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Lead program manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Elisa Chan,

Marcia Godwin Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical lead program manager skills. We ranked the top skills for lead program managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.8% of lead program manager resumes contained project management as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a lead program manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 lead program manager skills for your resume and career

1. Project Management

Here's how lead program managers use project management:

Trained staff on how to integrate and incorporate sound project management methodology into NPHSB Registry development efforts.
Combined diverse project methodologies for different products and best practices into a standardized Project Management Methodology.

2. Program Management

Here's how lead program managers use program management:

Functioned as program management and engineering development liaison responsible for maintaining coordination in program activities.
Managed program management personnel representing various aspects of content publishing and online support.

3. Portfolio

Here's how lead program managers use portfolio:

Provided leadership to rationalize the portfolio of business planning, partner management, and customer relationship management applications and processes.
Enforced consistency in reporting methodologies and adherence to best practices across the organization's product portfolio.

4. Infrastructure

Infrastructure includes the organizational and physical structures needed to run an area or a society smoothly. It is a group of basic facilities required for any society or firm to run sustainably and efficiently. The infrastructural system is a high investing area and helps majorly in flourishing the economy and prosperity of a country. It is an underlying system needed for ensuring the safety and comfort of the public and to run a country smoothly. All the tasks needed to be performed for a flourishing economy and a happy and healthy public are included in infrastructure.

Here's how lead program managers use infrastructure:

Experienced with Waterfall on infrastructure projects and Agile Scrum for application development projects across multiple programs.
Facilitated security requirement resolution with coalition network infrastructure, resolved contract and statement of work issues.

5. Lifecycle Management

Here's how lead program managers use lifecycle management:

Provided timely corrections to quality and lifecycle management issues.
Manage the $550 million System Engineering Technical Support Service (SETSS) contract which encompassed all phases of lifecycle management.

6. Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is an ongoing process of improvement of products, services, and processes with the help of innovative ideas. It is an organized approach that helps an organization to find its weaknesses and improve them.

Here's how lead program managers use continuous improvement:

Developed and implemented cutting-edge continuous improvement solutions and strategic initiatives used by very few fortunate and successful companies.
Provided subject matter expertise for Continuous Improvement efforts across the Nationwide Insurance business unit.

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7. Azure

Here's how lead program managers use azure:

Designed Azure Boot Camp enabling rapid learning of the Azure internal platform by Microsoft new hires.
Increased VSAT significantly by delivering customized, real-time technical messaging directly to impacted customers within Azure Portal.

8. Risk Management

Risk management is the method of recognizing, evaluating, and managing risks to an organization's resources and profits. Financial insecurity, regulatory liability, strategic management mistakes, incidents, and natural hazards are just some of the challenges or dangers that could arise. For digitalized businesses, IT security vulnerabilities and data-related threats, as well as risk management techniques to mitigate them, have become top priorities.

Here's how lead program managers use risk management:

Risk management including risk analysis, planning and implementing risk responses, communication, prioritization and ownership.
Developed scheduling plans, performed risk management and ensured activities are completed on schedule.

9. Architecture

Here's how lead program managers use architecture:

Created a three-track pursuit strategy in domain expertise, technical architecture innovation and delivery predictability positioned as a project accelerator.
Developed client strategy for the deployment of ERP applications within the existing data management architecture.

10. Scrum

Scrum is a lean structure for communicating, designing, and promoting complex products, with a focus on programming development. It has been applied to a variety of areas, including manufacturing, testing, new technology, and marketing techniques. Scrum is a simple framework that helps people, organizations, and teams generate value by providing many solutions to complicated problems.

Here's how lead program managers use scrum:

Introduced and trained functional/business teams on Agile SCRUM methodology.
Acted as the Certified Scrum Master of all projects, overseeing multiple on- and off-shore Project Managers and vendors.

11. Process Improvement

Here's how lead program managers use process improvement:

Worked diligently with divisional leadership to continually implement process improvements to ensure the entire division was actively engaged in qualifying sailors.
Facilitated and implemented process improvement and automation based on the inputs from practitioners and Process Management and Improvement Group.

12. Customer Satisfaction

Here's how lead program managers use customer satisfaction:

Created client proposals and estimates resulting in increased revenue; planned and managed simultaneous projects to on-time delivery increasing customer satisfaction.
Demonstrated accuracy in recording and tracking data for all seminar attendance and customer satisfaction surveys utilizing the Energy Centers Database.

13. Business Development

Business development is the ideas or initiatives that work to make business work better. Selling, advertising, product development, supply chain management, and vendor management are only a few of the divisions involved with it. There is still a lot of networking, negotiating, forming alliances, and trying to save money. The goals set for business development guide and coordinate with all of these various operations and sectors.

Here's how lead program managers use business development:

Work closely with Marketing and Business Development gathering, analyzing, and translating customer's requirements into product specifications.
Supported business development as well as capture management/proposal development and review; participated in several Pink/Red team proposal reviews.

14. Software Development

Software development is the mechanism by which programmers create computer programs. The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a framework for developing applications that follow technological needs and consumer requirements. It consists of many stages. The SDLC establishes an international standard that software developers can use to enhance and create their programs. It provides a well-defined framework for software developers to pursue in the production, maintenance, and design of premium quality software. The aim of the software development process is to create high-quality software on time and within budget.

