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It Program Director Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Robert Half

Program Director

Pasadena, CA · On-site

$140K - $160K/yr

We are looking for an experienced Program Director to provide strategic and operational leadership ... Lead the administration, information technology, accounting, and pension functions to ensure ...

New

LegalZoom

Senior Program Manager, IT

Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid

$105K - $168K/yr

Overview The Senior IT Program Manager is a hands-on, cross-functional individual contributor ... Influence stakeholders and drive alignment without direct authority * Establish program governance ...

Concorde Career Colleges, Inc.

Overview Radiologic Technology Program Director $5,000 Sign-On Bonus The Program Director leads the ... Demonstrate and utilize active listening, inductive reasoning, information ordering and category ...

Crexi

Director, Information Technology

Los Angeles, CA

$182K - $247K/yr

The Director, Information Technology leads Crexi's IT efforts, shaping strategy, overseeing teams ... Owns corporate security program, including endpoint protection, corporate identity and access ...

Crexi

Director, Information Technology

Vista, CA · On-site

$182K - $247K/yr

The Director, Information Technology leads Crexi's IT efforts, shaping strategy, overseeing teams ... Owns corporate security program, including endpoint protection, corporate identity and access ...

Akraya Inc.

IT Program Manager IV : 26-02138

San Diego, CA · On-site

$75 - $85/hr

Program Management-Expert, SaaS-Advanced, Cloud Platform-Advanced, Data Analytics-Expert, Software ... ABOUT AKRAYA Akraya is an award-winning IT staffing firm consistently recognized for our commitment ...

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Showing results 41-60

All JobsIt Program JobsIt Program Director JobsIt Program Director Jobs in California

It Program Director information

See California salary details

$29.1K

$77.2K

$135.2K

How much do it program director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for it program director in California is $77,172.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $52,300.00 and $91,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an IT Program Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as an IT Program Director, you need extensive experience in IT management, strategic planning, and a relevant degree—often accompanied by certifications like PMP or ITIL. Familiarity with program management software, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and cybersecurity tools is typically required. Outstanding leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities are critical for motivating teams and managing complex initiatives. These skills are essential to ensure programs are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with organizational goals.

What qualifications do you need to be an IT Program Director?

An IT Program Director typically needs a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field, along with extensive experience managing large technology projects and teams. Certifications such as PMP or PgMP and strong leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills are also important for the role.

Which IT Program Director job is the highest paid?

The highest-paid IT Program Director roles are typically found in large corporations or industries such as finance, technology, and healthcare, where they oversee complex projects and strategic initiatives. Salaries can exceed $150,000 annually, especially with extensive experience, certifications like PMP or PgMP, and strong leadership skills. Compensation varies based on company size, location, and individual expertise.

Is IT hard to become an IT Program Director?

Becoming an IT Program Director typically requires extensive experience in information technology, project management, and leadership, often including a background in managing complex projects and teams. Relevant certifications like PMP or PgMP and strong technical knowledge can also be important. The role demands a combination of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and communication skills, making it a challenging but attainable career path for experienced IT professionals.

What are some common challenges IT Program Directors face when managing large-scale technology initiatives?

IT Program Directors often encounter challenges such as aligning cross-functional teams, managing shifting project scopes, and balancing competing priorities among stakeholders. They must ensure effective communication across technical and non-technical groups, and adapt quickly to changes in technology or business requirements. Proactive risk management, strong leadership, and the ability to foster collaboration are crucial for successfully delivering complex programs on time and within budget.

What is an IT Program Director?

IT Program Directors are senior professionals responsible for overseeing and managing large-scale information technology programs within an organization. They coordinate multiple projects, align them with business goals, and ensure that resources, timelines, and budgets are effectively managed. IT Program Directors provide leadership to project managers, communicate with stakeholders, and ensure the successful delivery of complex IT initiatives. Their role is critical in driving technology transformation and achieving organizational objectives.
What are the most commonly searched types of It Program jobs in California? The most popular types of It Program jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to It Program Director jobs in California? For It Program Director jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching It Program Director jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for It Program Director jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for It Program Director jobs? Cities in California with the most It Program Director job openings:
It Program Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various It Program Director job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $77,172 per year, or $37.1 per hour.

