HR Program Manager
Company : Catholic Health Initiatives
Location : Tacoma, WA, 98405
Job Type : Full Time
Salary : 41.14-61.2 HOUR
Date Posted : 3 January 2026
Job Summary and Responsibilities
The HR Program Manager is responsible for overseeing, developing, and collaborating on projects and planning efforts that advance the strategic objectives of HR in partnership with an assigned executive operational team: division, line of business or shared services.
In partnership with CHRO, executive leaders and people strategy and solutions, an incumbent works closely with key executives to guide the development of strategic and operating plans, metric plans and dashboards, business cases/plans, and support for other strategic planning endeavors. The strategic program manager will be expected to support executive operational teams while focusing on our broader strategic workforce plans.
Key focus areas also include:
- Partnering with HR and business leaders to lead rapid response teams to assess, recommend and develop solutions for business-critical issues.
- Providing program leadership, thought partnership, analysis and strategic decision-making support to initiative sponsors and teams to ensure sustainable and scalable user-centric solutions are developed and implemented to successfully realize business objectives and drive change.
- Collaboratively driving consistent communication and change management across VMFH HR in partnership with other strategic program managers, COEs and CHROs ensuring we successfully focus and activate the organization to solve the most complex people challenges and accelerate business outcomes in support of the Mission and growth.
- An incumbent must be able to conceptualize and apply sound analytical methods in order to spearhead program development/monitoring activities, understand complex organizational impacts and address/resolve matters of significance, and challenges/problems encountered are often unique and with little precedent for effective solutions.
- Work requires the strong application of initiative and independent judgment, but an incumbent will also work collaboratively with other team members and is expected to lead teams through the full lifecycle of project management, from discovery through implementation and business value delivery, while also maintaining focus on broader strategic workforce plans.
- Work also requires strong strategic/business initiatives execution experience.
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Project Management, Strategic Planning or related discipline and four years of related professional experience that would demonstrate attainment of the requisite job knowledge/abilities.
- Two years of demonstrated experience involving independent decision-making, complex facilitate, project management, change management, mentoring, developing training is strongly preferred.
- Or any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position may be substituted for the degree requirement.
Preferred:
- PHR, SHRM – CP, SPHR or SHRM-SCP Certification.
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health has a rich history of providing exceptional healthcare, dating back to 1891. Building upon a legacy of compassionate care and innovation, our organization has evolved over the years through strategic partnerships and integrations to expand our reach and services across the Puget Sound area.
Today, as Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, we remain deeply committed to healing the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – in the communities we serve. This commitment is strengthened by the diverse expertise and shared values brought together through our growth.
Our dedicated providers offer a full spectrum of health care services, from routine wellness to complex disease management, all grounded in rigorous research and education. Our comprehensive network of 10 hospitals and nearly 300 care sites strategically located across the greater Puget Sound region reflects our ongoing commitment to accessibility and comprehensive care.
We are proud of our pioneering medical advances and numerous awards and accreditations that reflect our dedication to excellence. When you join Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, you become part of a team that delivers top-quality, professional healthcare in modern, well-equipped facilities, and contributes to a legacy of service built on collaboration and shared purpose.
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Frequently asked questions
In Tacoma's healthcare landscape, certifications like PHR, SHRM-CP, SPHR, and SHRM-SCP significantly boost an HR Program Manager’s profile, reflecting advanced knowledge in HR strategies and compliance. These credentials align well with regional employer expectations, especially for roles demanding strategic workforce planning and change management.
Tacoma's healthcare industry shows moderate to growing demand for HR Program Managers, driven by expanding health systems. Employers such as Catholic Health Initiatives seek seasoned professionals skilled in strategic HR execution and program leadership, making the competition favor candidates with both certifications and proven project management capabilities.
Beyond foundational HR knowledge, an effective HR Program Manager excels in strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, change management, and analytical problem-solving. These skills enable them to lead complex workforce initiatives, align HR programs with business goals, and influence executive decision-making for sustainable organizational growth.
An Hr Program professional often progresses into senior strategic roles such as Senior Program Manager or HR Director, focusing on broader organizational initiatives. Gaining expertise in workforce analytics, executive partnership, and large-scale program leadership opens pathways to influential positions shaping human capital strategies at regional or national levels.
HR Program Managers in Tacoma, especially within healthcare, typically earn between $90,000 and $120,000 annually. Salary depends on experience, certifications, and leadership scope, with roles at Catholic Health Initiatives tending toward the higher spectrum due to the complexity and strategic impact involved.
At Catholic Health Initiatives, the HR Program Manager role emphasizes close collaboration with executive teams and a strong focus on rapid response to business-critical challenges. This contrasts with other systems where the focus might lean more on operational HR tasks rather than strategic workforce planning and comprehensive change management.
Catholic Health Initiatives fosters a collaborative environment enriched by shared values and a legacy of compassionate care, providing HR Program Managers with access to cross-departmental leaders, robust data dashboards, and resources needed to implement scalable, user-focused HR initiatives that drive both mission and growth.
Senior HR program managers often face challenges like aligning diverse stakeholder interests, managing rapid organizational changes, and ensuring program sustainability. Addressing these requires strong communication skills, data-driven decision-making, and facilitating collaborative problem-solving to maintain momentum and achieve strategic goals.
Tacoma’s healthcare workforce is adapting to increasing demand for integrated care and technological innovation. HR Program Managers should focus on agile talent strategies, upskilling initiatives, and inclusive workforce planning to meet evolving patient needs while supporting organizational resilience.
In a multi-hospital network, the Hr Program Manager leads the development of unified strategic and operational plans across diverse units. They coordinate metrics, manage cross-functional projects, and drive change initiatives that harmonize workforce goals with organizational mission, ensuring consistency and scalable impact across locations.