Program Director Jobs in San Francisco, CA
Program Director jobs in San Francisco are active across technology, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors, with openings concentrated in SoMa, the Financial District, and Mission Bay. Employers hiring right now include OpenAI, Rippling, and Salesforce. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 48+ Program Director jobs
About Pinterest:
Millions of people around the world come to our platform to find creative ideas, dream about new possibilities and plan for memories that will last a lifetime. At Pinterest, we're on a mission to bring everyone the inspiration to create a life they love, and that starts with the people behind the product.
Discover a career where you ignite innovation for millions, transform passion into growth opportunities, celebrate each other's unique experiences and embrace the flexibility to do your best work. Creating a career you love? It's Possible.
At Pinterest, AI isn't just a feature, it's a powerful partner that augments our creativity and amplifies our impact, and we're looking for candidates who are excited to be a part of that. To get a complete picture of your experience and abilities, we'll explore your foundational skills and how you collaborate with AI.
Through our interview process, what matters most is that you can always explain your approach, showing us not just what you know, but how you think. You can read more about our AI interview philosophy and how we use AI in our recruiting process here.
The Team:
The Ads Quality & Measurement team sits at the center of Pinterest's ads systems, where machine learning, AI, measurement and marketplace quality come together to create value for advertisers and useful, inspiring experiences for Pinners. As the Director of Technical Program Management for Ads Quality & Measurement, you'll use your technical understanding and business judgment to lead a critical function responsible for cross-cutting programs with company-level objectives. You will shape the systems that determine how Pinterest connects the right advertisers with the right users at the right moments.
This is one of the most important TPM leadership roles in the Monetization organization. You'll help define the strategy, operating model, metrics framework and delivery system for a portfolio that directly supports Pinterest's growth, advertiser performance and Pinner relevance goals.
What you'll do:
- Lead an impactful team of senior TPMs and ICs responsible for cross-org, company-level programs across Ads Quality & Measurement, including areas such as Ads Ranking, Match Quality, Whole Page Relevance, measurement systems and platform investments.
- Set a clear strategy and vision for the Ads Quality & Measurement TPM function, translating advertiser performance, Pinner relevance and marketplace quality goals into measurable roadmaps, operating mechanisms and execution plans.
- Drive alignment across Product, Engineering, Data Science, Design, and Go-to-Market teams to deliver complex programs that improve advertiser value while maintaining high-quality, helpful experiences for Pinners.
- Own the metrics and accountability framework for the portfolio, connecting performance, relevance, experimentation and delivery signals into a clear source of truth for what shipped, what moved the metrics and why.
- Bring structure and momentum to ambiguous, high-stakes work by establishing decision frameworks, surfacing trade-offs, managing dependencies and increasing decision velocity across executive and cross-functional teams.
- Lead the operating cadence for the organization, including portfolio reviews, resource planning, launch readiness, dependency management, risk management and executive communications.
- Embed the use of AI across the org to accelerate synthesis, planning, reporting and repeatable program workflows, while applying judgment, verification and appropriate guardrails to ensure quality, privacy and correctness.
- Develop a high-performing AI-first TPM team through coaching, constructive feedback, succession planning and a culture of ongoing learning, growth and equitable development.
What we're looking for:
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in technical program management or related experience leading multiple company-level programs that impact business-critical objectives.
- Minimum of 2 years of people management experience, including experience leading senior TPMs, managers or senior ICs through complex, cross-functional technical work.
- Experience leading large-scale programs in ads, marketplace systems, machine learning, AI, ranking, recommendation systems, experimentation, measurement, data platforms or similarly complex technical domains.
- Experience setting strategy for a technical function, translating ambiguous business opportunities into clear priorities, measurable outcomes, operating mechanisms and durable execution plans.
- Experience building accountability systems across teams, including metric frameworks, roadmap tracking, launch governance, dependency management and executive-level reporting.
- Strong technical judgment and communication skills, with experience influencing senior leaders, aligning multiple organizations and making thoughtful trade-offs on behalf of the business.
- Demonstrated experience using AI to improve speed and quality in day-to-day work, with a clear approach to validating accuracy, protecting sensitive data and remaining accountable for final decisions and deliverables.
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Business or equivalent experience.
Relocation Statement:
- This position is not eligible for relocation assistance. Visit our PinFlex page to learn more about our working model.
In-Office Requirement Statement:
- We let the type of work you do guide the collaboration style. That means we're not always working in an office, but we continue to gather for key moments of collaboration and connection.
- This role will need to be in the office for in-person collaboration 1-2 times/quarter and therefore can be situated anywhere in the country.
#LI-REMOTE
#LI-DM57
Our Commitment to Inclusion:
About Pinterest:
Millions of people around the world come to our platform to find creative ideas, dream about new possibilities and plan for memories that will last a lifetime. At Pinterest, we're on a mission to bring everyone the inspiration to create a life they love, and that starts with the people behind the product.
Discover a career where you ignite innovation for millions, transform passion into growth opportunities, celebrate each other's unique experiences and embrace the flexibility to do your best work. Creating a career you love? It's Possible.
At Pinterest, AI isn't just a feature, it's a powerful partner that augments our creativity and amplifies our impact, and we're looking for candidates who are excited to be a part of that. To get a complete picture of your experience and abilities, we'll explore your foundational skills and how you collaborate with AI.
Through our interview process, what matters most is that you can always explain your approach, showing us not just what you know, but how you think. You can read more about our AI interview philosophy and how we use AI in our recruiting process here.
