Program Manager

Location: Oakland, CA
Position Type: Contract (12 months)
Pay Rate: $80.00–$85.00 / Hour (USD)
Work Authorization: Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S.; sponsorship is not available at this time.

About the Role

We are seeking a strategic and highly motivated Inclusion & Belonging Program Manager, Principal to join the Coworker Inclusion & Belonging (CI&B) team. This manager-level individual contributor will play a pivotal role in advancing a culture of inclusion by leading the enterprise-wide Employee Resource Group (ERG) and Engineering Network Group (ENG) program and supporting 8 Functional Area Inclusion Councils embedded in business units. The Program Manager, Principal will ensure ERGs/ENGs thrive as platforms for leadership development, community impact, and business alignment, while enabling Inclusion Councils to design and deliver action plans that foster belonging across the enterprise.

The Coworker Inclusion and Belonging team champions the "Power of We" — a key component of the Organizational Culture strategy — fostering alignment between behaviors, competencies, and execution to create a workplace rooted in inclusion and belonging. Through enterprise-wide initiatives focused on enhancing the coworker journey from hire to retire, the team supports efforts to:

• Cultivate an inclusive environment where coworkers and leaders thrive
• Ensure psychological safety and equitable work practices
• Strengthen workplace connections and a sense of belonging
• Build work environments that celebrate inclusion and belonging

Responsibilities

ERG Program Leadership

• Manage the strategy, governance, and operations of ERGs across the company.
• Partner with ERG/ENG leaders and executive sponsors to set annual priorities, KPIs, and leadership development opportunities.
• Ensure ERG programs align with enterprise CI&B strategy and business goals.
• Provide tools, resources, and oversight of budgets, charters, and succession planning.

Inclusion Councils Leadership

• Partner with Functional Area Inclusion Councils to guide the development and execution of annual inclusion action plans within their business units.
• Deliver data, insights, and best practices to inform decision-making and progress.
• Provide consultation to council leaders to build accountability, alignment, and measurable impact.
• Support councils in embedding inclusion and belonging practices into daily operations and workforce strategies.

Governance & Change Management

• Establish clear governance models, operating principles, and success measures for ERGs/ENGs and Councils.
• Drive adoption and scalability of inclusive practices across the enterprise.
• Act as a trusted advisor to leaders and stakeholders, building influence without direct authority.

Measurement & Reporting

• Develop dashboards, scorecards, and regular reporting that track progress on ERG/ENG groups and Inclusion Council goals.
• Translate data into actionable insights and narratives for leadership, business units, and external reporting.
• Evaluate impact across culture, career, community, and customer outcomes.

Requirements

• 5–7 years of program management, organizational development, or HR/DEI experience, preferably in a complex or unionized environment
• Understanding of ERG operations and frameworks, advancing strategy and insights to action
• Relationship management and rapport building
• Executive presence
• Storytelling and ability to create clarity out of ambiguity
• Strategic Agility — translates organizational strategy into actionable ERG/ENG and Inclusion Council plans
• Inclusive Leadership — models belonging and equity while empowering diverse teams to lead
• Data-Driven Decision Making — interprets data, leverages insights to shape plans, measure outcomes, and inform leaders
• Influence & Collaboration — mobilizes people across business units and functions without direct reporting lines
• Change Leadership — builds buy-in and navigates complexity to advance a culture of inclusion
• Operational Excellence — establishes governance, tools, and scalable processes that ensure sustainability
• Results Orientation — balances culture-building with measurable business and people outcomes
• Proven ability to lead enterprise-scale inclusion programs and influence without direct authority
• Experience in data analysis, insights, and reporting to guide strategy
• Strong facilitation, communication, and relationship management skills

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business, or related field (Master's preferred)
• DEI practitioner certification (e.g., Cornell, Georgetown, SHRM, or equivalent) or significant applied experience in DEI program management

Benefits

• Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance Plans
• 401k Retirement Fund

About the Client

This California-based utility and energy company is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy utilities in the United States, delivering energy to approximately 16 million people across a 70,000-square-mile service area spanning northern and central California. With roughly 25,000 employees, the organization operates some of the most complex energy infrastructure in the country — transmission lines, pipelines, substations, and generation facilities that keep homes, businesses, and communities powered every day. As the energy sector undergoes rapid transformation, this organization is at the center of it — managing the intersection of traditional infrastructure and emerging clean energy solutions, creating genuine learning and growth opportunities for engineers, technologists, tradespeople, and business professionals alike.