Program Manager
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Meet FRATCH Program Manager
Johannes S.
Last position:
Interim Head of Sales IT at EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG
Interim leadership of a department within Sales IT with around 80 internal and external FTE, including 32 internal employees. Responsible for IT and financial portfolio management, project management, requirements engineering and agile coaching.
- Led four team leaders and two portfolio managers, supporting their development through professional and methodological guidance and coaching; also covered the Agile Coaching team lead role
- Further developed the methodology for prioritizing the IT portfolio and introduced mechanisms to align priorities with available budgets and capacity
- Set up a project to transition projects and development teams to a nearshore location: clarified goals and scope, defined the governance structure and responsibilities, and led the first team transition with 15 employees through to live operations
- Developed and aligned a concept to standardize and support budget planning, forecasting, reporting and ordering processes with tools
- Coordinated the introduction of Spec-Driven Development for requirements engineering in the context of Agentic AI; clarified roles across requirements engineering, business and development, and launched a pilot project
- Developed and aligned an AI maturity model and coordinated its organization-wide assessment
Yunus S.
Last position:
Senior Expert / Program Manager at Dolpheen IT
Senior Expert / Program Manager
IT Services
- Management of internal projects for infrastructure modernization: setup and maintenance of test environments that realistically replicate complex customer networks.
- Resource coordination: planning server capacities and cloud resources for automated test runs.
- Implementation of CI/CD pipelines to integrate automated tests into the build process.
- Evaluation of performance bottlenecks through load testing (NeoLoad/JMeter) to ensure scalability.
Tools / Technologies: Jenkins, Docker, GIT, ButBucket, NeoLoad, Azure
Rui A.
Last position:
Business IT Project & Program Manager, Salesforce CRM, Retail market at MET Holding AG
- Defined and launched a major European digital transformation program, leading a six-bidder RFP, overseeing solution blueprint development and co-developing the business case, roadmap and multimillion budget. Secured board approval within five months.
- Built and led a multidisciplinary delivery organization of nearly 50 people at peak, spanning internal teams and three external partners. Defined responsibilities, allocated resources, set priorities and oversaw vendor performance, coordinating 200+ stakeholders.
- Led the two-year delivery of a common Salesforce CRM and digital sales portals across four EU subsidiaries, integrating local systems through MuleSoft Anypoint. Connected to Databricks for reporting, and embedded Databricks-based pricing and credit checks into the sales processes. Applied an Agile, business-first approach to evolving business needs, achieving adoption in France, Italy and Spain and business-validated technical go-live in Germany, within budget.
- Established a sustainable post-program ownership and support model: appointed a Business Analyst as Product Owner and coached him over two years to take full ownership of the solution and the digitalization strategy. Built the functional delivery team, brought one of its Functional Analysts in-house as the business-side Application Manager to oversee functional management and future enhancements, and recruited two Salesforce Admins into Group IT for country-level user support and day-to-day technical operations.
- Enabled further group-wide expansion through a reusable, scalable platform, securing board approval for a rollout to Czechia & Poland. Initiated both rollouts before completing the assignment.
Dorothée M.
Last position:
Head of Secure Operations at Fidelity Fondsbank
Christian T.
Last position:
Project Management / Program Management at Energy company, AT
- NIS2/IT-OT infrastructure project for network and firewall: PoC, roll-out, and blueprint
- Coordination of IT, OT/operations, information security, business units, and external suppliers
- Risk and escalation management
- Direct evidence of security, multi-vendor delivery, and operational context.
Witali H.
Last position:
Founder & CEO at aiFEX
- Built an AI operating model in which specialized agents work with clear roles, precise briefings, review standards and governance boundaries; decision-making responsibility remains with humans.
- AI Transformation Lab as a real-world validation environment for agentic workflows, local/cloud AI models, automation and human-in-the-loop governance (details above).
- Applied transformation principles to AI: ownership, risk control, stakeholder alignment, quality review, traceability, delivery discipline; DEV/TEST/PROD mindset.
Borja C.
Last position:
Independent Transformation and Technology Initiatives at Grey Bear Consulting
Business development and professional exchange
- Developed a consulting offer for digital transformation, AI adoption, and Operating Models; built industry and partner relationships.
Benjamin P.
Last position:
Independent Advisor & Interim Manager
- Shape strategies, transformation and organizational effectiveness initiatives by turning leadership and execution challenges into clear decision paths, governance structures and actionable workstreams.
- Develop executive-oriented approaches to strengthen alignment, decision ownership and transformation readiness.
- Align stakeholders, clarify priorities and strengthen execution across organizational boundaries in project contexts.
Pedro C.
Last position:
Senior Project Manager (previously Cloud Project Manager) at IBM Client Innovation Center (formerly Nordcloud)
- Led a migration team of several squads for a Public Sector client (on-prem to AWS & Azure), incl. lift-and-shift and database modernisation to PostgreSQL.
