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How to hire an assistant program manager

Assistant program manager hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring assistant program managers in the United States:

  • There are currently 4,880 assistant program managers in the US, as well as 74,897 job openings.
  • Assistant program managers are in the highest demand in Boston, MA, with 8 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire an assistant program manager is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new assistant program manager to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an assistant program manager, step by step

To hire an assistant program manager, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a assistant program manager:

Here's a step-by-step assistant program manager hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an assistant program manager job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant program manager
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an assistant program manager do?

An assistant program manager takes supervision of the employees within an organization. Assistant program managers provide help in projects' practical management systematically. They plan and monitor project budgets and work calendar. Part of their job is to work on projects with cross-functional teams. They manage and deliver the application programs of the companies. Also, they make an arrangement of program activities based on the set deadline. Skills necessary for this job include customer service, program management, and communication skills.

Learn more about the specifics of what an assistant program manager does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your assistant program manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an assistant program manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    An assistant program manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, assistant program managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of assistant program managers.

    Type of Assistant Program ManagerDescriptionHourly rate
    Assistant Program ManagerSocial and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. They assist other workers, such as social workers, and they help clients find benefits or community services.$16-37
    Social Work Case ManagerA Social Work Case Manager counsels groups or individuals in dealing with chronic illness, loss of a loved one, or substance abuse. They evaluate the needs of each individual client and maintain detailed records of their progress in the healing process.$15-29
    Targeted Case ManagerTargeted case managers promote parental involvement and demonstrate client advocacy through educational meetings to attain IEP services. They prioritize individual cases like accessing psychiatric hospitalization, DMP, and law enforcement while meeting caseload requirements twice a week... Show more$12-25
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • CPR
    • Program Management
    • APM
    • Customer Service
    • Kids
    • Mental Health
    • Developmental Disabilities
    • Social Work
    • Medication Administration
    • Cleanliness
    • Direct Support
    • Timekeeping
    • Community Resources
    • Autism
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Conduct daily clinical documentation audits, manage consumer financial accounts, provide oversight and approval for all treatment and discharge planning.
    • Oversee scheduling of camp arrivals on campus, assist manager with preparation of unit budget and payroll.
    • Hire and supervise employees, employee scheduling, continue employee training, facilitating staff meetings and preparing payroll reports.
    • Assist in collecting statistical report data & assist in the completion other relate program documents in compliance with HUD correspondence.
    • Schedule and run interdisciplinary meetings.
    • Complete annual re-certification and interim reviews according to HUD regulations.
    More assistant program manager duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your assistant program manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An assistant program manager salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, assistant program managers' average salary in alabama is 54% less than in district of columbia.
    • Seniority. Entry-level assistant program managers earn 56% less than senior-level assistant program managers.
    • Certifications. An assistant program manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an assistant program manager's salary.

    Average assistant program manager salary

    $53,402yearly

    $25.67 hourly rate

    Entry-level assistant program manager salary
    $35,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 13, 2025

    Average assistant program manager salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1District of Columbia$90,902$44
    2California$76,492$37
    3Washington$69,986$34
    4Pennsylvania$66,703$32
    5Connecticut$64,849$31
    6Maryland$64,361$31
    7Texas$63,754$31
    8Oregon$62,971$30
    9Illinois$62,882$30
    10New York$59,428$29
    11Michigan$57,728$28
    12Ohio$56,441$27
    13Massachusetts$55,637$27
    14North Carolina$55,360$27
    15Minnesota$51,900$25
    16Florida$51,688$25
    17Colorado$50,157$24
    18Utah$49,278$24
    19Kentucky$44,316$21

    Average assistant program manager salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA$108,408$52.122
    2General Motors$106,361$51.1410
    3FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies$84,244$40.50
    4DC Water$73,096$35.14
    5General Dynamics$70,764$34.0251
    6EMCOR Group$69,384$33.364
    7Dover$68,861$33.112
    8Yale University$68,508$32.9410
    9Jacobs Engineering Group$65,940$31.70
    10University of California$65,105$31.3011
    11New York University$62,970$30.277
    12Loudoun County Social Svc$62,909$30.24
    13Urban Resources$62,228$29.92
    14University of Michigan$60,417$29.055
    15The Kennedy Center Inc.$60,121$28.901
    16Washington State University$58,837$28.291
    17Copano/Operations, Inc$58,756$28.25
    18University of Notre Dame$58,442$28.101
    19The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory$57,696$27.741
    20Southern Energy Homes Inc$57,015$27.412
  4. Writing an assistant program manager job description

    A job description for an assistant program manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an assistant program manager job description:

    Assistant program manager job description example

    GIL Foundation Inc. is a private nonprofit that provides services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and autism in CT. Since 1985, GIL has served community residents as a top-tier care provider with a strong reputation for quality services through DDS. GIL is committed to higher standards of loving and compassionate care. Our vision is to see amazing people pursuing opportunities, while overcoming challenges, leading to transformed lives.


