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Program Planner Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Coastal Planner

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$7.3K - $9.1K/mo

The Coastal Program Analyst (also referred to as a "Coastal Planner") position is located in the Commission's Santa Cruz Office, and the selected candidate will be hired as either a Coastal Program ...

We are looking for an analytically sharp and execution-driven Senior NPI Demand Planner to be the materials nerve center for our NPI programs. You will translate complex, multi-level Bills of ...

Overview The DoD SkillBridge program is an opportunity for Service members to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the ...

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Showing results 1-20

Program Planner information

See California salary details

$38.5K

$83.4K

$162.3K

How much do program planner jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for program planner in California is $83,353.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54,800.00 and $99,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Program Planners when coordinating multiple projects simultaneously?

Program Planners often manage several projects at once, which can present challenges such as balancing competing priorities, ensuring clear communication among diverse teams, and adapting to shifting deadlines. Effective time management and strong organizational skills are essential to keep projects on track and aligned with overall organizational goals. Additionally, Program Planners regularly collaborate with project managers, stakeholders, and team members, requiring a proactive approach to problem-solving and conflict resolution.

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

To thrive as a Program Planner, you need strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills, typically backed by a relevant degree such as business administration or project management. Familiarity with tools like Microsoft Project, ERP systems, and certification such as PMP or CAPM is often required. Outstanding communication, attention to detail, and adaptability are essential soft skills for coordinating teams and managing shifting priorities. These skills are crucial for ensuring programs are delivered on time, within budget, and meet organizational objectives.

What Is a Program Planner?

A program planner’s job entails obtaining knowledge about the company’s overall goals and using that information to develop or manage specific programs or projects that further those goals. As a program planner, your duties are to provide support to various team members who carry out daily, weekly, or monthly tasks to streamline their workflows. To succeed in improving the quality and efficacy of programs, you provide support when it comes to operating budgets, overseeing the schedule for projects, and identifying areas for improvement. This job requires excellent communication, multitasking, and organizational skills. Qualifications for this career typically include a bachelor’s degree in business administration and prior experience in a relevant role.

Is a program coordinator a hard job?

A program coordinator role can be demanding as it involves managing multiple projects, coordinating teams, and ensuring deadlines are met. The job requires strong organizational skills, communication, and problem-solving abilities, and workload can vary depending on the organization and scope of programs.

What does a program planner do?

A program planner is responsible for developing, organizing, and managing projects or programs within an organization. They create schedules, allocate resources, coordinate teams, and monitor progress to ensure objectives are met on time and within budget. Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills are essential for this role.

What is the 3 month rule for jobs?

The 3 month rule for jobs often refers to the expectation that new employees, including program planners, should demonstrate their skills and adapt to the role within the first three months of employment. This period is commonly used for onboarding, training, and initial performance evaluations to ensure fit and productivity. It is also a typical timeframe for probationary periods in many organizations.

What jobs in the US pay 300,000 a year?

For a Program Planner, high-paying roles often include senior project management, program management, or executive positions in large organizations, which can reach or exceed $300,000 annually with experience, certifications, and leadership responsibilities. These roles typically require strong organizational skills, industry knowledge, and often advanced degrees or certifications like PMP or PgMP.

What is the difference between Program Planner vs Project Coordinator?

AspectProgram PlannerProject Coordinator
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree in planning, management, or related field; certifications like PMP are commonUsually needs a bachelor's degree; certifications like CAPM can be beneficial
Work EnvironmentWorks in government agencies, non-profits, or large organizations focusing on long-term program developmentWorks across various industries managing specific projects within larger programs
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in public sector, healthcare, education, and large corporate programsCommon in construction, IT, marketing, and event planning

Program Planners focus on designing and managing comprehensive programs with multiple projects, emphasizing strategic planning and long-term goals. Project Coordinators handle specific projects, ensuring tasks are completed on time and within scope. While both roles require organizational skills and certifications like PMP or CAPM, Program Planners have a broader scope involving program-level oversight, whereas Project Coordinators focus on individual project execution.

What are the most commonly searched types of Program Planner jobs in California? The most popular types of Program Planner jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Program Planner jobs in California? For Program Planner jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in California are hiring for Program Planner jobs? Cities in California with the most Program Planner job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Program Planner jobs in CA? For Program Planner jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Program Planner job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $83,353 per year, or $40.1 per hour.
Int. Program Planner Staff-Integrated Planning, Skunk Works® - Level 4

Int. Program Planner Staff-Integrated Planning, Skunk Works® - Level 4

Lockheed Martin

Palmdale, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago


Lockheed Martin rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 389 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

31st of 63 rated aerospace companies


Job description


You will be the Int. Program Planner Staff-Integrated Planning, Skunk Works® - Level 4: for the Skunk Works® team which is responsible for...
What You Will Be Doing
As the Int. Program Planner Staff-Integrated Planning, Skunk Works® - Level 4: you will be responsible for organizing tasks, developing and maintaining program schedules, and coordinating across engineering, procurement, contracts, business management, production, and quality control to ensure mission success.
Your responsibilities will include:
  • Break down products into tasks, define sequences and durations, and manage schedule baselines.
  • Ensure on-time, in-budget delivery with desired quality outcomes.
  • Develop, maintain, and analyze program schedules using advanced planning tools.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor and model planning excellence for the program team.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to align resources and resolve planning risks.