- Led AWS/Azure discovery & assessment of 80+ applications and 400+ environments, delivering the wave plan.
Claudius L.
Last position:
Multi-project manager
Industrial sector: Transport
Tasks: Continuation of existing projects, advice on artificial intelligence (AI), implementation of regulatory requirements, management of external service providers
Subprocesses: Order clarification, role clarification, consolidation, effort estimation, activity planning, status reporting, progress tracking, stakeholder discussions, risk analysis
Background: Cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), predictive maintenance, compliance, governance, standing orders compliance, KRITIS
Software: Cherwell, Docker, IoT, MS Sharepoint, MS Teams, SQL Server
Alexander P.
Last position:
Owner & Lecturer at Artellico / Own company for AI governance and data products
- Consulting and interim management at the intersection of IT operations and regulation
- Impact assessment and implementation planning for NISG 2026 and the EU AI Act, including risk management and reporting and evidence processes
- Training for governing bodies and employees on regulatory obligations
- Teaching assignments in Data & Information Management and Human-Machine Interaction at Hochschule Burgenland, since 2023
- Supervision of Master's theses and participation on examination boards
- Industry talks for businesses and educational institutions
- Design and development of data and AI products, platforms and pipelines
- Privacy-first architectures and Zero-Knowledge encryption, cloud-native on EU infrastructure
- Integration with bank account systems using SEPA direct debit mandates and message formats under ISO 20022 (pain.008, camt.053)
- MLOps and AIOps in live operations
- Own applications under my own brand: shared codebase, separate deployment for each target device
- AI-assisted software development (vibe-coding), complete agentic pipelines, code generation, implementation, automated testing, CI/CD and release cycles
- Professional publications on the EU AI Act, NIS2, DORA, CRA and CER as an integrated governance system
- Professional publications on data sovereignty, cloud economics and industrial image processing
- AI governance / compliance: data quality, Responsible AI, EU AI Act readiness, risk classification, AI ethics
Constantinos S.
Last position:
Managing Director at PrimeLogic Advisory SÃ rl
- Partnering with organisations to manage complex IT programmes, architect and implement ERP solutions, and embed AI where it drives measurable performance gains.
- ERP solution architecture and hands-on delivery across the full lifecycle (Oracle Cloud, Infor LN, Cegid, iValua)
- Programme and delivery leadership in both Waterfall and Agile environments (SAFe / Scrum / Kanban) - governance, stakeholder management, and execution at scale
- Comprehensive assessment of business processes, organizational maturity, and technology landscape to ensure successful ERP adoption and digital transformation initiatives
- Current mandate: Oracle Cloud SCM implementation for a Big Four consultancy
- Geneva-based; operating across Switzerland and the EU
Eoin H.
Last position:
Senior Programme / Project Manager at Strong (Skyworth Group)
- Coordinate technical delivery across eight concurrent operator and consumer-platform programmes spanning Android TV, Operator TV and connected audio, targeting a combined audience of more than 500,000 end users.
- Delivered Tier 1 operator TV and Android TV deployments, managed senior stakeholder relationships, and supported additional business wins from existing customers, resulting in five further programmes.
- Led Netflix Hailstorm and Self-Serve certification programmes, supporting certification readiness and accelerating OTT deployment.
- Owned end-to-end delivery of Europe’s first Amlogic X5-based connected soundbar ecosystem and a hybrid DVB/OTT TV platform, coordinating the programme from requirements through integration and delivery.
- Introduced programme governance and supplier-delivery frameworks to improve delivery predictability, coordination and quality.
- Re-engineered CE-marking and regulatory-compliance frameworks across EU markets to strengthen compliance processes and regulatory adherence.
Konstantin S.
Last position:
Program Manager Strategic Transformation at Leading plant engineering company in the cement industry
- Program planning and management – time, costs, resources, sub-projects
- Stakeholder management – coordination and communication with executives, employees, and employee representatives
- Risk and opportunity management – identification and management of risks and success factors, as well as cultural change and transformation processes
Nadine B.
Last position:
Program Responsibility & Innovation at Industry
- Management of security and governance initiatives
- Development of SAP BTP as an innovation platform
- Trusted advisor to executive management
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Program Manager statistics
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
23 years
Position duration
2.5 years
Positions per freelancer
14
Top business areas
Project Management, Information Technology, Product Development
Top industries
Information Technology, Professional Services, Manufacturing
Certification focus areas
Project Management, Information Technology, Product Development
Bachelor's degree or higher
93%
Master's degree or higher
72%
Doctorate
7%
Certifications per freelancer
5
Most common languages
English, German, French
Speak two or more languages
98%
Based on our profile pool as of 11 Nov 2026.