The Team:
The Ads Quality & Measurement team sits at the center of Pinterest's ads systems, where machine learning, AI, measurement and marketplace quality come together to create value for advertisers and useful, inspiring experiences for Pinners. As the Director of Technical Program Management for Ads Quality & Measurement, you'll use your technical understanding and business judgment to lead a critical function responsible for cross-cutting programs with company-level objectives. You will shape the systems that determine how Pinterest connects the right advertisers with the right users at the right moments.
This is one of the most important TPM leadership roles in the Monetization organization. You'll help define the strategy, operating model, metrics framework and delivery system for a portfolio that directly supports Pinterest's growth, advertiser performance and Pinner relevance goals.
What you'll do:
- Lead an impactful team of senior TPMs and ICs responsible for cross-org, company-level programs across Ads Quality & Measurement, including areas such as Ads Ranking, Match Quality, Whole Page Relevance, measurement systems and platform investments.
- Set a clear strategy and vision for the Ads Quality & Measurement TPM function, translating advertiser performance, Pinner relevance and marketplace quality goals into measurable roadmaps, operating mechanisms and execution plans.
- Drive alignment across Product, Engineering, Data Science, Design, and Go-to-Market teams to deliver complex programs that improve advertiser value while maintaining high-quality, helpful experiences for Pinners.
- Own the metrics and accountability framework for the portfolio, connecting performance, relevance, experimentation and delivery signals into a clear source of truth for what shipped, what moved the metrics and why.
- Bring structure and momentum to ambiguous, high-stakes work by establishing decision frameworks, surfacing trade-offs, managing dependencies and increasing decision velocity across executive and cross-functional teams.
- Lead the operating cadence for the organization, including portfolio reviews, resource planning, launch readiness, dependency management, risk management and executive communications.
- Embed the use of AI across the org to accelerate synthesis, planning, reporting and repeatable program workflows, while applying judgment, verification and appropriate guardrails to ensure quality, privacy and correctness.
- Develop a high-performing AI-first TPM team through coaching, constructive feedback, succession planning and a culture of ongoing learning, growth and equitable development.
What we're looking for:
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in technical program management or related experience leading multiple company-level programs that impact business-critical objectives.
- Minimum of 2 years of people management experience, including experience leading senior TPMs, managers or senior ICs through complex, cross-functional technical work.
- Experience leading large-scale programs in ads, marketplace systems, machine learning, AI, ranking, recommendation systems, experimentation, measurement, data platforms or similarly complex technical domains.
- Experience setting strategy for a technical function, translating ambiguous business opportunities into clear priorities, measurable outcomes, operating mechanisms and durable execution plans.
- Experience building accountability systems across teams, including metric frameworks, roadmap tracking, launch governance, dependency management and executive-level reporting.
- Strong technical judgment and communication skills, with experience influencing senior leaders, aligning multiple organizations and making thoughtful trade-offs on behalf of the business.
- Demonstrated experience using AI to improve speed and quality in day-to-day work, with a clear approach to validating accuracy, protecting sensitive data and remaining accountable for final decisions and deliverables.
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Business or equivalent experience.
Relocation Statement:
- This position is not eligible for relocation assistance. Visit our PinFlex page to learn more about our working model.
In-Office Requirement Statement:
- We let the type of work you do guide the collaboration style. That means we're not always working in an office, but we continue to gather for key moments of collaboration and connection.
- This role will need to be in the office for in-person collaboration 1-2 times/quarter and therefore can be situated anywhere in the country.
#LI-REMOTE
#LI-DM57
Our Commitment to Inclusion:
See All 48 Program Director Jobs in San Francisco
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Find Program Director JobsProgram Director Job Market in San Francisco
Who's Hiring
- OpenAI5
- Rippling3
- Salesforce3
- Meter2
- Plaid2
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software18
- Science & Research5
- Education4
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals3
- Retail2
Program Director Jobs in San Francisco: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a program director job in San Francisco?
San Francisco's strongest hiring for program directors comes from technology companies in SoMa and Mission Bay, health systems anchored around the Medical Center and UCSF, and a dense nonprofit sector citywide. Candidates who stand out typically have cross-functional leadership experience and familiarity with the specific domain, whether that's clinical operations, civic tech, or product-adjacent program work. Networking through local professional communities in those sectors adds a practical edge.
Which companies hire program directors in San Francisco?
Employers hiring program directors in San Francisco right now include OpenAI, Rippling, and Salesforce, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. San Francisco's employer mix runs from large tech platforms and health systems to mission-driven nonprofits and early-stage companies scaling their operations teams.
Are there remote program director jobs in San Francisco?
Yes, though availability depends heavily on the type of program work. About 23% of program director openings tied to San Francisco are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, skewing toward roles at technology companies and nonprofits where program management is largely strategic and desk-based. Roles tied to facilities, clinical programs, or community services in San Francisco are almost always on-site.
How can I get a program director job in San Francisco with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Francisco is moving up from a program manager or coordinator role at a local tech company, health system, or nonprofit. Organizations like nonprofits in the Tenderloin and Mission districts, UCSF-affiliated programs, and mid-stage startups in SoMa regularly hire program managers who grow into director roles internally. Building a record of owning deliverables end-to-end, not just coordinating tasks, is what accelerates that progression locally.
Which industries hire the most program directors in San Francisco?
San Francisco program director roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Science & Research, and Education, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. San Francisco's economy is shaped by its headquarters-heavy tech industry, a major academic medical infrastructure, and one of the largest nonprofit sectors per capita of any U.S. city, all of which generate sustained demand for program leadership.
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