People Program Manager

Description

Hi, We're AppFolio

AppFolio is more than a company. We're a community of dreamers, big thinkers, problem solvers, active listeners, and multipliers. At every opportunity, we set the pace while delivering innovation built to carry real estate into the future. We show up as one team, connected by our values to be a force for good.

The People Program Manager role is the operational force behind key employee-facing programs that reach and impact every AppFolian. Reporting to the Sr. Manager, People Programs, you'll own end-to-end program execution across multiple centers of excellence, partnering with functional teams to turn strategy into programs that land, stick, and make a measurable difference in how people experience working here. This is a role built for someone who runs toward complexity, operates with high autonomy, excels at bringing structure to ambiguity, and measures success by outcomes.

Your Impact

• Own end-to-end execution of key people programs, managing company-wide launches, measuring impact, and iterating based on results, with a lens on change management, communications, and employee experience
• Translate strategic vision into executable roadmaps, defining scope, sequencing work, and aligning program deliverables to business priorities
• Build and own the project infrastructure and team practices that keep programs moving: structured plans, timelines, communication frameworks, and cross-functional coordination that model People Programs as a consistent, credible partner across the organization
• Surface operational risks and gaps before they become blockers, bringing a clear path forward alongside every flag
• Take clear ownership of your programs and execute with high autonomy, whether building from the ground up or stepping into work already in motion, making the call when it's yours to make and escalating when it matters
• Serve as a trusted, steady partner to the COEs you support (Talent, Total Rewards, People Operations, or Learning & Inclusion), building confidence through consistent follow-through, calm problem-solving, and a collaborative approach that brings people on board and keeps programs moving forward together
• Actively research internal and external best practices, bringing forward recommendations that improve how programs are designed, scaled, and evolved over time
• Relentlessly seek ways to work smarter through technology and AI, automating the routine so your time and energy go where the human element matters most, and partnering with the team to discover and build on what works
  
  
  

Competencies

• Project Management — Builds and drives meticulously organized plans across complex, multi-stakeholder programs. Manages multiple workstreams simultaneously with rigor and attention to detail, never losing the thread.
• Cross-Functional Partnership and Influence — Serves as a consistent, reliable presence for the COEs they support, earning trust across all levels including senior stakeholders, and moving work forward without relying on formal authority.
• Communication — Writes and speaks clearly for any audience, from a working session with a partner team to an executive briefing. Develops a point of view on how programs should be communicated and sequenced.
• Adaptability — Adjusts course quickly when priorities shift without losing momentum on existing commitments.
• Set the Pace — Operates with urgency and communicates with transparency, making data-informed decisions backed by analytical thinking and systems-level awareness. Actively models the pace and working standards the People team aspires to.
• Change Management Thinking — Understands how change affects people and applies that awareness to how programs are launched, landed, and measured.
  
  
  

Must Have

• 3+ years of proven, hands-on experience independently managing complex, cross-functional programs and projects with multiple stakeholders and competing timelines
• Experience working within an HR, People Operations, or related people function
• Exercises sound judgment and high professional discretion when handling sensitive, confidential, and PII data.
• Clear, confident communicator across written and verbal channels
• Hands-on experience with project management tools and standards
• Demonstrated use of AI tools (e.g., Claude, Gemini, or similar) in a professional setting
  
  
  

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with COE operating models within a People organization
• Background in change management, employee experience, and/or communications
• PMP certification or equivalent project management training
• Knowledge of performance and compensation review cycles
• Experience working in a technology company, SaaS environment, or organization of 1500+ employees
• Familiarity with HR tech platforms (e.g., Workday) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau)
  
  
  

Compensation & Benefits

The compensation that we reasonably expect to pay for this role is: $94,400 - $118,000.

The actual compensation for this role will be determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s skills, education, experience, and internal equity.

Please note that compensation is just one aspect of a comprehensive Total Rewards package. The compensation range listed here does not include additional benefits or any discretionary bonuses you may be eligible for based on your role and/or employment type.

Regular full-time employees are eligible for benefits