People Program Manager

AppFolio•Santa Barbara, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The People Program Manager role is the operational force behind key employee-facing programs that reach and impact every AppFolian. Reporting to the Sr. Manager, People Programs, you'll own end-to-end program execution across multiple centers of excellence, partnering with functional teams to turn strategy into programs that land, stick, and make a measurable difference in how people experience working here. This is a role built for someone who runs toward complexity, operates with high autonomy, excels at bringing structure to ambiguity, and measures success by outcomes.

Requirements

3+ years of proven, hands-on experience independently managing complex, cross-functional programs and projects with multiple stakeholders and competing timelines
Experience working within an HR, People Operations, or related people function
Exercises sound judgment and high professional discretion when handling sensitive, confidential, and PII data.
Clear, confident communicator across written and verbal channels
Hands-on experience with project management tools and standards
Demonstrated use of AI tools (e.g., Claude, Gemini, or similar) in a professional setting

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with COE operating models within a People organization
Background in change management, employee experience, and/or communications
PMP certification or equivalent project management training
Knowledge of performance and compensation review cycles
Experience working in a technology company, SaaS environment, or organization of 1500+ employees
Familiarity with HR tech platforms (e.g., Workday) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau)

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end execution of key people programs, managing company-wide launches, measuring impact, and iterating based on results, with a lens on change management, communications, and employee experience
Translate strategic vision into executable roadmaps, defining scope, sequencing work, and aligning program deliverables to business priorities
Build and own the project infrastructure and team practices that keep programs moving: structured plans, timelines, communication frameworks, and cross-functional coordination that model People Programs as a consistent, credible partner across the organization
Surface operational risks and gaps before they become blockers, bringing a clear path forward alongside every flag
Take clear ownership of your programs and execute with high autonomy, whether building from the ground up or stepping into work already in motion, making the call when it's yours to make and escalating when it matters
Serve as a trusted, steady partner to the COEs you support (Talent, Total Rewards, People Operations, or Learning & Inclusion), building confidence through consistent follow-through, calm problem-solving, and a collaborative approach that brings people on board and keeps programs moving forward together
Actively research internal and external best practices, bringing forward recommendations that improve how programs are designed, scaled, and evolved over time
Relentlessly seek ways to work smarter through technology and AI, automating the routine so your time and energy go where the human element matters most, and partnering with the team to discover and build on what works