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Program Manager Job Description: Top Duties and Requirements

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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8 min read

Program management is essential for organizations seeking to achieve strategic goals through coordinated efforts. Program managers provide leadership and oversight for related projects (a program), ensuring alignment with the organization’s vision and mission. They focus on maximizing benefits and value by optimizing resource allocation, managing interdependencies, and mitigating risks across the program.

Program manager duties and responsibilities

A program manager’s primary duties and responsibilities include daily governance of programs to ensure tasks are kept on schedule, budget management, and communication with all program collaborators. Some other essential duties and responsibilities required to excel as a program manager include:

  • Strategic planning, including defining the program roadmap, goals, and success metrics, and aligning them with the company’s overall strategy
  • Tracking progress against program goals, identifying issues, and taking corrective action
  • Managing the interdependencies between different projects within a program, ensuring smooth collaboration between teams to identify, secure, and onboard resources for the program
  • Distributing resources (people, budget, time) across projects within the program to optimize efficiency
  • Identifying potential reputational risks across the program and developing mitigation strategies
  • Identifying any barriers to successful program execution and escalating as appropriate
  • Managing contracts and agreements with clients to ensure all requirements are fulfilled
  • Providing regular updates on program status, including key performance indicators (KPIs) and financial metrics

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Program Manager Job Description Examples:

Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

What does a program manager do?

A program manager plays a vital role in the overall success of an organization by ensuring programs align with its vision and mission. They define and oversee the overall scope of the program, including planning, budgeting, and allocating resources for these projects, often within a specific industry or sector. Program managers assess the performance of projects within the program to identify areas for improvement and resolve any issues that arise. They work closely with project managers and team leads, providing clear instructions to ensure the successful execution of all projects within the program.

Program manager skills and qualifications

A program manager makes critical decisions that can impact the company’s direction and success. Therefore, advanced leadership, negotiation, and change management skills are essential. A successful program manager also has a range of hard and soft skills, including:

  • Analytical skills to break down complex parts of a structure or system into smaller pieces and understand how each contributes to the whole
  • Close attention to detail and a high level of accuracy
  • An ability to improve processes, minimize resources, and maximize the effectiveness of the program
  • Excellent written and verbal communication to take and give constructive feedback
  • Flexible and adaptive to a frequently changing environment

Program manager experience requirements

A program manager typically requires three to five years of experience working on or managing programs in a relevant field. Ideal candidates possess strong leadership, communication, and project management skills and often have backgrounds as program coordinators or project managers. The specific amount of experience needed may vary depending on the company, industry, and the complexity of the program being managed.

Program manager education and training requirements

Program managers typically require a bachelor’s degree in business administration, computer science, communications, marketing, or a topic relevant to the industry they will be working in. Ideal candidates will have a master’s degree in finance, project management, or business development and have obtained the Project Management Professional (PMP) or related certification. Candidates with industry-relevant certifications may be preferred, but the certifications are not typically necessary for the role.

Program manager salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a program manager is $84,424 per year. The salary may be dependent on experience, location, and company.

Job description samples for similar positions

If a program manager isn’t quite what you are looking for, other related job descriptions include:

Program manager job description FAQs

What is the difference between a program manager and a project manager?

A program manager oversees a group of related projects, focusing on the big picture and the strategic alignment of those projects to achieve a larger organizational goal. A project manager leads a single, defined project from start to finish, managing its details and ensuring timely delivery within set parameters.

Is a program manager in demand in Canada?

Program managers are in demand in Canada, and the field is growing rapidly. They are needed in a variety of industries, including technology, healthcare, finance, construction, government, and non-profits. Their skills are applicable in any field that requires the coordination of multiple projects.

How do I recruit the best program managers?

To recruit the best program managers, focus on creating a detailed job description outlining the specific skills and experience required. Leverage multiple recruitment channels like professional networks and job boards and conduct thorough interviews that assess technical expertise and soft skills like leadership and communication. It’s also important to prioritize cultural fit within your organization by involving team members in the interview process.

What skills and experience do employers look for in a program manager?

Employers typically look for program managers with strong leadership, communication, strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and risk management skills. Suitable candidates will have experience in project planning and execution, the ability to manage complex cross-functional teams, and a proven track record of delivering successful programs on time and within budget. Experience in project management can be a stepping stone to a program manager role.

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