Program Manager

Hillside Community Church•Rancho Cucamonga, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead a large, multi-faceted initiative composed of several interdependent sub-projects. This role sits above individual project execution — you will set the overall program strategy, ensure alignment across workstreams, manage cross-functional and external dependencies, and report on progress to senior stakeholders. You will also serve as the primary point of coordination with an outside agency partner supporting portions of the work. The ideal candidate is comfortable moving fluidly between big-picture program strategy and the tactical details of individual projects, and is fluent in multiple delivery methodologies (Waterfall, Agile/Scrum, Kanban) so they can flex their approach to fit each sub-project's needs.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in project or program management, with at least 2 years managing programs composed of multiple sub-projects or workstreams.
Demonstrated experience managing external agencies, vendors, or contractors, including SOWs and budget oversight.
Strong working knowledge of multiple project delivery frameworks: Waterfall, Scrum/Agile, and Kanban, with the judgment to apply the right one to the right situation.
Proficiency with common project/program management tools such as Asana, Jira, Monday.com, Smartsheet, MS Project, or Trello, and collaboration tools such as Confluence, SharePoint, or Notion.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple workstreams simultaneously.
Experience building and managing budgets, timelines, and resource plans.
Committed follower of Jesus Christ with a lifestyle that reflects biblical values and integrity
Alignment with Hillside’s Vision, Mission, and Core Staff Values
Alignment with the Aspire Network of Churches’ leadership development and multiplication philosophy
Actively engaged in spiritual growth through community, serving, and personal disciplines

Nice To Haves

PMP, PgMP, CSM, or SAFe certification desired.
Experience in ministry field desired.
Familiarity with change management methodologies (e.g., Prosci/ADKAR).
Experience with financial/budget tracking tools and reporting dashboards (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).

Responsibilities

Own the overall program roadmap, timeline, budget, and success metrics, ensuring all sub-projects roll up to and support the program's strategic objectives.
Define program governance structures, including reporting cadences, escalation paths, and decision-making authority.
Identify and manage cross-project dependencies, risks, and resource conflicts before they impact delivery.
Maintain a consolidated view of program health (scope, schedule, budget, quality) and translate it into clear updates for executive stakeholders.
Provide direction and support to individual project managers or workstream leads, ensuring their plans align with overall program goals.
Select and apply the appropriate delivery framework (Waterfall, Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid) for each sub-project based on its scope, risk profile, and stakeholder needs.
Review and approve individual project plans, timelines, and resourcing requests.
Facilitate program-level ceremonies (e.g., steering committee meetings, cross-team syncs, quarterly planning) to keep sub-projects synchronized.
Serve as the primary liaison between the internal team and an external agency partner, managing scope, deliverables, timelines, and contractual obligations.
Review and approve agency statements of work (SOWs), change orders, and invoices in partnership with procurement/legal as needed.
Hold regular check-ins with the agency to review progress, resolve blockers, and ensure quality standards are met.
Manage handoffs between internal teams and the agency to ensure smooth integration of deliverables into the broader program.
Build and maintain strong relationships with sponsors, functional leads, and external partners.
Proactively communicate risks, changes in scope, and timeline impacts to relevant stakeholders.
Prepare and deliver regular status reports, dashboards, and executive presentations.
Facilitate conflict resolution and alignment when priorities compete across sub-projects or with the agency.
Establish and maintain program documentation, including charters, RAID logs (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies), and lessons-learned repositories.
Champion consistent use of project management tools and reporting standards across all sub-projects.
Identify opportunities to improve processes, tooling, and cross-team collaboration.
Support change management and adoption efforts tied to the program's outcomes.