Program Manager Jobs in Iowa
Program Manager jobs in Iowa are in consistent demand, with strong hiring concentrated in healthcare administration, insurance and financial services, manufacturing operations, and technology project delivery. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City are the leading markets, home to major employers such as Principal Financial Group, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the University of Iowa Health Care, all of which run substantial program management functions. The most sought-after specialties are IT program management, healthcare operations, and enterprise project governance at the director-adjacent level. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Program Manager JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 26+ Program Manager jobs
JOB DESCRIPTION Job SummaryProvides subject matter expertise and leadership for Medicare Stars quality improvement (QI) programs and activities. Provides subject matter expertise in planning and implementing QI initiatives and education programs to support improved Medicare Star ratings. Responsible for leading and managing Medicare Star projects and programs involving enterprise, department, cross-functional and health plan teams of subject matter experts, delivering impactful quality improvement initiatives through design process to completion and outcomes measurement.
Essential Job Duties
- Collaborates with cross-functional corporate and health plan teams on the development and implementation of enterprise Medicare Stars quality improvement (QI) programs and initiatives across the enterprise.
- Manages, plans and executes Medicare Star ratings programs.
- Supports Stars program execution and governance needs; communicates, measures outcomes and develops initiatives to improve Star ratings.
- Serves as the Medicare Stars subject matter expert to corporate functional areas/health plans, and leads programs to meet critical needs.
- Communicates and collaborates with health plans and Stars measure owners to analyze and transform needs and goals into functional requirements to maximize improvement opportunities.
- Leads health plan leadership discussions to provide recommendations, performance results and opportunity assessments for Medicare Stars improvement.
- Collaborates with operational leaders within the business to provide recommendations on opportunities for
process improvements, organizational change management, program management and other processes related to Medicare Star ratings.
- Facilitates process improvement, organizational change management, program management and other processes relative to the Medicare Stars Program.
- Plans and directs schedules for program initiatives, as well as program budgets.
- Develops, defines, and executes plans, schedules, and deliverables; monitors programs from initiation
through delivery through outcomes measurement.
- Monitors and tracks key performance indicators (KPIs), programs and initiatives to reflect the value and effectiveness of Stars and QI programs.
- Creates business requirements documents, test plans, requirements traceability matrix, user training materials and other related documents.
- Monitors projects from inception through delivery and outcomes measurement.
- May engage and oversee the work of external vendors.
- Generates and distributes quality improvement/Medicare Stars standard reports timely.
Required Qualifications
- At least 6 years of Medicare Stars program and project management experience, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with Medicare Star ratings and QI programs.
- Advanced knowledge of the quality discipline, including metrics and performance standards.
- Experience with government-sponsored programs (Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace).
- Experience developing performance measures that support business objectives.
- Solid business writing experience.
- Strong strategic-thinking skills.
- Strong proficiency with data analysis, manipulation, interpretation, reporting and data-driven decision-making.
- Critical-thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Ability to implement process improvement initiatives and drive change.
- Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Ability to work in a cross-functional highly matrixed organization.
- Strong project management experience.
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
- Microsoft Office suite (including Excel), and applicable software programs proficiency, and ability to learn new information systems and software programs.
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong Medicare Stars/quality improvement (QI) program experience.
- Six Sigma Black Belt Certification.
- ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) certification.
- Experience in leading significant cross-functional work.
- Strong project management experience.
To all current Molina employees: If you are interested in applying for this position, please apply through the Internal Job Board.
Molina Healthcare offers a competitive benefits and compensation package. Molina Healthcare is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/D/V
Pay Range: $69,447 - $142,548.59 / ANNUAL
*Actual compensation may vary from posting based on geographic location, work experience, education and/or skill level.
JOB DESCRIPTION Job SummaryProvides subject matter expertise and leadership for Medicare Stars quality improvement (QI) programs and activities. Provides subject matter expertise in planning and implementing QI initiatives and education programs to support improved Medicare Star ratings. Responsible for leading and managing Medicare Star projects and programs involving enterprise, department, cross-functional and health plan teams of subject matter experts, delivering impactful quality improvement initiatives through design process to completion and outcomes measurement.
Essential Job Duties
- Collaborates with cross-functional corporate and health plan teams on the development and implementation of enterprise Medicare Stars quality improvement (QI) programs and initiatives across the enterprise.
- Manages, plans and executes Medicare Star ratings programs.
- Supports Stars program execution and governance needs; communicates, measures outcomes and develops initiatives to improve Star ratings.
- Serves as the Medicare Stars subject matter expert to corporate functional areas/health plans, and leads programs to meet critical needs.
- Communicates and collaborates with health plans and Stars measure owners to analyze and transform needs and goals into functional requirements to maximize improvement opportunities.
- Leads health plan leadership discussions to provide recommendations, performance results and opportunity assessments for Medicare Stars improvement.
