Program Manager II

We're transforming the grocery industryAt Instacart, we invite the world to share love through food because we believe everyone should have access to the food they love and more time to enjoy it together. Where others see a simple need for grocery delivery, we see exciting complexity and endless opportunity to serve the varied needs of our community. We work to deliver an essential service that customers rely on to get their groceries and household goods, while also offering safe and flexible earnings opportunities to Instacart Personal Shoppers.Instacart has become a lifeline for millions of people, and we’re building the team to help push our shopping cart forward. If you’re ready to do the best work of your life, come join our table.Instacart is a Flex First team There’s no one-size fits all approach to how we do our best work. Our employees have the flexibility to choose where they do their best work—whether it’s from home, an office, or your favorite coffee shop—while staying connected and building community through regular in-person events. Learn more about our flexible approach to where we work.OverviewCommercial Program Management (CPM) team serves as the central function leading strategic execution, portfolio management, and strategic program leadership to empower commercial teams in delivering measurable business impact. We drive cross-functional collaboration, governance, and scalable execution across commercial programs, Instacart Marketplace, Retailer.com, in-store initiatives, strategic partnerships, and business-driving innovation. As the commercial landscape evolves, we will continue to expand our influence and operational planning, ensuring scalable, data-driven, and strategic execution for business growth solutions that support Instacart’s long-term business success.The Commercial Program Management team’s mission is to drive value for the Commercial org by:Leading strategic execution and portfolio management to drive measurable impact across Instacart’s commercial programs. Establishing, operationalizing, and strategically executing a structured portfolio management approach to optimize commercial initiatives, enhance cross-functional alignment, and drive strategic execution of business priorities. Through effective governance, prioritization, and scalable program management, we empower Instacart’s commercial organization to unlock new opportunities, accelerate growth, and streamline execution across a cohesive portfolio of strategic initiatives.About the JobThe Commercial Program Management team is looking for a Program Manager II team, supporting key initiatives across Commercial teams. This role sits at the intersection of strategy and execution, partnering closely with Ads Product, Brand Partnerships, Eversight, Measurement Science, Retail, Strategic Partnerships, Finance, and Engineering to drive cross-functional programs from concept through launch and scale.You will play a critical role in bringing structure to complex initiatives, ensuring alignment across teams, and helping translate business priorities into effective execution.What You’ll DoSupport Systems-Level Programs: Project & Program ManagementContribute to programs that span multiple systems, including:Developing of project plan and documentation as well as supporting cross functional work streams to ensure success of key business objectivesFlagging risk identification, dependency tracking, issue identification and change management on projects and programsUtilizing AI tools, especially Claude and Gemini, and having a strong understanding on how to apply them to program management workflows, including synthesis, documentation, intake triage, stakeholder communications, and scalable process design.AI-Driven Process Design & Scale: have the ability to design and scale programs using AI tools to reduce manual work, improve consistency, and increase speed to execution Help identify and escalate issues across systems where ownership is distributedDrive cross-functional program accountability on behalf of Brand Partnerships and other commercial teams, ensuring critical deliverables are clearly owned, prioritized, and executed against business outcomesSupport automation development of:Knowledge management resourcesIssue tracking and escalation workflowsDocumentation and process standardizationTrack program health, risks, and dependenciesEnsure stakeholders have clear updates and visibility into progressProactively surface blockers and support resolutionOwn the design, and continuous improvement of process & programs to support commercial goalsDrive alignment with cross-functional team OKRs, roadmaps and prioritizationsSupport GTM Strategy & ExecutionAssist in planning and executing go-to-market strategies for product launches and partnerships Track launch readiness, dependencies, and key milestonesPartner with Brand Partnerships and Enablement teams to support execution in-marketCreate automation workflows that foster visibility across teamsBring Structure to Ambiguity & Enable Scalable ExecutionHelp identify gaps in process, ownership, and alignmentContribute to building frameworks, trackers, and operating rhythmsSupport prioritization and coordination across multiple workstreamsSupport development of repeatable processes, templates, and toolsHelp streamline workflows and reduce manual effortContribute to improving how teams collaborate and executeCross-functional collaboration & leadershipAbility to work cross-functionally with many teams and multi-tasks with a sense of urgencyIdentifying and pulling together cross-functional teams necessary to successfully launch projects & programsWork with cross-functional stakeholders to understand key pain points and opportunities when brought into a project or programSupport end-to-end execution of high-impact initiatives across Commercial teams, Eversight and Brand PartnershipsTranslate business goals into clear timelines, deliverables, and execution plansCoordinate across cross-functional stakeholders to ensure alignment and progressAbout YouAI-Enabled Executor: You are organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple workstreams effectively while leveraging AI tools to improve speed, quality, documentation, and follow-through. You leverage tools like Claude AI and Gemini to build repeatable workflows, automate intake and triage, generate documentation, and create scalable operating models that enable teams to execute more efficiently across multiple programs.Resourceful Problem Solver: You thrive in both structured and unstructured environments, using sound judgment, creativity, and AI-enabled workflows to bring clarity to complex work.Comfortable with Ambiguity: You can operate in evolving environments, synthesize complex inputs, and turn unclear needs into structured plans and actionable outcomes.Portfolio Thinker: You are able to zoom out across programs to identify tradeoffs, capacity constraints, and prioritization opportunities, helping teams focus on the highest-impact work.Ownership Mentality: You take end-to-end ownership of programs and outcomes, proactively driving progress rather than waiting for direction.Collaborative Influencer: You can indirectly influence cross-functional partners without direct reporting lines, driving alignment, accountability, and forward momentum.Minimum Qualifications5–7+ years of experience in program management, operations, consulting, or related rolesDemonstrate AI fluency using LLMs and/or automation platforms to streamline workflows and improve program efficiencyExperience supporting cross-functional initiativesExcellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience keeping stakeholders informed and alignedAbility to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environmentAbility to translate complex technical and operational problems into clear, actionable recommendations for diverse stakeholdersStrong decision-framing skills, including the ability to surface tradeoffs and guide teams toward alignmentProven ability to build relationships, manage conflict, and influence cross-functional partners without direct authorityTrack record of improving processes, solving problems, and building scalable systems that reduce frictionStrong program and project management toolkit, with ability to apply best practices based on program needsCritical thinking skills, with ability to identify risks, dependencies, and opportunities across programsAbility to manage competing priorities, communicate tradeoffs, and focus on highest-impact workStrong business acumen and ability to connect program execution to revenue, customer outcomes, and business goalsExperience leading through change and helping teams adopt new processes, tools, and ways of workingPreferred QualificationsExtensive AI experience with workflow automation, code and skillsStrong experience in Ads, commercial marketplaces, or tech platformsExperience managing GTM launches or revenue-driving programsExperience working with data, product, or operational systemsFamiliarity with building process designs, documentation, or workflowsInstacart provides highly market-competitive compensation and benefits in each location where our employees work. This role is remote and the base pay range for a successful candidate is dependent on their permanent work location. Please review our Flex First remote work policy here. Currently, we are only hiring in the following provinces: Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia.Offers may vary based on many factors, such as candidate experience and skills required for the role. Additionally, this role is eligible for a new hire equity grant as well as annual refresh grants. Please read more about our benefits offerings here.For Canadian based candidates, the base pay ranges for a successful candidate are listed below.CAN$120,000—$126,500 CADOriginally posted on Himalayas