IT Program Manager - 5 Year Limited Term

San Mateo County Transit District

Millbrae, CA • On-site

$143K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

Salary : $143,142.00 - $200,398.00 Annually
Location : Millbrae, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-00074
Division: IT
Opening Date: 07/17/2026
Closing Date: 8/23/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
General
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, August 23, 2026 (1st cutoff Sunday, August 9, 2026)
The IT Program Manager is a 5-year limited term position. It is responsible for managing the IT Project Management Office for the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain), and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA).
Under general direction, plans, organizes, manages, and oversees the Division of Innovation & Technology's enterprise information technology program and project portfolio; establishes and administers portfolio governance, project intake, prioritization, resource planning, budget tracking, vendor coordination, risk management, and performance reporting; leads complex, cross-functional technology initiatives supporting transit operations, administrative business functions, customer-facing services, cybersecurity, infrastructure modernization, and enterprise applications; and performs related duties as assigned.
This position will be highly technical in nature with hands on expertise in running complex enterprise IT projects.
Essential Functions & Duties
The following are representative of the functions and duties performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list.
Portfolio Strategy and Governance
  • Develops, implements, and maintains an enterprise IT project portfolio management framework aligned with agency strategic goals, service delivery priorities, regulatory obligations, and budget constraints.
  • Leads project intake, business case review, prioritization, sequencing, and portfolio planning for technology initiatives.
  • Establishes and facilitates governance processes for evaluating scope, risk, funding, resource capacity, operational impact, and expected business value.
  • Recommends portfolio tradeoffs and prioritization decisions to executive leadership based on cost, urgency, risk, compliance, and service impact.
  • Maintains portfolio roadmaps for enterprise applications, infrastructure, cloud, cybersecurity, data, communications, and transit technology initiatives.

Program and Project Oversight
  • Oversees and manages multiple large, complex, and interdependent IT projects and programs from initiation through implementation and transition to operations.
  • Ensures projects are appropriately planned with defined scope, schedule, budget, milestones, dependencies, risks, staffing, procurement actions, and success metrics.
  • Monitors portfolio health and project performance using dashboards, status reports, KPI tracking, and executive briefings.
  • Identifies delivery risks, escalation points, resource conflicts, and change impacts; develops mitigation and recovery strategies.
  • Promotes consistent use of project management standards, templates, controls, and documentation practices.

Business and Stakeholder Alignment
  • Partners with business units, transit operations, maintenance, finance, procurement, HR, customer service, safety, and executive leadership to define project needs and expected outcomes.
  • Translates operational and business priorities into executable technology roadmaps and implementation plans.
  • Facilitates stakeholder meetings, steering committees, workshops, and executive decision sessions.
  • Supports organizational change management, communication planning, training coordination, and adoption readiness for new technologies and processes.

Budget, Procurement, and Vendor Management
  • Assists in development and administration of the IT capital and operating project portfolio budget.
  • Tracks project expenditures, encumbrances, forecasts, and funding utilization.
  • Coordinates procurement activities related to technology projects, including requirements development, scopes of work, RFP/RFQ support, proposal evaluation, contract administration support, and vendor onboarding.
  • Oversees vendor, consultant, and systems integrator performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, schedules, deliverables, and service levels.
  • Supports audit responses, funding documentation, and executive reporting related to projects and contracts.

Technology and Operational Coordination
  • Coordinates initiatives affecting enterprise applications, servers, storage, networks, cloud services, cybersecurity controls, identity and access management, business continuity, and end-user platforms.
  • Supports implementation of systems relevant to transit and public-sector operations, which may include ERP, HRIS, asset management, fare systems, dispatch/CAD-AVL, customer information systems, document management, data integration, and reporting platforms.
  • Ensures proper transition from project delivery into production support, operations, maintenance, and service management.
  • Works with technical teams to identify architecture, integration, security, support, and lifecycle implications of proposed projects.

Compliance, Risk, and Continuous Improvement
  • Promotes compliance with applicable agency policies, information security standards, privacy requirements, records management practices, accessibility expectations, and public procurement requirements.
  • Supports disaster recovery, business continuity, and operational resilience planning as related to technology initiatives.
  • Develops and refines PMO, portfolio, and governance practices to improve delivery consistency, transparency, and accountability.
  • Prepares reports, presentations, memoranda, and recommendations for executive staff, leadership committees, and, as assigned, governing board materials.

Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient experience, training and/or education to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. In lieu of a degree, work-related experience that demonstrates the skills and experience necessary to perform this role will be accepted. Development of the required knowledge and abilities is typically obtained through but not limited to:
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in information systems, computer science, public administration, engineering, or a closely related field.
  • Five (5) years of full-time progressively responsible experience in information technology project or program management, business systems delivery, enterprise systems implementation, infrastructure modernization, or related IT work, including at least three (3) years of responsibility for managing complex cross-functional programs, project portfolios, PMO functions, or enterprise technology initiatives.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Ten (10) years of experience working within PMO functions.
  • Experience overseeing both business application and infrastructure projects
  • Experience with ERP, cloud migration, cybersecurity initiatives, enterprise integrations, data/reporting programs, or operational technology implementations
  • Experience supporting formal procurement and vendor contract oversight
  • Able to possess a valid California Class C driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.
  • PMP, PgMP, PMI-ACP, ITIL, Scrum, or related certification is desirable

