How to hire a senior manager, program management

How to hire a senior manager, program management, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior manager, program management hiring guide:

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

What does a senior manager, program management do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your senior manager, program management 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 a senior manager, program management 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?

   Yes

   No

   A senior manager, program management's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior managers, program management 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.

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

   Type of Senior Manager, Program Management	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Manager, Program Management	Computer and information systems managers, often called information technology (IT) managers or IT project managers, plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization. They help determine the information technology goals of an organization and are responsible for implementing computer systems to meet those goals.	$46-87
   Program/Project Manager	The program manager and project manager are two important positions within a company that are thought to be similar. However, program managers direct diverse projects and programs while project managers head the team who is responsible for ensuring a project is completed on time and within budget... Show more	$35-66
   Data Manager	A data manager is responsible for monitoring the efficiency of the company's technology systems and network infrastructures. Data managers ensure the safety and security of the databases to avoid unauthorized access that may pose risks for business operations... Show more	$35-76

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Program Management
   • Project Management
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Risk Management
   • Infrastructure
   • Sigma
   • Lean Six Sigma
   • Governance
   • DOD
   • Process Improvement
   • Business Development
   • Product Development
   • Business Objectives
   • Software Development

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage Americas fitness reimbursement and tuition reimbursement plans.
   • Manage projects leveraging both agile and waterfall methodologies throughout SDLC.
   • Manage full SDLC application development projects using agile development methodology.
   • Handle intake process, obtain insurance authorizations, supervise utilization and management of Medicaid behavioral health manage care services.
   • Demonstrate use of PMI methodology practices and tools.
   • Implement PMI standards and methodology, IEEE system engineering standards, and project recovery techniques.

   More senior manager, program management duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the senior manager, program management job description is a good way to get more applicants. A senior manager, program management salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a senior manager, program management in Kentucky may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level senior manager, program management. Additionally, a senior manager, program management with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average senior manager, program management salary

   $132,993yearly

   $63.94 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior manager, program management salary

   $97,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average senior manager, program management salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$163,367	$79
   2	Washington	$141,185	$68
   3	New York	$136,238	$66
   4	Massachusetts	$134,703	$65
   5	District of Columbia	$131,734	$63
   6	Maryland	$131,122	$63
   7	Virginia	$130,603	$63
   8	Nevada	$130,525	$63
   9	Texas	$129,880	$62
   10	Connecticut	$129,041	$62
   11	Oregon	$126,104	$61
   12	Illinois	$126,049	$61
   13	Arizona	$122,278	$59
   14	Florida	$119,674	$58
   15	Hawaii	$119,026	$57
   16	Alabama	$118,143	$57
   17	North Carolina	$114,980	$55
   18	Michigan	$114,527	$55
   19	Indiana	$114,384	$55
   20	Arkansas	$114,350	$55

   Average senior manager, program management salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Roku	$198,399	$95.38	12
   2	Google	$184,741	$88.82	262
   3	The Walt Disney Company	$182,593	$87.79	116
   4	NVIDIA	$179,658	$86.37	54
   5	Flexport	$175,898	$84.57	11
   6	Twitter	$172,104	$82.74
   7	Bain & Company	$168,861	$81.18	17
   8	Foundation Medicine	$166,676	$80.13	1
   9	PayPal	$166,038	$79.83	85
   10	Rivian	$166,009	$79.81	30
   11	Sutro Biopharma	$165,098	$79.37
   12	eBay	$164,337	$79.01	37
   13	Stanford Health Care	$163,122	$78.42	39
   14	Apple	$162,238	$78.00	208
   15	Vista Equity Partners	$161,393	$77.59
   16	Uber Technologies	$161,019	$77.41	3
   17	Citi	$160,654	$77.24	36
   18	Sarepta Therapeutics	$158,180	$76.05
   19	DoorDash	$156,825	$75.40	106
   20	Xilinx	$155,821	$74.91

4. Writing a senior manager, program management job description

   A senior manager, program management job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a senior manager, program management job description:

   Senior manager, program management job description example

   Leading the future in luxury electric and mobility
   At Lucid, we set out to introduce the most captivating, luxury electric vehicles that elevate the human experience and transcend the perceived limitations of space, performance, and intelligence. Vehicles that are intuitive, liberating, and designed for the future of mobility.
   
   We plan to lead in this new era of luxury electric by returning to the fundamentals of great design - where every decision we make is in service of the individual and environment. Because when you are no longer bound by convention, you are free to define your own experience.
   
   Come work alongside some of the most accomplished minds in the industry. Beyond providing competitive salaries, we're providing a community for innovators who want to make an immediate and significant impact. If you are driven to create a better, more sustainable future, then this is the right place for you.
   
   We are currently seeking a leader and driver for our Program Management Organization. This position requires an experienced professional with a strong vehicle launch background and excellent communication skills who is comfortable communicating complex issues at all levels of the organization. Our ideal candidate exhibits a can-do attitude and approaches his or her work with vigor and determination. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate excellence in their respective fields, to possess the ability to learn quickly and to strive for perfection within a fast-paced environment.
   The RoleThe successful candidate is a fearless leader of large cross-functional teams with the ability to structure complex programs, drive execution on schedule, and responsible for clear communication of status and issues at all levels.Lead a team of Program Managers and help grow the organization Responsible for the overall vehicle timeline through to launch Drive the vehicle product development process in close collaboration with the leadership team, industrial design, engineering and supply chain Define and implement best in class processes Ensure readiness for mass production Proactively identify key risks and issues, prioritize, identify mitigations, and drive to closure
   The QualificattionsRequired - 15+ years of Automotive experience (OEM preferred) Excluding Industrial, Commercial, Motorcycle, or Recreational Vehicles.Required - OEM Complete Vehicle Launch experience from Concept through to Production. (EV is preferred) Will consider Concept to Gamma Prototype experience.Required - 5+ years experience in Program Management or Product development Strong technical background, experience as an engineer in complex programs Experience working with all functions of the enterprise (engineering, finance, marketing, Industrial Design, etc.) Excellent communication skills at all levels of the organization History of driving teams to perform and deliver on demanding schedules Strong aptitude to prioritize and structure complex technical programs Ability to travel as needed Education Requirements:Bachelor's degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical engineering, or related field) M.B.A. or M.S. Preferred
   At Lucid, we don't just welcome diversity - we celebrate it! Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, and any other characteristic protected under applicable State or Federal laws and regulations.
   
   Notice regarding COVID-19 protocols
   At Lucid, we prioritize the health and wellbeing of our employees, families, and friends above all else. In response to the novel Coronavirus all new Lucid employees, whose job will be based in the United States may or may not be required to provide original documentation confirming status as having received the prescribed inoculation (doses). Vaccination requirements are dependent upon location and position, please refer to the job description for more details.
   
   Individuals in positions requiring vaccinations may seek a medical and/or religious exemption from this requirement and may be granted such an accommodation after submitting a formal request to and the subsequent review and approval thereof by our dedicated Covid-19 Response team.
   
   To all recruitment agencies: Lucid Motors does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our careers alias or other Lucid Motors employees. Lucid Motors is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right senior manager, program management 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 senior managers, program management they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit senior managers, program management 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 senior manager, program management job on Zippia to find and recruit senior manager, program management candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with senior manager, program management 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.

   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 senior manager, program management

   Once you've found the senior manager, program management candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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 senior manager, program management 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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