How to hire a Program Manager

How to hire a program manager, step by step

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

What does a Program Manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the program manager you need to hire. Certain program manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   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 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 program manager that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of program managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type Of Program Manager	Description	Hourly Rate
   Program Manager	A program manager is the person responsible for driving the successful completion of a project or a program, on time and within budget. They may develop new business and expand current business scopes.	$31-67
   Manager, Project Management	The role of a project management manager involves the planning, execution, monitoring, control, and closure of projects. Project managers oversee the scope of the entire project, the team, success or failure, and its resources... Show More	$35-69
   Consultant/Project Manager	Consultants/project managers act as planners, leaders, and advisors in business enterprises. These professionals facilitate meetings and establish positive relationships with vendors, management, and clients... Show More	$35-65

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Project Management
   • Program Management
   • Oversight
   • Customer Service
   • Infrastructure
   • Excellent Organizational
   • Risk Management
   • Patients
   • Logistics
   • Excellent Interpersonal
   • HR
   • DOD
   • Product Development
   • Process Improvement

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead managed services provider engagement of onshore and offshore interactive development and QA for pharmaceutical marketing department.
   • Lead multiple team workshops and initiate RFP proposals.
   • Manage the work process across projects as per PMI standards.
   • Develop, manage, and oversee EMBA study abroad in-residencies to Asia.
   • Manage content updates for all salesforce marketing materials, print and digital.
   • Manage the service level expectations with client agencies by monitoring and assessment establish KPIs, agreements and contracts.

   More Program Manager duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, program managers' average salary in oklahoma is 36% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level program managers 54% less than senior-level program managers.
   • Certifications. A 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 program manager's salary.

   Average program manager salary

   $96,084yearly

   $46.19 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level program manager salary

   $65,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 14, 2025

   Average program manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	California	$110,079	$53
   2	Washington	$94,596	$45
   3	New York	$91,874	$44
   4	Hawaii	$89,522	$43
   5	Massachusetts	$88,637	$43
   6	Connecticut	$88,193	$42
   7	Virginia	$87,985	$42
   8	Michigan	$87,023	$42
   9	District of Columbia	$86,608	$42
   10	North Carolina	$86,565	$42
   11	Pennsylvania	$85,011	$41
   12	Arizona	$84,474	$41
   13	Illinois	$83,783	$40
   14	Maryland	$80,717	$39
   15	Indiana	$80,579	$39
   16	Ohio	$80,448	$39
   17	Texas	$79,299	$38
   18	Oregon	$78,702	$38
   19	Georgia	$78,644	$38
   20	Wisconsin	$76,472	$37

   Average program manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	Meta	$149,617	$71.93	646
   2	Google	$147,694	$71.01	289
   3	NVIDIA	$143,554	$69.02	73
   4	McKinsey & Company Inc	$143,353	$68.92	4
   5	Airbnb	$143,117	$68.81	14
   6	Apple	$142,071	$68.30	613
   7	Microsoft	$140,450	$67.52	297
   8	Bridgewater Associates	$139,239	$66.94
   9	eBay	$138,686	$66.68	9
   10	First Republic Bank	$138,462	$66.57
   11	Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation	$138,316	$66.50	16
   12	Avid	$138,275	$66.48	5
   13	Intuitive Surgical	$137,489	$66.10	6
   14	Varian Medical Systems	$136,950	$65.84
   15	BP America Inc	$136,893	$65.81	4
   16	Quidel	$136,150	$65.46
   17	Cadence Design Systems	$135,794	$65.29	5
   18	VMware	$135,786	$65.28
   19	PayPal	$135,517	$65.15	31
   20	SAP	$134,732	$64.78	16

4. Writing a Program Manager Job Description

   A good 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 program manager job description:

   Program Manager job description example

   Staff Program Manager, NGS Companion Diagnostic development
   
   **How will you make an impact?**
   
   As Staff Program Manager you will manage development and regulatory submission of Next Generation Sequencing based Oncology Companion Diagnostic (CDx) assays within the Clinical Sequencing Division. You will execute on project timelines and goals from initial concept through successful commercialization and project closure in coordination with external clients. This position reports to Director, Program Management Office.
   
   + **Responsibilities** Lead matrixed team to ensure on time development and regulatory submission of a Next Generation Sequencing based Companion Diagnostic assays with external clients.Conduct team meetings: Ensure decisions are made, generate minutes, monitor progress and action items to support successful project execution.Develop, monitor and control project timeline in conjunction with both internal functions and external clients.Develop, monitor and control budget including resources and costs and in coordination with Finance and functional departments.Proactively identify risks and challenges: develop plans to address, facilitate tradeoff decisions, escalate to key internal stakeholders, removing obstacles.Ensure compliance to company quality management systems, policies and procedures for a regulated product.Act with sense of urgency to drive issues to resolution in a matrixed environment and at various levels of management.Any other reasonable activity required by management/leadership.
   
   + **Required Experience** BS in Molecular Biology, Genetics or EngineeringAt least 3 years project management experience including principles, tools and applications. (i.e. timeline management, resource allocation, cost estimation, risks analysis).Experience with regulated medical devices developed under 21 CFR Part 820 Subpart C - Design Controls (or other regulated product development such as drugs or biologics) Proficiency with Project Management software to manage complex project timelines and resources Proficiency with other Microsoft Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
   
   + **Required Competencies / Abilities:** Exceptional written and verbal communication skills: assertively and effectively articulates complex concepts and ideas to broad audiences.Experience working as a vendor for external clients highly preferred.Confidence interacting with various levels of management stays focused and on-point, able to raise problems or challenges in productive manner.Financial acumen: plans and oversees project budgets (Profit & Loss) Strong presentation skills: effective summarizing and presenting decision points and key considerations.Strong influencing skills: gets things done without formal authority.Strong negotiation skills: drives discussions and decisions toward desired results Strong interpersonal skills: cultivates relationships with key internal partners, manages conflict Outstanding orientation to teamwork: works collaboratively, effectively and efficiently with others
   
   Thermo Fisher Scientific is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right program manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit program managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 program manager

   Once you've selected the best 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 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 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 program manager?