People Experience Program Manager - San Francisco

Why this role is on the menu

Instacart’s People Experience team sits at the center of two of the most impactful moments in an employee’s journey: the day they join, and the moments when their growth is recognized. Right now, both of these programs — new hire orientation and the performance review cycle — are growing in complexity, and the manual work required to run them well is outpacing our current capacity. We’re hiring a People Experience Program Manager to bring structure, automation, and heart to these programs so that every new hire feels genuinely welcomed and every review cycle runs like clockwork. This role sits at the intersection of operational excellence and employee experience, and the person who fills it will have a direct hand in making sure both programs are executed with care and precision.

What you’ll cook up in your first year

• Orientation runs smoothly every session — logistics are buttoned up, vendor relationships are well-managed, and new hires move through the experience without friction because the operational infrastructure behind it is solid and well-maintained.
• Performance review cycles are executed without a hitch — timelines are met, stakeholders are informed and aligned, communications go out on schedule, and the cross-functional partners who depend on you (Comms, Legal, People Leadership) always know what’s coming next.
• The processes that used to require constant manual effort have been documented, optimized, and where possible automated — and the People team has one less operational bottleneck to worry about in two of the most high-visibility parts of the employee lifecycle.
• Vendor relationships for onboarding are well-managed and strategically aligned — contracts are sharp, SOWs are outcome-focused, and budget tracking for things like swag and logistics is always current and accurate.
• You’ve grown into facilitating both virtual and in-person orientation components, and you’re increasingly contributing to content iteration — bringing operational insight back into the design process as a close partner to those who own the bigger picture strategy.

The secret ingredients we’re looking for

You’re a program manager who thrives in the space between ambiguity and execution — someone who can hold multiple complex programs simultaneously, communicate with clarity across diverse audiences, and genuinely light up when a new hire says their first week changed how they feel about a company.

Must-have pantry staples (Minimum Qualifications)

• 5+ years in program management, learning & development, talent development, or a related people/HR function
• Hands-on experience using AI tools in a professional context (we’ll ask you about this!)
• Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional projects from inception to completion — including when the problem or solution isn’t fully defined at the outset
• Proven experience facilitating learning or orientation content for diverse audiences
• Track record of managing vendor relationships end-to-end: procurement, contract renewals, and ongoing partnership management
• Located in the SF Bay Area with ability to support in-person orientation components in our San Francisco office

Optional garnishes (Preferred Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience
• Experience with instructional design tools and/or learning management systems
• Certification in project management (PMP, CAPM, or equivalent)
• Experience applying AI to automate or redesign people programs at scale