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What is a vice president-program management and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Angela Grotto Ph.D.,
Dr. Daryl Green

The Vice President of Program Management plays a key role in a company and is in charge of many departments and teams, ensuring that they meet or promote company goals. They report on project progress, risk, and other major initiatives and projects to investors and executives.

The VP must also make sure that their teams finish their work within the allocated time and within the allocated budget. They may need to tutor certain personnel and cooperate and communicate with a number of different employees, important clients and patrons, and representatives of other companies.

A person in this role will generally need to have a Bachelor's or even a Master's in Business or a similarly applicable subject, a deep understanding of the industry they work in, and years of experience, especially in managerial positions. An analytical mind is important, as well as communication, project management, computer, and risk assessment skills. On average, the Vice President of Program Management earns $148,537 a year.

What general advice would you give to a vice president-program management?

Angela Grotto Ph.D.Angela Grotto Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Management, Manhattan College


  1. When job searching, be active and persistent - Network by setting up Zoom informational calls with professionals (alumni, people with whom your family work) to learn about jobs that you are interested in or to learn about organizations where you would like to work and then follow up with them; have someone you trust who is a professional review your resume and social media profile pages; carve out time every day to apply to jobs; use Handshake and LinkedIn as a resource; keep sending out applications; while job searching, volunteer or start your business project that showcases your skillset and then discuss it during your interviews.
  2. When interviewing, be creative - Use experiences from your academic career to demonstrate your capabilities. There are many skills you learn in class that are transferrable to the professional world. For example, as a student, you likely had to pivot to full remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, discuss how the new learning format has prepared you to work remotely as an employee, how small group projects have primed you to collaborate on a virtual team, and how small classes have equipped you to use technology such as Zoom.
  3. When deciding on a job offer, be open-minded - Your first job may not be the one you had imagined or hoped for upon graduation. Still, it may be a stepping stone to your ideal career or a way to build your network of professional connections. You create meaningful and valuable relationships with others who may one day help you get the job you want.
  4. When you land the job, be flexible - Show your employer or your boss that you're willing to step outside your comfort zone and do tasks that you were not necessarily trained for or are unrelated to your degree. Also, when circumstances at work change, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, show that you are willing to step up and do a different job, do someone else's job, or work on another project or team. This flexibility will demonstrate your versatility and how you can adapt to new and unpredictable situations. Lastly, embrace the "gig" economy - be willing to start as a temporary or contract worker with a company to get your foot in the door and build more professional connections.
ScoreVice President-Program ManagementUS Average
Salary
8.5

Avg. Salary $133,043

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.6

Growth rate 16%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.21%

Asian 12.62%

Black or African American 6.74%

Hispanic or Latino 10.12%

Unknown 5.21%

White 65.10%

Gender

female 25.86%

male 74.14%

Age - 47
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 - 47
Stress level
8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Vice president-program management career paths

Key steps to become a vice president-program management

  1. Explore vice president-program management education requirements

    Most common vice president-program management degrees

    Bachelor's

    74.2 %

    Master's

    21.6 %

    Associate

    2.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific vice president-program management skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Program Management16.04%
    Project Management9.23%
    Oversight5.87%
    Governance5.33%
    PMO4.34%
  3. Complete relevant vice president-program management training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New vice president-program managements 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 vice president-program management based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real vice president-program management resumes.
  4. Gain additional vice president-program management certifications

    Vice president-program management certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific vice president-program management certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for vice president-program managements include Project Management Professional (PMP) and Six Sigma Green Belt.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research vice president-program management duties and responsibilities

    • Lead delivery of all technology projects; customer-facing products, corporate applications, and infrastructure.
    • Establish and direct technology vision and lead all aspects of software development including project and program governance.
    • Handle intake process, obtain insurance authorizations, supervise utilization and management of Medicaid behavioral health manage care services.
    • Incorporate PMI guidelines and mentore team.
  6. Get vice president-program management experience

    Generally, it takes 6-8 years to become a vice president-program management. The most common roles before becoming a vice president-program management include senior project manager, vice president team lead and project manager.
  7. Prepare your vice president-program management resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your vice president-program management resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a vice president-program management resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable vice president-program management resume templates

    Build a professional vice president-program management resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your vice president-program management resume.
    Vice President-Program Management Resume
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    Vice President-Program Management Resume
  8. Apply for vice president-program management jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a vice president-program management job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

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

How did you land your first vice president-program management job

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Average vice president-program management salary

The average vice president-program management salary in the United States is $133,043 per year or $64 per hour. Vice president-program management salaries range between $88,000 and $200,000 per year.

Average vice president-program management salary
$133,043 Yearly
$63.96 hourly

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Vice president-program management reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022
Cons

I am responsible for everything be it any side of the business


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

Project concept, execution - meeting business and Customer expectations.

Cons

Enjoy all aspects.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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