Program Manager Job Description

Salary Range

Varies by employer

Experience

Several years coordinating projects

Work Environment

Office, with some travel

What Does a Program Manager Do?

Whether the program is a research center, a community health initiative or a workforce training service, program managers need to be able to keep several projects moving toward one goal, such as more people trained or served. In the case of a grant-funded program, the job might be something as practical as making sure each partner delivers its share on time.

Other Job Titles for This Work

Workers in this occupation report titles such as CMC Director (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls Director), Compliance Director, Global RA Director (Global Regulatory Affairs Director), Global RA Manager (Global Regulatory Affairs Manager), RA Director (Regulatory Affairs Director), RA Manager (Regulatory Affairs Manager), RA QA Director (Regulatory Affairs Quality Assurance Director), RA VP (Regulatory Affairs Vice President).

Program Manager Duties and Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of a program manager include:

• Set program goals, timelines and measures of success with leadership and funders.
• Coordinate the related projects inside the program so their schedules and resources fit together.
• Manage the program budget, approving spending and moving funds when priorities change.
• Supervise coordinators, specialists and project leads, and set their priorities each quarter.
• Write progress reports and renewal proposals that show results to funders and executives.
• Build partnerships with agencies, schools, companies and community groups that deliver parts of the program.
• Track outcomes such as enrollment, completion or people served, and act when targets slip.
• Plan for funding gaps, staff turnover and partner delays before they stall the program.
• Represent the program at board meetings, conferences and community events.
• Ensure compliance with grant terms, contracts and organizational policies across every project.

Required Skills and Qualifications

To succeed as a program manager, you will need the following skills and qualifications:

• Program planning and evaluation
• Budget management across several funding sources
• Project tools such as Smartsheet, Asana or Microsoft Project
• Grant reporting and proposal writing
• Leading teams through other managers
• Partnership building and negotiation
• Data tracking and outcome reporting
• Steady judgment when priorities compete

Education and Training

Hiring managers look first for a track record of coordinating projects, since a program is a set of related projects that runs for years. Most program managers also hold a bachelor's degree in business, public administration or the field the program serves. A project management certification rounds out the application.

Salary and Job Outlook

In BLS data, program managers fall in a catch-all category of managers not listed elsewhere, projected to grow about 5 percent from 2025 to 2035. The category is large, with about 100,900 openings a year. Program budgets often are tied to grants and contracts, but managers always will be needed as organizations run long-term efforts that outlast any single project.

Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Managers, all other.

Program Manager Pay Range

Highest-Paying States for Program Managers

The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Massachusetts ($182,950), District of Columbia ($175,720), California ($174,560), Colorado ($171,140), Delaware ($168,060). Pay is lowest in Tennessee ($99,430), Arkansas ($87,520), Indiana ($79,900).

What the Work Is Like

O*NET surveys people who work as managers, all other about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:

• 100% use email every day
• 100% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
• 95% spend more than half the workday sitting
• 87% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
• 74% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
• 64% are on the phone every day
• 61% usually work more than 40 hours a week

Education Workers Say the Job Needs

Tools and Software Program Managers Use

Tools and equipment

• Computer laser printers
• Desktop computers
• Laptop computers
• Laser facsimile machines
• Multi-line telephone systems
• Personal computers
• Photocopying equipment

Software

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Adobe Acrobat
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Project
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Microsoft Visio
• Microsoft Windows
• Microsoft Word
• SAP software

Is This Job a Good Fit for You?

People who do well in this job tend to enjoy leading, persuading and making business decisions as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.

Skills O*NET rates most important: Writing, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving.

Knowledge areas used most: English Language, Law and Government, Administration and Management, Biology, Education and Training.

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Applying for a Program Manager Job

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