Technical Program Manager – Enterprise Cybersecurity (IAM)

This role is an Information Security Specialist supporting the Workforce Identity and Access Management (WIAM) team, with a focus on Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Segregation of Duties (SoD) governance. The position drives enterprise IAM program delivery, including migrations from Microsoft Entra ID to Okta, while strengthening access governance and risk reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the enterprise IAM roadmap and a multi-phase migration from Microsoft Entra ID to Okta, covering planning, dependencies, implementation, adoption, and operational transition.
• Drive core identity capabilities including SSO, SAML/OIDC federation, SCIM provisioning, identity lifecycle management, and Identity Governance and Administration.
• Partner with IAM architects, security engineers, application teams, infrastructure groups, and business stakeholders to define technical requirements and implementation plans.
• Establish program governance with delivery roadmaps, milestones, KPIs, RAID logs, decision forums, and executive-level reporting across IAM workstreams.
• Coordinate implementation partners, system integrators, vendors, and internal engineering teams, ensuring accountability for quality, timelines, and outcomes.
• Identify and manage complex dependencies, security risks, organizational constraints, migration blockers, and readiness requirements.
• Align stakeholders and influence technical and business decisions across teams without direct reporting authority.
• Support governance for both human and non-human identities, including service accounts, workload identities, privileged access, and secrets management.
• Expand program leadership into broader cybersecurity initiatives, including GRC, Security Operations, Vendor Risk, Security Awareness, and enterprise security transformation.
• Translate complex IAM and cybersecurity topics into clear recommendations, decisions, and status updates for executive audiences.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience leading complex technical programs, including at least 3 years managing enterprise IAM or cybersecurity initiatives.
• Proven experience leading enterprise Okta implementations, migrations, or modernization programs, ideally involving a transition from Microsoft Entra ID.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, SSO, SAML, OIDC, SCIM, Joiner-Mover-Leaver processes, and identity governance.
• Experience coordinating multiple engineering organizations, security teams, implementation partners, and system integrators in enterprise environments.
• Program governance expertise, including roadmap development, dependency management, risk mitigation, milestone tracking, and executive reporting.
• Understanding of non-human identity governance, including service accounts, workload identities, privileged access, and secrets management platforms such as CyberArk, HashiCorp Vault, or 1Password.
• Familiarity with ISO 27001, NIST CSF, NIST 800-53, and TISAX is preferred.
• Experience in automotive, financial services, or another highly regulated industry, including enterprise joint ventures, is desirable.
• Working knowledge of Jira and Confluence, along with Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid program delivery practices.
• Excellent executive communication, stakeholder management, leadership, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to influence without direct authority.

Technology Stack

• Microsoft Entra ID, Okta
• SSO, SAML, OIDC, SCIM
• Joiner-Mover-Leaver processes
• Identity Governance and Administration
• CyberArk, HashiCorp Vault, 1Password
• ISO 27001, NIST CSF, NIST 800-53, TISAX
• Jira, Confluence
• Agile, Waterfall

Location and Salary

• Location: Palo Alto, CA (onsite)
• Base Salary: USD 160,000 - 185,000 per year
• Compensation Note: Salary range depends on experience and other qualifications.

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to applicable plan terms

Practice Overview

Cognizant’s Cloud, Infrastructure, and Security Services Practice (CIS) focuses on embracing digital transformation by driving modernization holistically across layers.