How To Become A Regional Program Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a regional program manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Daryl Green

A regional program manager oversees and provides targeted assistance to clusters of stores or branches. They typically work in national or multinational corporations or organizations with a wide area of operations.

Their responsibilities revolve around the coordination and implementation of company policies and strategies to boost and maintain the performance and profit of the region that they are managing. They work closely with the marketing team and contribute insights to develop more effective marketing strategies in connection with the latest trends in the industry.

Since they manage a significant area of operations, they must have strong leadership and organizational skills. They must also work well and handle multiple tasks in a high-pressure work environment.

Pursuing a career as a regional program manager requires a bachelor's degree in business or any field related to the company's specialization or nature of operations. Some employers prefer candidates with a master's degree in business administration. Obtaining professional certification and familiarity with multiple languages may be advantageous to get this position.

What's a day at work look like for a regional program manager?

Dr. Daryl Green

Associate Professor of Business, Oklahoma Baptist University

Given the on-going threats of Covid-19, recent graduates can expect varying work days. Some students are working remotely (instead of an office space). Therefore, some recent graduates may still be living with their parents. We are still adjusting to 'The New Normal.' Given this reality, students need to be flexible and adaptable to their employment situation.

ScoreRegional Program ManagerUS Average

Salary

6.1

Avg. Salary $77,833

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.4

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.24%

Asian 4.07%

Black or African American 3.24%

Hispanic or Latino 9.82%

Unknown 4.41%

White 78.23%

Gender

female 43.65%

male 56.35%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a regional program manager

Explore regional program manager education requirements

Most common regional program manager degrees

Bachelor's

67.4 %

Master's

17.5 %

Associate

9.2 %

Start to develop specific regional program manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Program Management	14.54%
Project Management	12.62%
Infrastructure	11.40%
Rehabilitation	6.96%
Professional Development	5.83%

Complete relevant regional program manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New regional program managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a regional program manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real regional program manager resumes.

Research regional program manager duties and responsibilities

Manage the logistics, technical issues, and resources of the entire WiMAX program within the EMEA region.
Establish and manage the mid-Atlantic regional office of a privately own legal education company that provide educational services to law students.
Provide ongoing consultation and support to administrators on practice building as it relate to the industrial rehabilitation continuum.
Review operational reports and records to ensure adherence to company policies and procedures, monitor profitability, and manage payroll budgets.

Apply for regional program manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a regional program manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do regional program managers rate their job?

-/5

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Regional program manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Pros

Project concept, execution - meeting business and Customer expectations.

Cons

Enjoy all aspects.