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Program Director Jobs in Santa Ana, CA (NOW HIRING)

Program Director

Corona, CA · On-site

$157K - $283K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Our Parsons Corona office is seeking to hire a highly experienced Program Director to manage and oversee projects or programs in the Southern California region. Solid experience in California and ...

Academy Director - Kiddie Academy Location: La Verne Type: Full-Time Kiddie Academy, a leader in educational child care, is seeking an exceptional Academy Director to lead our academy with passion ...

Program Director

Corona, CA · On-site

$157K - $283K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Our Parsons Corona office is seeking to hire a highly experienced Program Director to manage and oversee multiple transportation engineering projects in the Southern California region, supporting ...

Program Director

Corona, CA · On-site

$157K - $283K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Our Parsons Corona office is seeking to hire a highly experienced Program Director to manage and oversee multiple transportation engineering projects in the Southern California region, supporting ...

The Program Director facilitates the fellows' ethical, professional and personal development through education and evaluation and provides supervision of the fellows that supports safe and ...

In this strategic hybrid role blending Marketing Operations, Analytics, and Program Management, you will oversee the setup, optimization, and measurement of global, regional, and local campaigns.

Senior Program Director

Irvine, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

The Program Director is responsible the effective delivery of trauma-informed, evidenced-based services to patients and family members, providing leadership, management and clinical supervision to ...

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Program Director - AS Newport

Newport Beach, CA · On-site

$90K - $126K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

The Program Director is responsible for hiring and providing training and supervision of all staff. The Program Director is responsible for maintaining compliance with all Federal and State Laws and ...

Title: Assistant Program Director Location: Los Angeles, CA We are looking for an Assistant Program Director - VN Program to join our team. Schedule Requirements: Day shift, Mon-Fri - with the ...

Working under the supervision of the Nursing Program Director, the Assistant Program Director will help ensure compliance with state nursing education standards, maintain high-quality academic and ...

Behavioral Health Program Director

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$90 - $126/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

Program Director Type: Salary, Full-Time, Exempt Compensation: Up to $126k per year Base Salary: $90k-$100k per year Performance Bonus: Up to $26k per year ($500/week based on census, earned weekly ...

Showing results 21-40

Program Director information

See Santa Ana, CA salary details

$30.7K

$81.4K

$142.6K

How much do program director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for program director in Santa Ana, CA is $81,369.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $55,200.00 and $96,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges program directors face when overseeing multiple projects or initiatives?

Program Directors often encounter the challenge of balancing competing priorities across several projects, while ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic goals. Managing diverse teams, coordinating resources, and addressing unexpected obstacles—such as shifting stakeholder requirements or budget constraints—are common aspects of the role. Effective communication, adaptability, and strong organizational skills are essential for navigating these complexities and ensuring successful program delivery. Collaboration with senior leadership and cross-functional teams is also crucial for resolving issues promptly and maintaining program momentum.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a program director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Program Director, you need strong leadership, project management, and strategic planning skills, usually supported by a relevant degree and several years of management experience. Experience with budgeting software, project management tools like Asana or MS Project, and familiarity with compliance standards are often necessary. Exceptional communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution abilities are critical soft skills that set top Program Directors apart. These skills are crucial for aligning teams, driving program success, and ensuring organizational goals are consistently met.

What is a program director?

A program director is an upper-management position found within organizations across almost all industries. Your primary job duties include coordinating, implementing, and overseeing all details of a company’s operation and programs. You monitor the budget, create community programs, supervise other managers, and develop better business practices. The exact job duties vary widely depending on industry and employer. Some program directors oversee the entire organization while others oversee specific departments. Though almost all industries utilize program directors, the two most commonly seen are business and healthcare.

What is the difference between Program Director vs Project Manager?

AspectProgram DirectorProject Manager
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor’s degree; often prefers PMP or similar certificationsRequires a bachelor’s degree; PMP or CAPM certifications are common
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple projects within a program, strategic focusManages individual projects, tactical focus
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in nonprofits, corporate, government sectors for large initiativesCommon across industries for specific project execution

The Program Director focuses on overseeing multiple related projects to achieve strategic goals, while the Project Manager handles the planning and execution of a single project. Both roles require similar credentials but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What degree do you need to be a program director?

A program director typically needs at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as business, management, or a specific industry-related area. Many roles also prefer or require a master's degree or higher, along with experience in leadership, project management, or the specific sector they oversee.

What are the most commonly searched types of Program jobs in Santa Ana, CA?

The most popular types of Program jobs in Santa Ana, CA are:

What cities near Santa Ana, CA are hiring for Program Director jobs?

Cities near Santa Ana, CA with the most Program Director job openings:

Infographic showing various Program Director job openings in Santa Ana, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,369 per year, or $39.1 per hour.

$157K - $283K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 2 days ago


Parsons rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 46 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

263rd of 449 rated engineering


Job description

In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next!
At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what's possible.
Job Description:
Our Parsons Corona office is seeking to hire a highly experienced Program Director to manage and oversee projects or programs in the Southern California region. Solid experience in California and with Caltrans is highly preferred.
Responsibilities :
  • Responsible for overseeing and leading complex transportation projects.
  • Provides project and program leadership to meet the overall vision and goals.
  • Works with other managers, project engineers, and discipline leads to develop budgets, schedules, and plans for the various elements of a project.
  • Assigns and manages staff to effectively deliver the project or program.
  • Acts as the Company representative with the client and selected subcontractors during the program execution.
  • Responsible for following up on instructions and commitments associated with the project
  • Promoting technical and commercial excellence on the project

Requirements :
  • 4-year degree in Civil Engineering or related technical/business field and at least 10 years or more of related work experience is required, especially with large scale transportation projects Incumbent should have a broad general technical and business background, as well as previous project management experience on similar or related large-scope project types.
  • Professional Engineer ( PE) registration is California is required, or the ability to achieve within 1 year.

Skills/ Competencies :
  • Experience in management of individual major infrastructure projects or multifaceted programs with values up to and exceeding $100 Million.
  • Demonstrated command of managerial, communication, and problem-solving skills overseeing complex transportation projects.
  • Experience delivering projects utilizing alternative delivery methods, such as design-build, CMGC, progressive design-build, etc.
  • Experience involving project planning, scope development, fee preparation, scheduling, and the preparation of planning documents.
  • Experience and expertise in all facets of project delivery and program management.
  • Knowledge of California Department of Transportation project development processes
  • A strong technical and project management background in developing and designing highway transportation projects.

Note: The position will be required to work from a project specific location in Corona, CA
Security Clearance Requirement:
None
This position is part of our Critical Infrastructure team.
For more than 80 years, our experts have designed and delivered the critical infrastructure that connects and protects communities around the world. We work in collaborative teams, both within the company and with our partners and customers, to plan, design, build, and modernize infrastructure. We take special pride in projects and solutions that improve communities as well as people's quality of life by promoting economic growth, enhancing mobility, and increasing sustainability and resiliency. Powered by our people, we provide the imagination necessary to support our customers' visions-and to help them see what's next!
Salary Range: $157,500.00 - $283,500.00
We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!
Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.
We truly invest and care about our employee's wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest-APPLY TODAY!
Parsons is aware of fraudulent recruitment practices. To learn more about recruitment fraud and how to report it, please refer to https://www.parsons.com/fraudulent-recruitment/.

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