Program Manager - The Shipyard

ABOUT THE SHIPYARD

The Shipyard is a leading, independent agency that builds performance-driven brands audiences can’t help but love. 

By applying modern mindsets to established models, we fuel brand and marketing decisions that are more courageous and more validated.

Our ability to align bold creativity with individual consumer motivations lets us do more than hope for brand love – we methodically engineer it throughout the consumer journey. That’s how we activate the synergistic power of brand building and performance marketing.

Engineering Brand Love through the courageous ambitions of our people and our clients.

The agency has significant momentum and is on a roll with new business. Our team continues to expand across four cities (Columbus, Newport Beach, Sacramento, and San Diego) and we’re still growing. Come join our team!

SUMMARY

We are looking for a smart, experienced, and motivated Program Manager to join our San Diego team.  

The Program Management Department loves collaborating with partners, inspiring creative solutions, driving progress, evolving process, and seeks the feeling of getting things accomplished – in the most strategic way possible. As Program Manager you are a central role in delivering world-class work, connectors across the business, inspiring and guiding teams towards shared goals. This role establishes significant trust and support internally and will ensure that we build a future of success for the Agency and our clients. This also means serving as a key player through inspired internal connection that is on time, on budget, while embracing new ways of problem-solving.

This is a hybrid work from home/office position (in-office attendance is required on Tuesdays & Thursdays) and the candidate must live near San Diego, CA.

At The Shipyard, we know that it's your unique talents, backgrounds, and perspectives that make you who you are, just like our team, who come from various career paths and experiences. We believe we can't be truly diverse without bringing your most authentic self to the agency.  
Studies show that people from marginalized communities may not always apply for positions if they don't meet every single requirement in a job posting. At The Shipyard, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the requirements. We believe that your passion for what we stand for — our values and purpose — is just as important as meeting every checkbox. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Client Services Partnership: Managing Against On Time & On Budget Parameters (85%) 

• Primary point of contact for Agency’s larger clients on all program related elements, including inquiry and issue resolution. 
• Experience navigating complex programs of work with multiple stakeholders and teams in a fast-paced environment simultaneously. 
• Communicate the “how” and “when” while empowering teams to deliver against those shared expectations and goals. 
• Identify, input, and submit all project needs into Monday.com at the start of every project. 
• Responsible for leading Internal Status and appropriate distribution of Reports to teams. 
• Key player in clearly articulating expectations to turn ideas into reality. 
• Coordinate and oversee internal departments involved in the development and implementation of ongoing projects, defining efficiencies in internal workflow. 
• Responsible for developing, maintaining, and escalating a strong two-way communication channel between Program Director, ensuring Program Director is aware of direction, challenges, and required decisions or guidance. 
• Collaborative planning through orchestrating and managing workflows ensuring project plans reflect the collective expertise of the team. 
• Present process, project health (budget, timelines, resources) and plans. 
• Lead by example in approaching challenges from a solution-oriented mindset, leaning into tools, and methodology. 
• Action-oriented nature in proactive approaches.  
• Development, execution, and maintenance of Estimate Workbooks. 
• Speak to project budgets, timelines, and resources based on familiarity of program management and trajectory of client partnership. 
• Active understanding of internal dynamics and desire to understand client dynamics. 

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

Operational & Executional Excellence (30%)

• Build Roadmaps & bring creative solutions in tandem with team leads
• Be a strong liaison and connector on a day-to-day basis
• Proactive mindset to understand all project workflows and motivation to contribute
• Use the right communication style to be the most effective (tools vs phone call vs team regroups)
• Initiative in team onboardings to understand layout of tools & use
• Efficient individual time management, recognizing priorities within workload
• Classify program priorities and set team in motion

Financial Literacy (20%)

• Continuous growth and overall strong drive to understand financial components
• Confidence in comprehending SOWs paired with developing estimates independently
• Apply knowledge of financial tools to support project health

Relationship Building (20%)

• Develop strong cross-functional partnerships within each department 
• Actively providing and seeking out feedback
• Solution-oriented problem solving

Enhancing Process (15%)

• Understand each department’s process; recognize roadblocks
• Champion adaptability and openness
• Identify trends and share/discuss with larger PM team
• Partner with leadership to implement changes

Emotional Intelligence (15%)

• Strong development in self-awareness, self-regulation, self-advocacy, empathy, motivation, and social skills
• Conflict resolution
• Confidence in when to lead vs when to escalate

WHAT YOU’LL GET

•  The overall target range of base compensation for this role is $75,000 - $90,000. Compensation offered will be determined by additional factors such as location and experience.
• Open PTO
• 40 hours of paid sick time (annually) 
• Flexible work hours and remote work
• Paid holidays + holiday closure between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance and disability benefits
• 401k program with employer matching
• 6 weeks paid parental leave
• Employee bonus referrals
• Dog-friendly offices 
• Company-provided snacks and beverages (yes, beer/wine included)
• … and lots more!

REQUIREMENTS

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for visa sponsorship.