    We will be providing solid support from responsible Program Directors, highly qualified Nurses, and a super-supportive Administration. GIL may not be the largest private non-profit organization but we are certainly both strategic and considerate because we do appreciate the magnitude of the role, and value our staff. Therefore our leadership is sensitive to the ongoing needs of the position and dedicated to providing tools and coaching as needed.


    The Essentials – What We Are Looking For:

    We want someone who will be a good fit for our company culture, who has served as a Direct Support Professional and able to handle more responsibilities, and for the right reasons - someone who can genuinely make a difference for our residents.

    • An Assistant Program Manager for GIL should be a person of integrity who is highly committed, very responsible, and is organized with a definite attention to detail – considering the daily program assignments and compliance to state licensing regulations at this facility. A Manager who is honest, faithful, and trustworthy; and demonstrates a dedicated work ethic will fit well in our company culture.
    • This Assistant Program Manager should also be caring and compassionate with respect to our residents and a solid coach and mentor for the 12-15 staff members for which he or she will be responsible to supervise. A Manager who is kind, patient, and flexible with co-workers and team members; and also good at observing for other's needs, while listening to others, and making room for efficient and effective staff supervision and training of a diverse workforce. Someone who can manage the entire program needs (with support of course) including medical, financial, programmatic, recreational, and house/facility management.
    • This Assistant Program Manager will need to be flexible with your schedule and availability to work due to the nature of 24-hour care for individuals requiring high levels of support in a facility that you might potentially supervise. Someone who is coach-able, interested in personal development, eager to learn and willing to ask questions will fit well in our company culture.


    The Residential Program:

    GIL Foundation is seeking a committed and qualified Assistant Program Manager to join our team. The residents of this program are truly a special group and wonderful to serve. The guardians are very supportive of GIL and our staff. The residents are typically active in community outings and recreational activities; therefore an enthusiastic, attentive Assistant Manager who is willing to explore opportunities for personal expression, new experiences, and routine family interaction for our residents is preferred.


    The Other Stuff:

    In this field, there is staff turnover, it tends to go in cycles; but historically GIL has experienced lower than average rates due to our quality of care and supportive environment. However, we want potential candidates to be aware that staffing in this meaningful field during COVID has been a greater challenge due to national staff shortages and other factors beyond our control – yet we continue to work to improve this issue.


    Our shifts are set shifts, with stronger staffing patterns, and the scheduling is managed through advanced technology – an electronic scheduling system whereby all staff have access through their electronic dashboard or mobile device app. Open shifts and scheduling can be better supported and managed in real time as all staff get texts and emails through the system and can respond promptly to opening, swaps, time off, etc. for which Managers can coordinate more efficiently.


    The Manager’s schedule shall be flexible during the day shift depending on the needs of the program he or she will lead. Because this is an hourly position, the Program Manager will be able to work overtime and also allow staff overtime for scheduled coverage beyond 40-hours in a work week. This Program Manager will receive routine support from a dedicated Assistant Program Manager to assist with program assignments. On-call schedules are shared and rotated between several Managers and Supervisors to share the workload and reduce the necessary burden.


    Why Join Our Team:

    GIL Foundation has served the community for more than 35-years. We believe in the promise of better outcomes whereby our service makes a real difference in the lives of the people we support. At point of service our passion is fully expressed – the best workers shine in advancing our mission and casting a contagious vision. This is what it's really about! Our Values & Beliefs describe the kind of organization GIL is and also helps identify the kind of people who will better fit our culture. We understand the daily challenges faced by Human Service Professionals; therefore we continually strive to honor our workers' awesome dedication and genuine commitment to nonprofit service. Our cooperative passion is to strive for excellence, promote teamwork, and challenge superior performance throughout the organization.


    “There are three kinds of relationships one can have with work:
    you either have a Job, a Career, or a Calling.”

    — Chip Conley


    If you really enjoy this field and have prior management experience, we would love to chat with you about this opportunity. Even if you are interested but a bit reluctant due to previous experience, please give us the opportunity to tell our story and share our distinction. Check out our website to get a better feel for the GIL Foundation culture (www.gilfoundation.com) while exploring Our Beliefs & Values. We are certain that you will feel supported and hope that we can have the opportunity to consider you for this rewarding position.


    The following certifications will need to be obtained and approved within company policy guidelines:


    State Medication Administration Certification

    First Aid for Accidents

    CPR – Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation

    PMT – Physical Management Techniques


  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find assistant program managers for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your assistant program manager job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant program manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with assistant program manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant program manager

    Once you've decided on a perfect assistant program manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new assistant program manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an assistant program manager?

Hiring an assistant program manager comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting assistant program managers involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of assistant program manager recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

Assistant program managers earn a median yearly salary is $53,402 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find assistant program managers for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $16 and $37.

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