Project Program Manager Jobs in Iowa
Project Program Manager jobs in Iowa concentrate heavily in insurance and financial services, manufacturing, agriculture technology, and healthcare administration, with demand across both entry-level coordinator roles and senior program directors. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport anchor the hiring market, where established employers like Principal Financial Group, Collins Aerospace, and UnityPoint Health maintain large, ongoing project and program management functions. The most in-demand specialties are technology program management, operational process improvement, and enterprise-wide project portfolio oversight. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Job Description
This is a non-merit position with the Iowa Department of Transportation. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section.
Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.
Are you interested in playing a critical role in shaping transportation investments across the State of Iowa? Do you like to collaborate with a wide array of stakeholders to improve our program development and associated business processes? Do you enjoy leading people and creating a positive work environment? If so, this position is for you.
As the Program Management Bureau Director, your duties will include, but are not limited to:
- Working with the Iowa Transportation Commission and Iowa DOT Executive Leadership Team to oversee the development of the Iowa Transportation Improvement Program (5-year Program), which includes approximately $4.3 billion in multi-modal statewide transportation investments.
- Overseeing the development of the Federal Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).
- Overseeing the effective management and administration of Federal highway funding to maximize the amount of Federal funding that can be utilized for transportation improvements.
- Participating as a key member of the Transportation Development Division’s Senior Leadership Team.
- Collaborating with staff in all six Districts and other DOT divisions to improve transportation programming processes and procedures.
- Managing and overseeing the Transportation Commission tours and public engagement for Commission Meetings.
- Providing overall leadership and direction for the Program Management Bureau.
Iowa Department of Transportation’s Mission is Making Lives Better Through Transportation. To accomplish our Mission, the person selected for this position will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by the Iowa Department of Transportation’s five CORE values: Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception.
Requirements
- Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
- Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
- Insurance benefits start the first month following 30 days of employment, and costs can be reviewed here.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.
- Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match
- Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.
- Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).
We encourage you to learn more about the State of Iowa Employee Benefits and costs at the State of Iowa Employee Benefits Website!
The Iowa Department of Transportation is an equal-opportunity employer. If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing any screening, interviewing, pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please direct your request to the Affirmative Action & Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) Officer at: aa-eeo@iowadot.us.
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit http://www.e-verify.gov.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:
1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to six and one-half years of full-time management-level work in finance, human resources, engineering, law, data processing, or program research or evaluation.
2) Ten and one-half years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, data processing, or program research or evaluation.
3) All of the following (a and b): a. Six and one-half years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, data processing, or program research or evaluation; and b. A combination of a total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education.
4) All of the following (a, b, and c): a. Four and one-half years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation; and b. A combination of a total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and c. A combination of a total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in a public-service-related area (e.g., public or business administration, social work, law, education, engineering) equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education. 5) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes two years of full-time work as a Public Service Manager 1.
For additional information, please click on this (Download PDF reader)Job Class Description - 04251
Job Description
This is a non-merit position with the Iowa Department of Transportation. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section.
Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.
Are you interested in playing a critical role in shaping transportation investments across the State of Iowa? Do you like to collaborate with a wide array of stakeholders to improve our program development and associated business processes? Do you enjoy leading people and creating a positive work environment? If so, this position is for you.
As the Program Management Bureau Director, your duties will include, but are not limited to:
- Working with the Iowa Transportation Commission and Iowa DOT Executive Leadership Team to oversee the development of the Iowa Transportation Improvement Program (5-year Program), which includes approximately $4.3 billion in multi-modal statewide transportation investments.
- Overseeing the development of the Federal Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).
- Overseeing the effective management and administration of Federal highway funding to maximize the amount of Federal funding that can be utilized for transportation improvements.
- Participating as a key member of the Transportation Development Division’s Senior Leadership Team.
- Collaborating with staff in all six Districts and other DOT divisions to improve transportation programming processes and procedures.
- Managing and overseeing the Transportation Commission tours and public engagement for Commission Meetings.
- Providing overall leadership and direction for the Program Management Bureau.
Iowa Department of Transportation’s Mission is Making Lives Better Through Transportation. To accomplish our Mission, the person selected for this position will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by the Iowa Department of Transportation’s five CORE values: Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception.
