Staff Talent Programs Manager - People Initiatives

IonQ•Remote, US•Remote• Contract

Posted 1 hour ago• Business & Finance• Operations

Compensation

$128,445–$167,497/year

Job Description

About IonQ:

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum company delivering solutions to solve the world’s most complex problems. IonQ’s newest generation quantum computers, IonQ Tempo and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are the latest in cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners such as Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results. The company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance in 2025.

The company is accelerating its technology roadmap and intends to deliver the world’s most powerful quantum computers with 2 million qubits by 2030 to accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. IonQ’s advancements in quantum networking position the company as a leader in building the quantum internet.

We are looking for a Senior Program Manager – People Initiatives to drive and scale high-impact, enterprise-wide People programs. In this role, you will partner closely with the Director of People Programs to lead strategic workstreams, support M&A integration efforts, and drive cross-functional initiatives that shape the employee experience and organizational effectiveness.

This is a highly visible role requiring strong program leadership, stakeholder alignment, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced, evolving environment. You will play a critical role in executing company-wide People initiatives and ensuring successful delivery from strategy through implementation.

Responsibilities

1. Enterprise People Program Leadership

Lead the design, execution, and scaling of company-wide People initiatives aligned with business priorities.
Own end-to-end program management including roadmap development, timelines, milestones, and delivery.
Drive cross-functional alignment across People, Finance, Legal, IT, and business leaders.
Establish success metrics, dashboards, and reporting to track program impact and effectiveness.

2. Strategic Workstream Ownership

Lead and manage multiple high-priority People workstreams simultaneously.
Bring structure, clarity, and execution rigor to complex, ambiguous initiatives.
Identify risks, dependencies, and mitigation plans to ensure successful outcomes.
Act as a central point of coordination across stakeholders and teams.

3. M&A People Integration

Develop and operationalize a scalable M&A People Playbook, including frameworks, timelines, and integration methodologies to ensure consistency across deals.
Lead People due diligence efforts by assessing talent, organizational structure, programs, policies, and risks to inform integration strategy.
Drive integration planning and execution across acquired entities, ensuring alignment with business objectives and timelines.
Partner closely with People COEs (HRBPs, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, People Operations, People Analytics) to bring teams up to speed, ensure clarity on roles, and drive coordinated execution.
Establish clear governance, communication cadence, and decision-making frameworks across all People stakeholders.
Ensure a seamless and thoughtful employee experience through transitions, including onboarding, communications, and cultural alignment.
Identify integration risks and proactively implement mitigation strategies to support business continuity and employee engagement.

Change Management, Culture & Manager Enablement

Lead end-to-end change management strategies for enterprise-wide People initiatives, with a focus on M&A integration and organizational transformation.
Design and execute structured change frameworks, including stakeholder alignment, communication strategies, rollout plans, and adoption metrics.
Develop and deliver manager enablement for M&A through toolkits, playbooks, and training that equip leaders to navigate change, communicate effectively, and sustain team engagement.
Drive culture integration and alignment by identifying gaps and implementing programs that foster shared values, trust, and cohesion across merging organizations.
Design and execute a scalable welcome and onboarding strategy for acquired employees, including Day 1 readiness, executive communications, and integration experiences, while partnering with HRBPs and COEs to ensure alignment and continuously improving outcomes through data and feedback.

You’d be a good fit with

8+ years of experience in HR Program Management, People Operations, or related roles.
Understanding of platforms (e.g., Workday, SAP SuccessFactors), program management tools (e.g., Asana, Jira, Smartsheet), and collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint), with the ability to manage end-to-end program execution, partner with HRIT, and drive alignment across complex, cross-functional environments.
Advanced capabilities in data, analytics, and process design, including proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI), with the ability to define KPIs, measure program impact, and build scalable workflows and playbooks that enable effective change management and enterprise program delivery.
Proven experience leading complex, cross-functional programs at scale.
Experience managing multiple stakeholders and driving alignment across functions.
Experience supporting or participating in M&A integrations or organizational transformations.
Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.

You’d be a great fit with

Experience leading enterprise-wide People or business transformation initiatives.
Strong change management expertise with successful program rollouts.
Exceptional stakeholder management and influence skills at senior leadership levels.
Strategic thinker with strong execution and operational rigor.
Analytical mindset with ability to use data to drive decisions.
Excellent executive communication and storytelling skills.

Location: This role may be based anywhere in the United States, with expected travel up to approximately 25%.
Travel: Expected travel up to approximately 25%
Job ID: 1413

The approximate base salary range for this position is $128,445 - $167,497. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, and equity.

Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location, and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Our benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401K, unlimited PTO and paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, and a home technology stipend. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when a candidate receives an offer of employment.

IonQ's HQ is located in College Park, Maryland, just outside of Washington DC. We are actively building out our recently opened manufacturing and production facility in Bothell, WA (near Seattle). Depending on the position, you may be required to be near one of our offices in College Park, Seattle, Toronto, Canada, and Basel, Switzerland. However, IonQ will expand into additional domestic and international geographies, so don’t let this stop you from applying!

At IonQ, we believe in fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers. We empower employees to thrive by fostering a culture of autonomy, productivity, and respect. We are dedicated to creating an environment where individuals can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.

We are committed to equity and justice. We welcome different voices and viewpoints and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

US Technical Jobs. The position you are applying for will require access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions. Employment with IonQ is contingent on either verifying “U.S. Person” (e.g., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum) status for export controls and government contracts work, obtaining any necessary license, and/or confirming the availability of a license exception under U.S. export controls. Please note that in the absence of confirming you are a U.S. Person for export control and government contracts work purposes, IonQ may choose not to apply for a license or decline to use a license exception (if available) for you to access export-controlled technology that may require authorization, and similarly, you may not qualify for government contracts work that requires U.S. Persons, and IonQ may decline to proceed with your application on those bases alone. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.

US Non-Technical Jobs. Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.

If you are interested in being a part of our team and mission, we encourage you to apply!