People Strategic Programs Manager

The Role

Apollo's People team is scaling rapidly across new geographies, business models, and technologies. We're managing M&A integration, building employment infrastructure in new markets, evaluating new tech stacks (ATS, HRIS), and pioneering how AI can make People work simpler and smarter.

The SVP of People oversees all of this, but we need someone who can be the operational and strategic backbone: handling the cadence, shepherding multi-quarter projects, partnering with IT/Legal/Finance, and most importantly, becoming an extension of the SVP so she can operate at the strategy level rather than in the weeds of execution.

The People Strategic Programs Manager will own:

The operating rhythm of the People team (meetings, planning cycles, offsites, headcount strategy)

Execution of strategic initiatives (M&A playbook, UK infrastructure, ATS transition, HRIS evaluation)

Identifying and rolling out AI efficiencies across People workflows while working with IT/Legal on governance

Being a thought partner pulling projects, ideas, and execution off the SVP's plate

This is an individual contributor role that leads through expertise, sound judgment, influence, and clear operating mechanisms, not direct management authority.

What You'll Own

People Team Operating Rhythm

Coordinate and run the People team's recurring cadence: all-hands, leadership meetings, quarterly planning cycles (OKRs), annual strategy planning, and offsites

Design and implement a documented, repeatable planning process that removes ad hoc coordination and reduces SVP time spent on operations

Own headcount planning and forecasting: build scenarios, identify HC needs by function, and feed strategic planning cycles

By Q4 2026: People team calendar and cadence runs with minimal SVP involvement

Strategic HR Programs & Projects

Own execution on major, multi-quarter initiatives: M&A integration playbook, UK equity/visa sponsorship infrastructure, ATS (Ashby) transition, HRIS evaluation, and emerging ad hoc projects

Partner with Director of People Operations on prioritization, scope, and sequencing

Key timelines: Ashby migration complete by December 2026; UK equity/visa infrastructure documented and operational by January 2027; HRIS evaluation narrowed to final vendor by May 2027; M&A playbook battle-tested by Q4 2026

People AI Transformation

Map People team workflows to identify where AI and automation can create real efficiencies

Conduct a comprehensive workflow audit within 6 months; identify 3–5 high-impact AI opportunities

Build one-team solutions (like the org health dashboard) instead of siloed, one-off tools

Partner with IT and Legal to establish clearer, more reasonable guardrails for AI/Claude usage (today's "anything with PII requires review" is too restrictive and stymies innovation; broaden to enable more senior team members with self-service capability)

Advocate for a revised AI usage policy that enables People team to work effectively

By 12 months: People team operating under new AI policy with broader, reasonable guardrails

Strategic Multiplier to SVP

Be a thought partner and ideator on People strategy, new initiatives, and challenges

Pull execution and project leadership off the SVP's plate so she operates at the VCE/strategy level

By beginning of FY 2027: SVP spends 30% less time in operational/project meetings

What We're Looking For

Experience & Background

7+ years of varied experience across G&A (General & Administrative) functions—could include HR, People Operations, HR technology, BizOps, special projects, or Chief of Staff roles

Demonstrated ability to design, plan, and execute multi-quarter initiatives end-to-end

Strong business and process design skills: requirements gathering, problem-solving, implementation, and change management

Experience managing across organizational boundaries without direct authority, aligning stakeholders, driving decisions, and measuring impact

Comfort with ambiguity and ability to operate in a fast-moving, high-growth environment

Experience with technology evaluation, implementation, and vendor management (at least exposure to ATS, HRIS, or People tech)

Understanding of People data, reporting, workflows, and interest in how AI/automation can improve People processes

Program/project management skills and execution bias (more important than HR domain expertise)

Comfort operating as a thought partner to senior leaders and influencing without authority

Intellectual curiosity about People operations, technology, and AI

Adaptability and ability to shift between strategic thinking and tactical problem-solving

Track record of building processes, systems, and solutions that scale

The listed Pay Range reflects the total cash compensation inclusive of annual base salary and annual bonus as applicable. For sales roles, the range provided is the role’s On Target Earnings ("OTE") range, meaning that the range includes both the sales commissions/sales bonus target and annual base salary for the role. This salary range may be inclusive of several career levels at Apollo and will be narrowed during the interview process based on a number of factors, including the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and location. Applicants interested in this role who are not located in the US may request the annual salary range for their location during the interview process.

Additional benefits for this role may include: equity; company bonus or sales commissions/bonuses; 401(k) plan; at least 10 paid holidays per year, flex PTO, and parental leave; employee assistance program and wellbeing benefits; global travel coverage; life/AD&D/STD/LTD insurance; FSA/HSA and medical, dental, and vision benefits.

Tier 1 Pay Range (San Francisco, New York City, Seattle)

$188,000—$235,000 USD

Tier 2 Pay Range (All other US Locations)

$163,000—$204,000 USD