- Collaborates with operational leaders within the business to provide recommendations on opportunities for
process improvements, organizational change management, program management and other processes related to Medicare Star ratings.
- Facilitates process improvement, organizational change management, program management and other processes relative to the Medicare Stars Program.
- Plans and directs schedules for program initiatives, as well as program budgets.
- Develops, defines, and executes plans, schedules, and deliverables; monitors programs from initiation
through delivery through outcomes measurement.
- Monitors and tracks key performance indicators (KPIs), programs and initiatives to reflect the value and effectiveness of Stars and QI programs.
- Creates business requirements documents, test plans, requirements traceability matrix, user training materials and other related documents.
- Monitors projects from inception through delivery and outcomes measurement.
- May engage and oversee the work of external vendors.
- Generates and distributes quality improvement/Medicare Stars standard reports timely.
Required Qualifications
- At least 6 years of Medicare Stars program and project management experience, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with Medicare Star ratings and QI programs.
- Advanced knowledge of the quality discipline, including metrics and performance standards.
- Experience with government-sponsored programs (Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace).
- Experience developing performance measures that support business objectives.
- Solid business writing experience.
- Strong strategic-thinking skills.
- Strong proficiency with data analysis, manipulation, interpretation, reporting and data-driven decision-making.
- Critical-thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Ability to implement process improvement initiatives and drive change.
- Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Ability to work in a cross-functional highly matrixed organization.
- Strong project management experience.
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
- Microsoft Office suite (including Excel), and applicable software programs proficiency, and ability to learn new information systems and software programs.
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong Medicare Stars/quality improvement (QI) program experience.
- Six Sigma Black Belt Certification.
- ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) certification.
- Experience in leading significant cross-functional work.
- Strong project management experience.
To all current Molina employees: If you are interested in applying for this position, please apply through the Internal Job Board.
Molina Healthcare offers a competitive benefits and compensation package. Molina Healthcare is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/D/V
Pay Range: $69,447 - $142,548.59 / ANNUAL
*Actual compensation may vary from posting based on geographic location, work experience, education and/or skill level.
See All 26 Program Manager Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Program Manager JobsProgram Manager Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Program Manager Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Collins Aerospace5
- Daniels Health2
- Molina Healthcare2
- CAE1
- QTS1
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services3
- Aerospace & Defense2
- Waste Management & Environmental Services2
- Manufacturing1
- Food & Beverage1
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in program manager jobs across Iowa.
- Bachelor's degree in business, project management, engineering, or a related field
- PMP or PgMP certification strongly preferred or required by most Iowa employers
- Five or more years managing cross-functional programs or large-scale projects
- Experience with program lifecycle tools such as MS Project, Jira, or Smartsheet
- Proven ability to manage program budgets, timelines, and stakeholder communications
- Familiarity with Agile, Scrum, or waterfall methodologies depending on the employer's environment
Program Manager Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a program manager in Iowa?
Program management has no state-issued license in Iowa, so the path runs through education and professional certification. Most Iowa employers expect a bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or a related field, followed by several years of project or operations experience. Earning a Project Management Professional credential through the Project Management Institute is the most widely recognized step that signals readiness for program-level roles at large Iowa employers in healthcare, insurance, and manufacturing.
Which companies hire program managers in Iowa?
Iowa program manager roles are posted by Collins Aerospace, Daniels Health, and Molina Healthcare and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Iowa's concentration of large insurance carriers, regional health systems, and advanced manufacturing firms means program management demand is spread across multiple sectors rather than tied to a single industry.
Which Iowa cities have the most program manager jobs?
Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and West Des Moines account for the greatest concentration of program manager openings in Iowa. Des Moines anchors the market through its dense cluster of insurance, financial services, and technology employers, while Cedar Rapids draws demand from manufacturing and logistics operations, and Iowa City's openings are driven largely by the University of Iowa and its associated health system.
Are there remote program manager jobs in Iowa?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 50% of program manager openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting the desk-based, coordination-heavy nature of the role. The functions most likely to be fully remote are IT program management and enterprise transformation roles, while program managers embedded in manufacturing plants or clinical operations are typically required on site.
How can I get hired as a program manager in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving laterally from a project coordinator or business analyst role within a large Iowa employer and building toward program responsibilities over time. Health systems such as UnityPoint Health and UI Health Care, as well as insurers like Principal Financial Group, regularly post coordinator and analyst positions that feed into program management tracks. Earning a Certified Associate in Project Management credential before applying gives candidates without years of experience a concrete signal of commitment that Iowa hiring managers recognize.
Where can I find and apply to program manager jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to program manager jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings across industries and experience levels. Search the roles available, identify the ones that match your background and location preference, and apply directly to each opening that fits your situation.
See All 26 Program Manager Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Program Manager Jobs