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Strategic Program Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Collabera

Program Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The Program Manager will be responsible for planning, managing, and delivering programs, while ensuring alignment across multiple teams and driving strategic objectives. Responsibilities : • ...

Advantest

Program Manager

San Jose, CA

The Program Manager (PM) in ESBU owns endtoend execution of customerfunded engineering systems ... Strategic Program Reviews (SPR) and roadmap discussions * Executive escalation forums * Support ...

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All JobsStrategic Program Manager JobsStrategic Program Manager Jobs in California

Strategic Program Manager information

See California salary details

$38K

$106.1K

$154.9K

How much do strategic program manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for strategic program manager in California is $106,053.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,500.00 and $130,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Strategic Program Manager, you need strong project management expertise, strategic planning abilities, and a background in business or a related field, often supported by a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Familiarity with program management tools (such as Microsoft Project, Asana, or Jira) and certifications like PMP or PgMP are highly valuable. Exceptional leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and communication skills distinguish top performers in this role. These skills are essential for aligning complex projects with organizational goals, ensuring efficient execution, and driving measurable business outcomes.

How does a Strategic Program Manager typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve program objectives?

Strategic Program Managers play a central role in coordinating efforts across various departments, such as product, engineering, marketing, and finance. They facilitate regular meetings, align stakeholders on key milestones, and ensure everyone is informed about program progress and risks. This collaboration often involves negotiating priorities, resolving conflicts, and adapting plans based on feedback. Strong communication and relationship-building skills are essential, as much of the role's success depends on fostering alignment and engagement among diverse teams.

What is a Strategic Program Manager?

A Strategic Program Manager is a professional responsible for overseeing and coordinating multiple projects or initiatives that align with an organization's long-term goals. They work to ensure that these programs are executed efficiently, deliver expected outcomes, and support the overall business strategy. Their role often involves cross-functional collaboration, resource management, and performance tracking to maximize organizational success. Strategic Program Managers also identify risks, manage budgets, and communicate progress to senior leadership.

What is the difference between Strategic Program Manager vs Project Manager?

AspectStrategic Program ManagerProject Manager
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree, PMP or PgMP certification often preferredRequires a bachelor's degree, PMP certification common
Work EnvironmentFocuses on multiple related projects aligned with strategic goalsManages individual projects with specific deliverables
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in corporate, tech, and consulting firms for strategic initiativesCommon across industries for project execution
Search & Comparison IntentOften compared for strategic oversight and long-term planningCompared for task management and project delivery

The Strategic Program Manager oversees multiple projects aligned with strategic objectives, focusing on long-term impact. In contrast, the Project Manager manages specific projects with defined scopes and deliverables. Both roles require similar certifications but differ in scope and strategic involvement.

What are popular job titles related to Strategic Program Manager jobs in California? For Strategic Program Manager jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Strategic Program Manager jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Strategic Program Manager jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Strategic Program Manager jobs? Cities in California with the most Strategic Program Manager job openings:
Strategic Program Manager jobs near you

Customer Support Strategic Program Manager

Mercury

San Francisco, CA • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Posted 22 days ago

Job description

Buckminster Fuller popularized the concept of "tensegrity" - structures that hold together not because of rigid hierarchy, but because carefully balanced forces create stability, flexibility, and strength at the same time.
As a CS Strategic Program Manager at Mercury, you'll help build that kind of operating system for Customer Experience. You won't do it through a heavyweight process or top-down control. You'll do it by creating alignment across teams, introducing clarity in ambiguous spaces, and designing programs that help the organization move with more coordination, confidence, and speed.
This role sits on Mercury's Customer Experience Strategy & Planning team and focuses on some of the most important operational and strategic work across CX. You'll help drive programs that improve how we support customers, scale operations, implement change, and partner cross-functionally across Product, Engineering, Learning & Development, Risk, and Systems Administration.
You'll be trusted to bring structure to evolving problems, connect dots across teams, and help turn good ideas into durable execution. The right person for this role is highly organized, deeply collaborative, and energized by improving how teams work together.
What you'll do:
  • Drive strategic and operational programs across Customer Experience, helping teams execute against high-impact initiatives that improve the customer and agent experience
  • Partner cross-functionally with teams including Product, Engineering, Learning & Development, Risk, and Zendesk System Administrators to coordinate work, manage dependencies, and maintain alignment
  • Help structure and operationalize ambiguous initiatives by identifying next steps, clarifying ownership, and creating scalable plans for execution
  • Support improvements to CX processes, tooling, workflows, and operational practices that help teams move more effectively as Mercury scales
  • Contribute to program management systems and rituals that improve prioritization, communication, accountability, and execution across the organization
  • Use data and operational insights to identify trends, surface opportunities, and support decision-making across CX initiatives
  • Drive programs from early planning through rollout and adoption, helping teams navigate change thoughtfully and effectively
  • Focus on simplification - creating experiences, workflows, and systems that feel intuitive, scalable, and useful for both customers and internal teams
What You Bring to the Table:
  • 4-6 years of experience in program management, operations, customer experience, support strategy, or related roles
  • Experience leading or contributing to cross-functional programs with multiple stakeholders and moving parts
  • Strong organizational and execution skills with the ability to manage timelines, priorities, and follow-through across several initiatives simultaneously
  • Comfort operating in ambiguity and helping create clarity, structure, and momentum where processes may not yet exist
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across different teams and levels of the organization
  • A thoughtful, low-ego approach to partnership and problem-solving - you care about helping teams work better together
  • A bias toward action and continuous improvement, with an instinct for identifying friction and simplifying systems over time
The Ideal Candidate Will Also Have:
  • Familiarity with tools like Zendesk, Asana, Notion, or similar operational platforms
  • Experience working within Customer Support, Customer Experience, Operations, or other service-oriented organizations
  • Comfort working with data in tools like Google Sheets, Looker, SQL, or similar platforms
  • Exposure to change management, process improvement, or operational scaling initiatives
  • Interest in designing systems and workflows that balance structure with flexibility

The total rewards package at Mercury includes base salary, equity (stock options/RSUs), and benefits.
Our salary and equity ranges are highly competitive within the SaaS and fintech industry and are updated regularly using the most reliable compensation survey data for our industry. New hire offers are made based on a candidate's experience, expertise, geographic location, and internal pay equity relative to peers.
Our target new hire base salary ranges for this role are the following:
  • US employees in New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, or the San Francisco Bay Area: $121,700 - $152,100
  • US employees outside of New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, or the San Francisco Bay Area: $109,500 - $136,900
  • Canadian employees (any location): CAD $115,000 - $143,700

Mercury values diversity & belonging and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All individuals seeking employment at Mercury are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process for applicants with disabilities or special needs. If you need assistance, or an accommodation, please let your recruiter know once you are contacted about a role.
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