microsoft 365 Suite
• Portfolio and PMO reporting tools (ServiceNow SPM, Planview, Clarity, etc.)
• Dashboarding and KPI reporting solutions

Success Traits

The successful candidate will be someone who:

• Sees potential risks and dependencies before others do.
• Thinks critically and connects information across programs and teams.
• Is proactive rather than reactive.
• Communicates clearly and effectively at all levels of the organization.
• Builds trusted relationships across business and technology teams.
• Leads with confidence while remaining approachable and humble.
• Is willing to step outside of a traditional job description to support team success.
• Focuses on solutions and outcomes, not just status reporting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting large-scale enterprise transformation initiatives.
• Experience working within a PMO, EPMO, or portfolio governance environment.
• Experience working in utility, energy, regulated, or large enterprise organizations.
• Familiarity with executive steering committees and structured governance models.
• PMP, PgMP, PMI-RMP, or similar certifications are beneficial but not required.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Project Management, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.

What We Offer

• Competitive Compensation – $101–$111 per hour. Final compensation is determined based on skill alignment, years of experience, and fair, market‑based rates by geography.
• Comprehensive Benefits for you and your dependents – Medical, dental, vision, free tele‑health, HSA with company contribution, life and disability insurance, and 401k with matching
• Paid Time Off 
• Career Mobility – While this position will not convert, it opens the door to future full‑time opportunities.
• Supportive, High‑Performance Culture – Work with teams who value clarity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Ready to Drive Program Excellence Across a Major Enterprise?