What's In It For You
We are committed to supporting your work-life balance and overall well-being, offering flexible scheduling options. Learn more about Lockheed Martin's comprehensive benefits package here. Do you want to be part of a company culture that empowers employees to think big, lead with a growth mindset, and make the impossible a reality? We provide the resources and give you the flexibility to enable inspiration and focus - if you have the passion and courage to dream big, work hard, and have fun doing what you love then we want to build a better tomorrow with you.
Who You Are
A collaborative, detail-oriented professional with strong communication skills and proven expertise in program planning. You thrive in dynamic environments, can translate complex technical data into actionable schedules, and champion cross-team alignment to drive mission-critical outcomes.
Further Information About This Opportunity
MUST BE A U.S. CITIZEN - This position is located at a facility that requires special access. The selected candidate must possess an active Secret clearance to start.
This position is in Palmdale, CA • Discover Palmdale.
aeroenterprise
Basic Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications
• Experiences with Earned Value Management (EVM) including Cost / Schedule Integration
• Experience leading cross-functional teams, projects, or programs
• Experience presenting to leadership, customers, or other stakeholders
• Previous experience with Deltek OpenPlan, or Primavera, Microsoft Project, or a similar tool
Desired skills
• Aerospace experience
• Active Secret Security Clearance; ability to obtain and maintain Top Secret clearance
• Experience as a planning team lead and/or contract planner
• Proficient with scheduling tools such as Deltek Open Plan, Primavera P6, MS Project, or similar scheduling tools
• Demonstrated critical thinking and problem solving abilities
• Experience developing/maintaining Network Schedules or Integrated Master Schedules (IMS)
• Experience analyzing planning metrics and trends and implementing actionable improvement plans
• Proposal experience
• Strong knowledge of LM Program Performance Management (PPM) Command Media
• Supplier integration experience, performance analysis, and corrective action recommendation skills
• Familiarity with Risk and Opportunity Management, including identification, integration, and mitigation
• Deep knowledge of Deltek Open Plan
• Schedule Risk Assessment (SRA) experience
• Demonstrated team building skills
• Demonstrated influencing and relationship management skills
EEO
Lockheed Martin is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified candidates will be considered without regard to legally protected characteristics.
The application window will close in 90 days; applicants are encouraged to apply within 5 - 30 days of the requisition posting date in order to receive optimal consideration.
*
Join us at Lockheed Martin, where your mission is ours. Our customers tackle the hardest missions. Those that demand extraordinary amounts of courage, resilience and precision. They're dangerous. Critical. Sometimes they even provide an opportunity to change the world and save lives. Those are the missions we care about.
As a leading technology innovation company, Lockheed Martin's vast team works with partners around the world to bring proven performance to our customers' toughest challenges. Lockheed Martin has employees based in many states throughout the U.S., and Internationally, with business locations in many nations and territories.
Other Important Information
By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities where similar skills and requirements have been identified as a match. Should this match be identified you may be contacted for this and future openings.
Work Schedule Information
Lockheed Martin supports a variety of alternate work schedules that provide additional flexibility to our employees. Schedules range from standard 40 hours over a five day work week while others may be condensed. These condensed schedules provide employees with additional time away from the office and are in addition to our Paid Time off benefits.
National Pay Statement
Pay Rate: The annual base salary range for this position in California, Massachusetts, and New York (excluding most major metropolitan areas), Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington or Washington DC is $95,000 - $167,440. For states not referenced above, the salary range for this position will reflect the candidate's final work location. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.
Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays.
(Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.
This position is incentive plan eligible.
Premium Pay Statement
Pay Rate: The annual base salary range for this position in most major metropolitan areas in California, Massachusetts, and New York is $109,200 - $189,290. For states not referenced above, the salary range for this position will reflect the candidate's final work location. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.
Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays.
This position is incentive plan eligible.

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About Lockheed Martin

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

As a global security and aerospace company, the majority of Lockheed Martin's business is with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. federal government agencies.The remaining portion of Lockheed Martin's business is comprised of international government and commercial sales of products, services and platforms.

Industry

Manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Bethesda, MD, US

Year founded

1912