Daily rate distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of experts in this role are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows the share of experts charging within that range.
Average rates for Program Manager
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 11 Nov 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Program Manager experts industry focus
See which industries our matched freelancers work in most often — every figure is calculated live from the freelancers on FRATCH.
- Information Technology (83%)
- Professional Services (61%)
- Manufacturing (53%)
- Banking and Finance (44%)
- Automotive (44%)
- Energy (34%)
- Telecommunication (34%)
- Retail (33%)
Please note that freelancers can work across multiple industries, so percentages overlap.
About the role
Steering complex multi-project environments
A freelance Program Manager coordinates a strategic portfolio of related projects to achieve overarching business benefits that could not be realized by managing them individually. Unlike project managers who focus on specific isolated deliverables, these senior experts align multiple workstreams with long-term corporate goals. They actively manage cross-project dependencies, allocate shared resources, and resolve systemic bottlenecks across different departments and business units.
Mastered methodologies and program frameworks
Experienced program leaders bring structured methodologies and governance to complex business initiatives. They are highly proficient in established frameworks such as MSP, Prince2, and Agile Program Management, alongside modern hybrid steering models. They design robust governance structures, establish transparent reporting channels, and implement proactive risk management frameworks that keep C-level stakeholders aligned and projects on track.
Critical situations demanding external expertise
Companies typically bring in an external program director when internal leadership capacity is stretched or when highly specialized change management skills are required. Typical scenarios include:
- Executing large-scale digital transformations and legacy system migrations.
- Integrating operations and IT infrastructures during complex post-merger phases.
- Restructuring major internal business units and cross-functional workflows.
- Recovering failing multi-project initiatives that require objective, neutral leadership.
Key indicators of a strong project portfolio leader
Top-tier freelance professionals in this field combine sharp strategic vision with hands-on execution power. They communicate with equal effectiveness when presenting to executive boards or guiding technical project teams. Strong candidates demonstrate a proven track record of managing high-budget initiatives, navigating complex corporate politics, and adapting governance structures to changing business priorities.
Frequently asked questions
Curious about Program Manager? Here are the answers that come up again and again.
A project manager focuses on delivering a specific product or service within concrete constraints. In contrast, a Program Manager oversees a group of related projects to achieve strategic, long-term business goals. They focus on interdependencies, resource optimization, and overall business value rather than individual project deadlines.
Hiring a freelance program director is ideal for temporary, high-stakes initiatives like post-merger integrations or major digital transformations. These projects require immediate senior leadership that may not be needed once the program is successfully implemented. A freelancer brings unbiased expertise and can start without long onboarding processes.
A professional portfolio manager should be expert in structured frameworks like Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) or Prince2. For modern, fast-paced environments, they must also be highly skilled in agile scaling frameworks like SAFe or LeSS.
An experienced program leader acts as the central bridge between technical project teams and executive leadership. They design structured communication plans, translate complex technical issues into business impact for C-level executives, and manage expectations across diverse departments.
Yes, an external program manager is often brought in specifically to turn around troubled initiatives. Because they are independent of internal corporate politics, they can conduct an objective audit, restructure governance, and make the hard decisions necessary to realign the workstreams.
Look closely at their past track record of successfully delivered large-scale initiatives of similar scope. A top-tier program coordinator should be able to explain how they managed budgets, resolved critical resource conflicts, and handled unexpected risks in their previous engagements.
While much of the coordination and reporting can be done remotely, high-impact interim managers usually prefer a hybrid model. Initial phase alignment, critical stakeholder meetings, and major workshops are most effective when conducted on-site at the client's offices.
Change management is a core component of successful program leadership. Because large programs inevitably alter workflows, systems, and organizational structures, the leader must ensure that the human aspect of change is managed through continuous communication and training.
The average hourly rate for Program Manager is 117 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 939 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers working as Program Manager, 93% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 72% hold at least a Master's degree, and 7% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers working as Program Manager have 23 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 2.5 years.
The most common languages among freelancers working as Program Manager are English (99%), German (97%), and French (31%).
The most common industries among freelancers working as Program Manager are Information Technology (83%), Professional Services (61%), and Manufacturing (53%).
The most common business areas among freelancers working as Program Manager are Project Management (98%), Information Technology (87%), and Product Development (67%).
FRATCH Program Manager main locations
Our freelancers and interim experts are at home all over Germany — available on-site in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and every major business hub, or fully remote. Choose a city to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Berlin 
Hamburg 
Munich 
Frankfurt 
Dusseldorf 
Berlin Hamburg Munich Cologne Frankfurt Stuttgart Dusseldorf Leipzig Dortmund Essen Bremen Dresden Hanover Nuremberg 
Vienna 
Zurich Countries:
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
