Program Manager

Position Title: Program Manager


Functional Ministry Area(s): Ministry Support Services


Church: Hillside Community Church


Location: Rancho Cucamonga Campus


Reports to: Director of Operations


FLSA Classification: Exempt, Part-Time


Supervises: No


Compensation: $23-$26 hour


Schedule: Sunday - Thursday (up to 30 hours)


Created/Updated: August 2026


OVERVIEW

We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead a large, multi-faceted initiative composed of several interdependent sub-projects. This role sits above individual project execution - you will set the overall program strategy, ensure alignment across workstreams, manage cross-functional and external dependencies, and report on progress to senior stakeholders. You will also serve as the primary point of coordination with an outside agency partner supporting portions of the work. The ideal candidate is comfortable moving fluidly between big-picture program strategy and the tactical details of individual projects, and is fluent in multiple delivery methodologies (Waterfall, Agile/Scrum, Kanban) so they can flex their approach to fit each sub-project's needs.


CORE STAFF VALUES

• Christ-centered: I choose to seek Christ and His kingdom above all else. I will keep the main thing the main thing and strive to love, trust and follow Jesus, stay grounded in Scripture and keep in step with His Spirit day by day

• Compassionate (care): I want to be marked by the compassion of Jesus in how I relate to others, I choose to be a proactive initiator of care, remembering that Jesus is a friend of sinners like me, and reaches out to the suffering

• Collaboration: I choose partnership with God and with others over individual achievement and effort. I want to work with God, and His people on His mission of transformation that is bigger than anyone one of us

• Community: I will devote myself to and faithfully cultivate friendships with others at Hillside. Growing with Jesus always involves being with friends who pray, serve and follow Jesus together

• Commitment: I will wholeheartedly and sacrificially devote myself to God and one another in a world of busyness and overcommitment. In my heart, home, neighborhood and church I will be a devoted follower of Christ

• Courageous: our faith calls us out of our comfort zones and invites us to live with boldness & resiliency, filled with God's Spirit and power. I will seek first the kingdom of God, being a servant and witness to Him daily

• Celebration: I will choose to be thankful and joyful in the goodness of God and His salvation. Even when sorrowful I will seek to be grateful for the gifts of God. I also choose to rejoice with others as they rejoice.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Leadership & Strategy

• Own the overall program roadmap, timeline, budget, and success metrics, ensuring all sub-projects roll up to and support the program's strategic objectives.

• Define program governance structures, including reporting cadences, escalation paths, and decision-making authority.

• Identify and manage cross-project dependencies, risks, and resource conflicts before they impact delivery.

• Maintain a consolidated view of program health (scope, schedule, budget, quality) and translate it into clear updates for executive stakeholders.

Sub-Project Oversight

• Provide direction and support to individual project managers or workstream leads, ensuring their plans align with overall program goals.

• Select and apply the appropriate delivery framework (Waterfall, Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid) for each sub-project based on its scope, risk profile, and stakeholder needs.

• Review and approve individual project plans, timelines, and resourcing requests.

• Facilitate program-level ceremonies (e.g., steering committee meetings, cross-team syncs, quarterly planning) to keep sub-projects synchronized.

Agency & Vendor Coordination

• Serve as the primary liaison between the internal team and an external agency partner, managing scope, deliverables, timelines, and contractual obligations.

• Review and approve agency statements of work (SOWs), change orders, and invoices in partnership with procurement/legal as needed.

• Hold regular check-ins with the agency to review progress, resolve blockers, and ensure quality standards are met.

• Manage handoffs between internal teams and the agency to ensure smooth integration of deliverables into the broader program.

Stakeholder & Communication Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with sponsors, functional leads, and external partners.

• Proactively communicate risks, changes in scope, and timeline impacts to relevant stakeholders.

• Prepare and deliver regular status reports, dashboards, and executive presentations.

• Facilitate conflict resolution and alignment when priorities compete across sub-projects or with the agency.

Process, Tools & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and maintain program documentation, including charters, RAID logs (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies), and lessons-learned repositories.

• Champion consistent use of project management tools and reporting standards across all sub-projects.

• Identify opportunities to improve processes, tooling, and cross-team collaboration.

• Support change management and adoption efforts tied to the program's outcomes.

REQUIREMENTS & SKILLS

• 5+ years of experience in project or program management, with at least 2 years managing programs composed of multiple sub-projects or workstreams.

• Demonstrated experience managing external agencies, vendors, or contractors, including SOWs and budget oversight.

• Strong working knowledge of multiple project delivery frameworks: Waterfall, Scrum/Agile, and Kanban, with the judgment to apply the right one to the right situation.

• Proficiency with common project/program management tools such as Asana, Jira, Monday.com, Smartsheet, MS Project, or Trello, and collaboration tools such as Confluence, SharePoint, or Notion.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple workstreams simultaneously.

• Experience building and managing budgets, timelines, and resource plans.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP, PgMP, CSM, or SAFe certification desired.

• Experience in ministry field desired.

• Familiarity with change management methodologies (e.g., Prosci/ADKAR).

• Experience with financial/budget tracking tools and reporting dashboards (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).

Key Competencies

• Systems thinking: Able to see how individual projects interact and impact the broader program.

• Adaptability: Comfortable tailoring methodology and communication style to different teams and partners.

• Influence without authority: Able to align sub-project leads and an external agency toward shared goals without direct reporting lines.

• Risk management: Proactively identifies and mitigates issues before they escalate.

• Executive presence: Communicates confidently and clearly with senior stakeholders and sponsors.

PERSONAL & MINISTRY ALIGNMENT

• Committed follower of Jesus Christ with a lifestyle that reflects biblical values and integrity

• Alignment with Hillside's Vision, Mission, and Core Staff Values

• Alignment with the Aspire Network of Churches' leadership development and multiplication philosophy

• Actively engaged in spiritual growth through community, serving, and personal disciplines