Here's how lead program managers use software development:

Redefined validation team structure by expanding creatively including contract software development and execution resources and trained them.
Tracked software development life-cycle of ancillary systems.

15. Windows

Windows is a chain of operating systems that controls a computer and is developed by Microsoft. Every version of Windows consists of GUI (graphical user interface), with a desktop that allows the user to open their files.

Here's how lead program managers use windows:

Led the Product Improvement team for Microsoft Windows and Internet products which interfaced between technical support/customer service and product development.
Led Windows Vista Communications & Collaboration platform establishing close relationships with enterprise teams to evangelize their adoption for future releases.

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What skills help Lead Program Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on lead program manager resumes?

Elisa Chan

Assistant Professor of Marketing, New York Institute of Technology

In my opinion, the fundamental skills required for marketing jobs haven't really changed. What changed is where or how these skills are applied. So my response to this question might sound cliche, but I strongly believe that it is true. Strong statistics and marketing analytics ability to show that you are able to make data-driven decisions. Interpersonal skills to show that you can respectfully and effectively interact with others, which are indicative of how you will manage work relationship as well as that with clients and customers.

What hard/technical skills are most important for lead program managers?

Marcia Godwin Ph.D.

Professor of Public Administration, Master of Public Administration (MPA) Director, University of La Verne

There is no replacement for being able to write at a professional level, which we often don't recognize as a hard skill. Being able to read financial statements and work with spreadsheets are other critical skills. Being comfortable with technology and managing technical projects is as important as knowing particular software. It was hard to imagine a few decades ago how geographical informational systems, apps, and social media would become central to public service. Managers need to be constantly looking to the future and staying current with their professional development to stay on top of technological and social changes.

What lead program manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior, Franklin and Marshall College

Gap years are interesting to me. There is a difference between someone who has ample monetary resources and voluntarily decides to take a "gap" year to travel the world, as opposed to someone who involuntarily takes a "gap" year because they legitimately cannot find a job.
For students who opt not enter the workforce immediately upon graduation, I would recommend that they utilize this time in a strategic fashion, primarily expanding their network, increasing their skills related to data analytics/analysis, and reading or researching within the broader business field as well as their particular field of interest. Expanding your network is always beneficial because of the value employers place on referrals. If students do not know where to start, I would recommend they join their applicable professional organization and begin attending events (virtual events can still help build relationships).
While specific job duties may differ, the ability to understand and utilize data is in high demand in virtually every job role. Having comfort with data-both quantitative and qualitative--can be a highly beneficial skill that many in the job market may not have to offer.
I also recommend continued reading and researching, as whenever you do enter the workforce you want to know what is going on. I am never surprised, but always disappointed when I ask my students if they heard the latest job numbers or if they saw a recent news article. It is hard to articulate your value to an organization's problems if you are unaware of what they are. Stay current.
Interestingly, I would not recommend that someone enroll in a graduate program simply to take up time. If you just love school, have a clear focus, or had already planned to enroll in graduate school prior to COVID, then proceed. However, if you are unsure about your interests or future career goals, enrolling in a graduate program may be a large investment of time and money that may not result in securing a job of interest upon completion.

What type of skills will young lead program managers need?

Robert Mcnab Ph.D.

Professor of Economics, Old Dominion University

Young graduates must be able to effectively communicate as they enter the workforce. Analytical skills are continuing to increase in importance also and graduates who are unable or unwilling to develop these skills will quickly fall behind their peers. If you are unable to work with data and cannot communicate the results of your analysis, then your value to future employers is diminished. Graduates need to realize that they must continue to learn after graduation, not only to improve their existing skills but to adapt to the demands of a changing workplace.

What technical skills for a lead program manager stand out to employers?

Peggy Smith

Department Chair, Arlington Baptist University

It is my fervent belief (based on research and trends) that the technical skills associated with IT, computer programming, software management, social media specialist, customer relations management (CRM), sales, & marketing will be in high demand particularly as we navigate this new normal world in which we are currently living.

What soft skills should all lead program managers possess?

Milena Stanislavova Ph.D.

Professor of Mathematics and Chair of Economics Department, University of Kansas

Working and collaborating in groups, presenting to different audiences, writing technical reports, grant applications and researching new topics are all essential soft skills. Much of today's world relies on data, so collecting, summarizing, organizing and presenting data is also an important soft skill that is becoming quite fundamental.

Do you want to know more?

List of lead program manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a lead program manager resume and required skills for a lead program manager to have include:

Project Management
Program Management
Portfolio
Infrastructure
Lifecycle Management
Continuous Improvement
Azure
Risk Management
Architecture
Scrum
Process Improvement
Customer Satisfaction
Business Development
Software Development
Windows
PMS

Logistics
PMO
Employee Engagement
Client Facing
Direct Reports
DOD
Resource Management
HR
Data Analysis
Product Development
User Experience
Cycle Management
Sigma
R
Cloud Computing
Management System

Business Processes
SharePoint
Earned Value Management
QA
ERP
Lead Management
BI
ITIL
Opportunity Management
Manage Cross
ROI
Subject Matter Expertise
SME
RFP
Executive Management

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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