Additional Information
Knowledge of
  • Principles and practices of project, program, and portfolio management
  • PMO governance models, project intake, prioritization, resource planning, and benefits realization
  • Public-sector budgeting, capital planning, procurement, contracting, and vendor management
  • Information technology infrastructure, enterprise applications, systems integration, cloud services, cybersecurity, and service delivery
  • SDLC methodologies including Agile, hybrid, and waterfall project delivery approaches
  • Risk management, issue escalation, quality assurance, and change control practices
  • Organizational change management and business process improvement principles
  • Data analysis, reporting tools, dashboard development, and executive-level communication techniques
  • Public agency operating environments, including cross-functional stakeholder coordination and accountability requirements
  • Transit technology environments and operational dependencies, including customer-facing, operational, and administrative systems
  • Applicable safety, security, documentation, and records retention practices relevant to government operations

Ability to
  • Lead and coordinate a complex enterprise IT project portfolio with competing priorities and constrained resources
  • Analyze business needs and translate them into strategic programs, roadmaps, and delivery plans
  • Manage multiple large-scale projects simultaneously while maintaining visibility into scope, schedule, budget, risk, and dependencies
  • Establish governance disciplines and gain stakeholder alignment on priorities and sequencing
  • Communicate effectively with technical teams, executives, business managers, vendors, and external partners
  • Prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports, recommendations, presentations, and project documentation
  • Interpret contracts, statements of work, procurement documents, and vendor deliverables
  • Build effective cross-functional working relationships in a public-sector environment
  • Exercise sound judgment, diplomacy, and problem-solving in politically and operationally sensitive situations
  • Supervise, coach, and evaluate staff where assigned
  • Maintain focus on customer service, reliability, compliance, and operational continuity
  • Create Executive Management Reports, Dashboards and Debriefs

Examples of Agency-Relevant Projects
For a transit agency, this role may oversee programs such as:
  • Enterprise application modernization
  • ERP or HRIS implementation
  • Network and infrastructure refresh
  • Cloud migration and identity modernization
  • Cybersecurity risk reduction initiatives
  • Data integration and reporting platforms
  • Asset management or maintenance systems
  • Fare collection and customer information systems
  • Dispatch, scheduling, or operational technology upgrades
  • Business continuity and disaster recovery improvements

The selection process may include a panel interview, written and skills test assessments, or supplemental questions. Only those candidates who are the most qualified will continue in the selection process. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to continue in the process.
How to Apply
  • Complete an online employment application by 11:59 p.m. of the listed closing date. Resumes and cover letters will not be accepted in lieu of fully completed applications. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that applications are completed with all relevant information (experience, education, certifications, licenses, references and/or other information).
  • The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment/examination process to accommodate applicants with disabilities upon request. If you have a need for an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department.
  • We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace environment. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities, Women, Persons with Disabilities and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Below is a summary of the comprehensive benefits provided to District full-time employees:
Health and Welfare Benefits:
  • Healthcare Benefits -District employees are offered a choice of healthcare providers under the CalPERS Health Benefits Program. The District will contribute ninety (90) percent towards monthly premiums for full-time employees. Fifty (50) percent for part-time employees.
  • Free Dental and Vision Benefits provided - Employer Covers Premiums
  • Free Employee Assistance Benefit - Employees are entitled to 5 face-to-face sessions or telephonic or web-video consultations for problem-solving support per incident, per calendar year.
  • Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified Health or Dependent Care expenses.

Retirement Medical Benefits:
  • Long Term Disability Insurance - After 90 days of total disability, Administrative full-time employees are eligible for 60% of monthly income covered by the District.
  • Health and Wellness - Gyms located at most work locations and discounted Weight Watcher Membership Option.

Holidays and Paid Time Off:
  • Paid Time Off - Newly hired employees accrue 6.5 hours bi-weekly when hired (if Exempt 8.25 hours). As you move up in years of service credit, the rate of the amount of PTO accrued will also increase.
  • Paid Holidays - The District provides seven paid holidays throughout the year - New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4th), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
  • Floating Holidays - District employees can earn up to five (5) floating holidays.

Financial Planning Benefits:
  • Pension Benefits through CalPERS -You must have a minimum of 5 years of service to be eligible for this pension.
  • CalPERS PEPRA vs. Classic - All employees hired on, or after January 1, 2013, are considered PEPRA members and will contribute 8% of their salary up to the maximum IRS cut-off. All Classic members will contribute 6%
  • Deferred Compensation Options - Select to contribute to one or both of our Tax Deferred Compensation Options
  • Relianc

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