Program Engagement Lead (VA ESOM)

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Program Engagement Lead (VA ESOM) based in United States.

This is a strategic program leadership role focused on strengthening employee engagement and team member experience across a complex portfolio of projects.
You will design and scale engagement strategies that connect workforce experience with program goals, operational performance, and organizational effectiveness.
The role combines people leadership, data-driven analysis, program management, and organizational change in a multi-team environment.
You will partner closely with program leaders and Human Resources to identify engagement trends, address workforce risks, and develop actionable solutions.
You will also establish governance, KPIs, reporting, recognition programs, and continuous improvement practices that support a healthy and high-performing workforce.
As a leader of analysts, you will foster collaboration, develop talent, and help build a mature engagement function across the portfolio.
This fully remote U.S. position supports Eastern Time working hours and offers the opportunity to make a measurable impact across a large government-focused program.

Accountabilities:
- Develop and execute a portfolio-wide employee engagement and team member experience strategy aligned with program goals, organizational policies, and stakeholder requirements.

- Build and scale the engagement function by establishing governance frameworks, processes, tools, KPIs, and sustainable operating practices.

- Design initiatives that strengthen morale, collaboration, accountability, and overall employee experience while establishing clear success metrics and feedback loops.

- Drive continuous improvement through employee feedback, retrospectives, engagement data, and targeted improvement actions.

- Partner with program leaders to embed engagement practices into delivery operations and identify workforce risks such as burnout, attrition, disengagement, and declining morale.

- Analyze engagement survey results to identify trends, root causes, and key engagement drivers, translating findings into actionable recommendations for leadership.

- Coordinate survey requirements related to content, demographics, branching, reporting, and analysis levels, and conduct additional investigations into emerging themes when required.

- Integrate engagement metrics into program reporting and governance, establish benchmarks, track KPIs, and prepare dashboards and executive-level briefings.

- Design and manage recognition initiatives, including kudos and awards, while ensuring recognition processes follow established organizational practices.

- Partner with Human Resources on performance management, talent development, and performance improvement initiatives.

- Identify skills gaps and training needs across the portfolio and coordinate program-specific learning pathways with corporate Learning & Development teams.

- Support mandatory training completion and collaborate with HR and L&D to evaluate training effectiveness.

- Lead, mentor, and develop analysts by setting clear expectations, establishing growth opportunities, and fostering a high-performing and collaborative team environment.

- Contribute to the development and operational activities of additional PMO functions and support the broader PMO team.

Requirements:

- Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, or a related field.

- 7–10 years of experience in employee engagement, PMO operations, HR strategy, program management, or a related discipline.

- Proven experience leading teams and managing cross-functional initiatives within multi-team and multi-contract environments.

- Strong analytical capabilities, with the ability to transform engagement data into actionable insights and executive-level recommendations.

- Experience building or maturing an employee engageme