---
title: 'Program Manager & AI Automation Lead at Excelerate'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/program-manager-ai-automation-lead-excelerate-san-diego-6wa0akqtehcg'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-26'
---

# Program Manager & AI Automation Lead at Excelerate

- **Company:** Excelerate
- **Location:** San Diego, CA
- **Compensation:** $80–$100/hr
- **Employment:** contract
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-09-22
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-26
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/excelerate/0733f732-8722-4a6e-addb-f69c173156b4

## Job description

We're seeking a Program Manager & AI Automation Lead to lead a high-impact technical initiative focused on strengthening operational excellence while automating the manual processes that support it. You’ll combine hands-on technical program management with the design, build, and delivery of AI-agent-driven automation, with working solutions as a core project deliverable.

The role brings together two key capabilities: technical program management and agentic automation delivery, requiring someone who can drive complex cross-functional work while personally building automation that improves how programs operate.

## Key Responsibilities

- Lead program execution across a portfolio of 55+ production services, including executive operating reviews, incident and RCA tracking, readiness activities, and cross-functional initiatives.
- Establish program scope, priorities, milestones, dependencies, deliverables, and success measures while coordinating execution across multiple teams.
- Identify and prioritize opportunities to streamline or replace manual program processes through automation.
- Design, build, and productionize AI-agent automation, including ticketing and routing, cross-platform reconciliation, program telemetry, executive reporting, and automated follow-up workflows.
- Direct multiple AI agents toward defined outcomes, establishing appropriate context, acceptance criteria, validation controls, and human-in-the-loop processes.
- Ensure automation is reliable, auditable, and maintainable, with appropriate documentation and runbooks.
- Communicate program progress, risks, decisions, and outcomes clearly and concisely to senior technology leadership.
- Build strong cross-functional relationships and drive commitments through influence, proactive communication, and consistent follow-through.

## Qualifications

- 7+ years of technical program management experience in platform, infrastructure, or high-scale technology environments, with a proven track record leading complex technology initiatives from planning through implementation and transition.
- Hands-on experience designing and delivering AI-agent-driven automation connected to live data and workflows.
- A track record of personally building automation and workflows yourself, including API integrations to tools like Jira and Smartsheet, building dashboards and tracking systems, and hands-on experience with AI/agent tools (like Claude, agent frameworks, or similar integration methods).
- Ability to provide examples of automation you've built and shipped, and can clearly explain your individual contribution, how you designed the solution, and the outcomes it produced.
- Experience with AI governance, including validation controls, auditability, and human-in-the-loop processes.
- Strong operational knowledge of incident management, SDLC, and distributed systems; identity, security, or authorization experience is a plus.
- Excellent executive communication and the ability to drive cross-functional delivery through influence.
- Highly proactive and comfortable operating in fast-moving, complex technology environments.

Duration: 40 hours a week, 10 months Type: Project-Based Hourly W2, Benefits Eligible Rate: $80-100/hour

## About Excelerate

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Excelerate is a boutique business transformation consulting firm that partners with clients to drive growth, reduce costs, and increase efficiency through hands-on, data-driven strategy and implementation.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Privately Held)
- **Headquarters**: San Diego, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2016
- **Founders**: Jana De Anda (CEO & Co-Founder), Nilay T. (Executive Chairman & Co-Founder)

## Core Business
- **Industry**: Business Consulting and Services
- **Target Customers**: B2B, Enterprise (Fortune 500 and large organizations)
- **Mission/Purpose**: “Translate strategy into action to drive growth, reduce cost or increase efficiency” while creating a “ripple effect of economic vitality and social prosperity” for clients, employees, and communities.

## Products & Services
Excelerate delivers consulting engagements across three core Service Areas, each adapted to client needs:
- **Customer Centric Growth & Organizational Enablement**: Go-to-market strategies, new product innovation, and organizational change management.
- **Data Connectivity & Intelligence**: Data strategy, analytics (Power BI, Tableau), and intelligent decision-making frameworks.
- **Process Maximization & Digital Acceleration**: Process transformation, operational excellence, technology enablement (ERP/EPM implementations, digital solutions), and strategic program management.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (private, no disclosed funding)
- **Key Metric**: Headcount of 36 employees (+30.6% YoY growth, +11 people) as of mid-2025, with 9 active job postings (LinkedIn data)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not disclosed. Clients include Fortune 500 companies (implied by team experience).
- **Growth Signals**: Robust hiring (+800% quarterly job posting growth), expansion in FP&A and EPM/ERP transformation practices, and a satellite office in Portland, Oregon.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Embedded Implementation**: Consultants work side-by-side with clients to execute, not just recommend – “We don’t just suggest a pathway to ROI, we help you build one and take the journey with you.”
- **Boutique Agility, Enterprise Value**: Combines deep experience of big consulting firms with the flexibility and passion of a smaller team.
- **Culture-Driven**: Founding pillars of humility, energy, integrity, and flexibility attract high-caliber talent and foster long-term client trust.
- **Ripple Effect Philosophy**: Purpose-driven work that aims to generate positive outcomes extending beyond the immediate engagement.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current Priorities**: Deepening capabilities in financial planning & analysis (FP&A), enterprise performance management (EPM) transformation, and digital acceleration.
- **Growth Direction**: Scaling the team with experienced managers and senior consultants, expanding geographic reach (national focus from San Diego HQ and Portland office), and strengthening data intelligence offerings.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & Recognition**: Voted #2 Best Place to Work in San Diego. Emphasizes humility, collaboration, and treating employees “like adults.”
- **Flexibility**: “Flexible time off, robust health benefits, retirement contributions, fitness and technology stipends,” and the ability to manage work autonomously.
- **Impactful Work**: Opportunities to solve challenging, high-stakes problems for leading companies while enjoying mentorship and transparency from leadership.
- **Growth**: Exposure to diverse projects and skill-building in management tools, data visualization, facilitation, and executive engagement.
- **Work Environment**: Collaborative, with smart colleagues; travel to client sites is required as needed. Hybrid/office presence expected (HQ in San Diego, national clients).

## Sources
1. [exceleratellc.com](https://www.exceleratellc.com/)
2. [exceleratellc.com/careers-at-excelerate](https://www.exceleratellc.com/careers-at-excelerate)
3. [exceleratellc.com/open-positions](https://www.exceleratellc.com/open-positions)
4. [linkedin.com/company/excelerate-llc](https://www.linkedin.com/company/excelerate-llc)
5. [exceleratellc.com/excelerators](https://www.exceleratellc.com/excelerators)

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