How to hire a development & program manager

How to hire a development & program manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step development & 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 a development & program manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new development & program manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a development & program manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The development & program manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a development & program manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a development & program manager that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of development & program manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Development & Program Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Development & Program Manager	Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services. They work with art directors, sales agents, and financial staff members.	$36-65
   Director Of Product Development	A Director of Product Development supervises and implements product development policies, initiatives, and objectives. They conduct market research to determine consumer needs and identify competitors.	$48-94
   Web Manager	Web Managers are responsible for managing websites for organizations. Their duties include managing website upgrades, testing for website performance, implement a strategy to increase web traffic and subscribers, troubleshooting website issues, and responding to security breaches... Show more	$25-60

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Professional Development
   • Project Management
   • Program Management
   • Business Development
   • HR
   • Program Development
   • PowerPoint
   • Training Programs
   • Software Development
   • Process Improvement
   • Development Projects
   • Management System
   • Product Development
   • Performance Management

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage PLM data integrity report and PLM post launch report by project.
   • Manage a budget of $600,000 each year to maintain annual KPIs.
   • Develop, establish, and manage product families OEM in and out relationships.
   • Shape the strategic direction and implement CRM strategies to manage a corporate loyalty program.
   • Manage the vendor selection process among OEM candidates and manage requirements lock down across vendors.
   • Manage direct and indirect sales channels and strategic partners within the Americas for new development products.

   More development & program manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your development & program manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A development & program manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, development & program managers' average salary in alaska is 34% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level development & program managers 45% less than senior-level development & program managers.
   • Certifications. A development & program manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a development & program manager's salary.

   Average development & program manager salary

   $102,824yearly

   $49.43 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level development & program manager salary

   $76,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average development & program manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$128,819	$62
   2	South Carolina	$118,142	$57
   3	Arizona	$114,178	$55
   4	Delaware	$111,830	$54
   5	New Hampshire	$110,838	$53
   6	Virginia	$110,283	$53
   7	Pennsylvania	$107,950	$52
   8	Washington	$106,304	$51
   9	Minnesota	$104,899	$50
   10	Texas	$104,661	$50
   11	District of Columbia	$104,269	$50
   12	Ohio	$103,345	$50
   13	New York	$103,195	$50
   14	Nevada	$102,751	$49
   15	Massachusetts	$102,051	$49
   16	Illinois	$99,314	$48
   17	Florida	$98,209	$47
   18	Kentucky	$97,847	$47
   19	North Carolina	$97,222	$47
   20	Indiana	$95,900	$46

   Average development & program manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Foundation Medicine	$149,854	$72.05	1
   2	Koch Industries	$147,045	$70.69	1
   3	ON Semiconductor	$145,360	$69.88	2
   4	Citi	$142,123	$68.33	36
   5	Meta	$140,915	$67.75	615
   6	Carbon	$140,825	$67.70
   7	Google	$140,766	$67.68	262
   8	NVIDIA	$140,212	$67.41	50
   9	Synaptics	$139,396	$67.02	1
   10	Barnes & Noble	$138,215	$66.45	3
   11	AstraZeneca	$138,146	$66.42	7
   12	Stanford University	$137,811	$66.26	18
   13	Marshall University	$137,724	$66.21	3
   14	Cirrus Logic	$133,819	$64.34	3
   15	Chewy	$133,599	$64.23	3
   16	Illumina	$133,260	$64.07	3
   17	HIMSS	$133,019	$63.95
   18	ServiceNow	$131,960	$63.44	23
   19	Intermountain Healthcare	$131,380	$63.16	2
   20	BD	$130,999	$62.98	7

4. Writing a development & program manager job description

   A good development & program manager job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a development & program manager job description:

   Development & program manager job description example

   · Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree or 5 years of recent equivalent directly related work experience required, a Master Degree is a plus.

   · Minimum 4 years of recent program development, public relations and project management experience.

   · Demonstrated knowledge of community-based health care delivery, including Federally Qualified Health Centers.

   · Exemplary presentation, verbal and written communication skills.

   · A strong working knowledge and experience building networks/ partnerships.

   · Sharp business instincts and a mindset for excellence.

   · Excellent interpersonal skills with strong customer orientation.

   · Ability to work under pressure; effectively manage multiple projects and deadlines.

   · Excellent time management and prioritization skill; demonstrates sense of urgency and
   understands priority.

   · Strong administrative and organizational skills.

   · Proficiency in the MS Office Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Outlook),.

   · Proven ability to handle sensitive/confidential information and situations with diplomacy, confidence and tact.

   · Strong work ethic and high level of integrity.

   · Must be able to work full time in the office. Evening and weekend overtime work may be required to meet the organization’s needs and project deadlines

   · Excellent problem-solving skill; ability to identify, address, and resolve issues in a timely manner.

   The ideal Development Manager, Programs and Services has the ability to naturally blend ideas and logic; is creative and excited to support BACH’s mission and communities it serves.

   Work Conditions:

   Travel locally to visit other sites and stakeholders. May require a day or overnight trip to attend events. Workload may be demanding at times, position requires professionalism and
   confidentiality.

   Physical Demands:

   This position requires:

   · Sitting, walking, and standing associated with a normal office environment.

   · Regular bending and stretching; and lifting.

   · Manual dexterity used to include, but not limited to, standard office equipment, and computer keyboard.

   · Traveling to work sites including some exposure to outside elements.

   · Presenting information in front of a group.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right development & program manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with development & program managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit development & program managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your development & program manager job on Zippia to find and recruit development & program manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit development & program managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   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 development & program manager

   Once you've selected the best development & program manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new development & 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 a development & program manager?