Position Overview
Harbor IT is seeking a Program Manager to own the end-to-end delivery of a high-stakes healthcare IT transition. This engagement involves a mid-market healthcare organization with approximately 100 facilities nationwide, currently supported by an internal IT team of 40–50 staff, transitioning to a fully managed Harbor IT service model within a 2–4 month window.
This is the most consequential mid-market engagement in Harbor IT’s portfolio this year. The Program Manager is accountable for executing a clean cutover of the client’s full IT operation onto Harbor IT’s processes, tooling, and operating model—with zero service interruption, zero net-new compliance findings, and preserved executive trust.
This role is designed for a seasoned operator who has personally delivered transitions of this scale and speed before. It requires executive presence, decisive judgment, and hands-on leadership—strategic in the boardroom and tactical on the ground.
Organizational Structure
Harbor IT operates through vertical “Shuttles” aligned to client segments (Healthcare, Mid-Market, Local Business, Private Equity). Each shuttle contains multiple PODs, which are tightly focused delivery units responsible for a defined client set. Due to scale and compliance requirements, this engagement will operate as a dedicated account during transition rather than integrating into an existing POD.
The Program Manager reports directly to the Healthcare Shuttle Director for the duration of the engagement and holds scope, hiring, and staffing authority within the commercial parameters approved at kickoff.
This role partners closely with Harbor IT Security, Compliance, and Infrastructure leadership and serves as the single point of accountability to the client executive sponsor.
Key Responsibilities
End-to-End Transition Ownership
- Deliver a full IT operational cutover within 2–4 months
- Ensure zero critical service interruptions and no compliance gap
- Own timeline, risk, scope, and delivery outcomes
IT Staff Assessment and Restructuring
- Personally assess the client’s internal IT team
- Make retention and redundancy recommendations
- Lead sensitive communications in partnership with client HR and Harbor IT leadership
- Design and execute retained-staff onboarding
Steady-State Team Buildout
- Hire and manage field technicians, site leads, and operational staff
- Integrate retained client employees or recruit externally as needed
- Ensure staffing readiness by cutover, not after
Field Coverage Model Design
- Define and implement on-site, regional, and remote coverage across approximately 100 facilities
- Document, staff, and operationalize the model within the transition window
HIPAA and Healthcare Compliance Continuity
- Own compliance integrity throughout the transition
- Ensure PHI handling, BAA continuity, access controls, and audit readiness
- Coordinate closely with Harbor IT Security and client compliance leadership
Executive Client Leadership
- Act as the executive point of contact for client sponsors
- Run weekly steering committee meetings
- Navigate scope disputes, staffing decisions, and timeline pressure with confidence and clarity
Cutover and Program Execution
- Build and enforce the master transition plan (milestones, RAID log, dependencies)
- Maintain the plan as the single operational source of truth
Tooling and Documentation Foundation
- Ensure full PSA and documentation readiness (ConnectWise and Hudu preferred)
- Asset inventories, service catalogs, contacts, and escalation paths complete before cutover
Commercial and Scope Control
- Enforce MSA boundaries
- Surface out-of-scope items commercially, not operationally
- Protect engagement margin while maintaining client trust
Handover and Continuity
- If not remaining as account GM, recruit and onboard the successor
- Deliver complete runbooks, SOPs, escalation paths, and stakeholder maps
- Ensure no fragmented handoffs
Build the Transition Playbook
- Bring an established transition methodology (checklists, assessment frameworks, staffing models)
- Institutionalize this capability within Harbor IT for future engagements
Success Criteria (First 6 Months)
- Zero critical service interruptions during cutover
- Zero net-new HIPAA or compliance findings
- Transition completed within the agreed 2–4 month window
- Written executive validation of steady-state readiness
- Fully staffed, documented, and operational account handoff
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in IT, Business, Healthcare Administration, or equivalent operational experience
- 10+ years in IT service delivery, MSPs, or technology consulting
- Direct ownership of at least two large-scale IT outsourcing or transition engagements (50+ sites)
- Experience conducting staff assessments and making retention and redundancy recommendations for 30+ personnel
- Hands-on experience operating within a HIPAA-regulated environment
- Prior responsibility for a $3M+ annual managed services engagement
- Demonstrated success delivering transitions in 90 days or less
Technical Competencies
- Strong understanding of mid-market MSP operating models
- PSA and documentation systems experience (ConnectWise and Hudu strongly preferred)
- HIPAA Security Rule and healthcare compliance literacy
- Familiarity with healthcare IT environments (EHRs, endpoints, identity, network, backup)
Leadership and Soft Skills
- Executive presence under pressure
- Clear, confident communicator with internal teams and client leadership
- Decisive, with a strong bias to action
- Comfortable operating strategically and tactically in parallel
- Owns outcomes, not just plans
This Role Is Not a Fit for Candidates Who
- Have only worked in PMO or coordination roles without delivery authority
- Have not personally executed a large IT transition under 120 days
- Prefer indirect influence over direct accountability
Preferred Certifications (Optional)
- PMP, PgMP, or equivalent enterprise program leadership credential
- ITIL v4
- HIPAA-related certifications (experience prioritized over credentials)