Technical Program Manager (IT Operations) (Palo Alto)

Technical Program Manager (IT Operations)Location: Palo Alto, CA (Hybrid – 3 days onsite)Term: 6-month contract (potential conversion to full-time)Rate: $65–70/hr (W2)Industry: Autonomous Mobility IndustryAbout the RoleWe're looking for a Technical Program Manager (IT Operations) to partner closely with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to deliver complex IT programs and help advance overall IT maturity.In this role, you'll lead initiatives across enterprise systems, infrastructure, and IT operations, while strengthening PMO governance, standards, and operating frameworks. You'll be a key driver of execution, alignment, and visibility across a diverse technical portfolio in a fast-evolving environment.The ideal candidate is a strong organizer and influencer who thrives in ambiguity, communicates clearly at all levels, and takes ownership of outcomes. You bring structured problem-solving, technical curiosity, and adaptability to shifting priorities.What You'll DoLead end-to-end delivery of IT programs across enterprise systems, infrastructure, and IT operationsDevelop and manage project plans, timelines, roadmaps, budgets, resources, and vendor deliverablesIdentify risks, dependencies, and constraints, and proactively communicate mitigation plansPartner with enterprise systems, infrastructure, and IT operations teams to drive execution and alignmentFacilitate alignment between business stakeholders, technical leads, and executive sponsorsContribute to PMO governance, standardized delivery processes, and portfolio intake/prioritizationProvide executive-level reporting, dashboards, and status updatesEnsure project documentation and artifacts are accurate, complete, and up to dateSupport change management, go-live readiness, post-launch stabilization, and continuous improvementRequired Skills & ExperienceStrong experience managing complex technical programs within an IT organizationHands-on delivery experience in at least two of the following areas: 1) Enterprise systems (ERP, HRIS, CRM, finance, supply chain); 2) Infrastructure (network, data centers, servers, storage, cloud); 3) IT operations (service management, automation, monitoring, support)Proven ability to collaborate with both technical and business stakeholdersExperience managing vendors, partners, and cross-functional workstreamsExcellent communication skills, including translating technical concepts for non-technical audiencesStrong problem-solving skills and ability to drive clarity in ambiguous situationsAbility to manage multiple concurrent initiatives with competing prioritiesExperience using Jira and Confluence for project tracking and documentationFamiliarity with Agile, Waterfall, ITIL, and hybrid delivery modelsNice to HaveExperience contributing to or establishing PMO governance and standardsExperience with enterprise portfolio management toolsComfort working in environments undergoing transformation or modernizationCertifications such as PMP, PgMP, CSM, ITIL Foundation, or SAFeExposure to cloud platforms and modern enterprise SaaS ecosystemsExperience with integrations, data flows, and cross-system dependencies