Requirements
- Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
- Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
- Insurance benefits start the first month following 30 days of employment, and costs can be reviewed here.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.
- Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match
- Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.
- Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).
We encourage you to learn more about the State of Iowa Employee Benefits and costs at the State of Iowa Employee Benefits Website!
The Iowa Department of Transportation is an equal-opportunity employer. If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing any screening, interviewing, pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please direct your request to the Affirmative Action & Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) Officer at: aa-eeo@iowadot.us.
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit http://www.e-verify.gov.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:
1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to six and one-half years of full-time management-level work in finance, human resources, engineering, law, data processing, or program research or evaluation.
2) Ten and one-half years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, data processing, or program research or evaluation.
3) All of the following (a and b): a. Six and one-half years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, data processing, or program research or evaluation; and b. A combination of a total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education.
4) All of the following (a, b, and c): a. Four and one-half years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation; and b. A combination of a total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and c. A combination of a total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in a public-service-related area (e.g., public or business administration, social work, law, education, engineering) equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education. 5) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes two years of full-time work as a Public Service Manager 1.
For additional information, please click on this (Download PDF reader)Job Class Description - 04251
See All 70 Project Program Manager Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Project Program Manager JobsProject Program Manager Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Project Program Manager Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Collins Aerospace9
- The University of Iowa5
- State of Iowa3
- Balance Autism2
- Daniels Health2
Top Industries Hiring
- Education9
- Healthcare & Medical Services7
- Aerospace & Defense5
- Energy2
- Waste Management & Environmental Services2
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in project program manager jobs across Iowa.
- Project Management Professional certification preferred or required by most Iowa employers
- Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, information technology, or a related field
- Three or more years leading cross-functional projects from initiation through delivery
- Experience with project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Jira, or Smartsheet
- Demonstrated ability to manage project budgets, timelines, and stakeholder communications
- Familiarity with Agile, Scrum, or hybrid delivery frameworks in a team environment
Project Program Manager Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a project program manager in Iowa?
Iowa does not require a state-issued license to work as a project program manager, so the path runs through education and industry credentials. Most Iowa employers expect at least a bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or a related field, paired with the Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute. Building experience through coordinator or analyst roles at Iowa's large insurance, manufacturing, or healthcare employers is the most direct route into program-level positions.
How much do project program managers make in Iowa?
Project program managers in Iowa earn a median of about $96,540 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $62,000 for the lowest 10% to over $150,290 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire project program managers in Iowa?
Iowa project program manager roles are posted by Collins Aerospace, The University of Iowa, and State of Iowa and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Iowa's concentration of Fortune 500 insurance headquarters, large regional health systems, and aerospace manufacturers means consistent, recurring demand rather than cyclical hiring spikes.
Which Iowa cities have the most project program manager jobs?
Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City account for the largest share of project program manager openings in Iowa. Des Moines drives the most volume through its dense cluster of financial services headquarters and regional corporate offices, while Cedar Rapids pulls demand from aerospace, manufacturing, and technology firms, and Davenport benefits from its Quad Cities industrial and healthcare base drawing employers from both Iowa and Illinois.
Are there remote project program manager jobs in Iowa?
Yes, and more than most fields. Project program management is largely document-driven, communication-intensive, and deliverable-focused work that translates well to remote environments. About 27% of project program manager openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting how many Iowa-based employers have adopted flexible work policies for this role. Program oversight and planning phases tend to be the most remote-compatible parts of the work.
How can I get hired as a project program manager in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is landing a project coordinator or business analyst role at one of Iowa's large institutional employers, then moving into program management from within. Principal Financial Group, UnityPoint Health, and Collins Aerospace all hire junior coordinators and rotational business analysts who gain structured project exposure. Earning a Certified Associate in Project Management credential before applying gives candidates a concrete edge, and Iowa's manufacturing and insurance sectors regularly bring on operations associates who grow into program roles without prior formal PM experience.
Where can I find and apply to project program manager jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to project program manager jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings updated in real time. Search the available roles, identify the ones that fit your background and preferences, and apply directly to each position that matches.
See All 70 Project Program Manager Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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