Senior Manager, People Programs

Aurora Innovation•Mountain View, CA

About The Position

Aurora hires talented people with diverse backgrounds who are ready to help build a transportation ecosystem that will make our roads safer, get crucial goods where they need to go, and make mobility more efficient and accessible for all. We’re searching for a S enior Manager, People Programs . The People Organization is a core business enabler - we build and support the teams that make the Aurora Driver a reality. We are seeking a dynamic, high-agency Senior Manager, People Programs to lead our Program Management team to drive critical initiatives across the People Organization. This is a versatile, high-impact role designed for a systems thinker who thrives in ambiguity. You will act as a utility player for the People team - you might lead a single large-scale transformation one quarter and manage a portfolio of high-impact and shorter-cycle initiatives the next. Whether you are partnering with Training & Development, People Business Partners, or People Operations and Analytics, your goal remains the same: turn strategies into executed realities. In this role, you will Team Leadership & Mentorship: Lead, coach, and develop a team of high performing Program Managers. You will set the bar for "what good looks like," helping your team navigate their most complex roadblocks and fostering a culture of high agency and accountability. Portfolio Strategy & Prioritization: Move beyond individual projects to manage the People Team programs portfolio. You will partner with People Leadership to determine which initiatives get resourced, ensuring we are working on the right things at the right time to support the organization. Drive Program Strategy & Execution: Translate loose concepts and business problems into into thoughtful solutions and program plans. You define the "what, why, and how," manage the timeline, and ensure the team crosses the finish line. Operational Excellence: Standardize how we work. You will define the methodologies, tools, and reporting cadences that allow the People Team to move fast and execute with excellence. Executive Stakeholder Management: Serve as a point of contact for Aurora’s senior leadership regarding People initiatives. You will synthesize the team’s work into high-level strategic narratives and business reviews. Change Leadership: Oversee change management and communications for People Program changes across the company. You ensure that individual programs don’t collide and that the cumulative "pace of change" for our employees is intentional and sustainable. Cross-Functional Bridge Building: Strategically partner with business leaders and cross-functional partners e.g. IT, Finance, Legal to ensure stakeholders and People Programs are aligned across functions. Force Multiply: Increase the effectiveness of the PM team and the People Team at large by removing blockers, streamlining processes, and measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of our People Programs.

Requirements

Proven Leadership Experience: Typically 8-10+ years of experience in program management - in HR highly preferred, with at least 3+ years specifically managing a team of PMs in a high-growth tech environment or top-tier consulting firm.
Strategic Breadth: The ability to see the "big picture." You can connect a Culture initiative to a Compensation cycle to a Recruiting milestone, understanding the dependencies across the entire talent lifecycle.
Mastery of Ambiguity: You don't just thrive in chaos; you are an architect who builds the structures that resolve it for others.
Data-Driven Decision Making: You possess a deep comfort with HR analytics and systems (Workday, Greenhouse) and use data to defend your team’s priorities and measure program ROI.
The "Coach" Mindset: You take more pride in your team's successful delivery than your own. You are adept at identifying talent, stretching your direct reports, and building a resilient team culture.

Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Mentorship: Lead, coach, and develop a team of high performing Program Managers. You will set the bar for "what good looks like," helping your team navigate their most complex roadblocks and fostering a culture of high agency and accountability.
Portfolio Strategy & Prioritization: Move beyond individual projects to manage the People Team programs portfolio. You will partner with People Leadership to determine which initiatives get resourced, ensuring we are working on the right things at the right time to support the organization.
Drive Program Strategy & Execution: Translate loose concepts and business problems into into thoughtful solutions and program plans. You define the "what, why, and how," manage the timeline, and ensure the team crosses the finish line.
Operational Excellence: Standardize how we work. You will define the methodologies, tools, and reporting cadences that allow the People Team to move fast and execute with excellence.
Executive Stakeholder Management: Serve as a point of contact for Aurora’s senior leadership regarding People initiatives. You will synthesize the team’s work into high-level strategic narratives and business reviews.
Change Leadership: Oversee change management and communications for People Program changes across the company. You ensure that individual programs don’t collide and that the cumulative "pace of change" for our employees is intentional and sustainable.
Cross-Functional Bridge Building: Strategically partner with business leaders and cross-functional partners e.g. IT, Finance, Legal to ensure stakeholders and People Programs are aligned across functions.
Force Multiply: Increase the effectiveness of the PM team and the People Team at large by removing blockers, streamlining processes, and measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of our People Programs.

Benefits

The base salary range for this position is $147k - $238k per year.
The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits.

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