Apple

Business Operations Program Manager - Software Engineering

Apple • $130K — $155K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 4+ years of experience in business operations, strategy, or program management in technical organizations.
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience required; MBA preferred.
  • Proven track record of leading complex operational programs and initiatives.
  • Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with executives across various functions.
  • Hands-on experience with headcount planning, operational budgeting, and variance analysis.
  • Strong critical thinking skills and acute attention to detail.
  • High discretion in handling confidential organizational data.

Responsibilities

  • Partner with executive leadership on annual operating budgets and headcount allocation.
  • Manage position tracking and organizational structures for planning cycles.
  • Collaborate with HR to monitor hiring velocity and attrition trends.
  • Coordinate financial operations, including purchase requisitions and contractor spend.
  • Lead headcount allocation planning for employee growth programs.
  • Define multi-year site plans in partnership with Engineering and Space Planning.
  • Facilitate operational reviews and leadership meetings, tracking action items and accountability.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work closely with senior leadership and influence strategic decisions.
  • Engagement in high-profile executive events and communications.
  • Access to modern AI tools and productivity software for enhanced workflow.
  • Collaborative work environment with cross-functional teams.
  • Professional development opportunities in a fast-paced technical setting.
Full Job Description
In this role, you will serve as a trusted operational partner to Vice Presidents and leadership teams - driving strategic priorities, operational rigor, and organizational alignment.

The ideal candidate operates with high autonomy, exercises sound judgment with sensitive information, and brings the professional demeanor required to engage with and influence senior leaders. You will bring structure, clarity, and consistency across headcount planning, budgeting, site strategy, and executive communications. You are equally adept at analyzing complex data and synthesizing high-level insights, leveraging modern and agentic AI tools to streamline workflows, scale planning, and enhance decision-making.

Description

Strategic Business Planning & Resource Management

- Partner with executive leadership and Finance on annual operating budgets, headcount allocation, and spend justifications.

- Serve as the organization's headcount partner: manage position tracking, organizational structures, and data reconciliation for planning cycles.

- Collaborate with Recruiting and HR to monitor hiring velocity, attrition trends, and pipeline against targets.

- Coordinate financial operations with Finance and Administrative teams, including purchase requisitions, contractor spend, and out-of-budget approvals.

- Lead headcount allocation planning for employee growth and development programs

Strategic Site & Space Planning

- Partner with Engineering and Space Planning to define multi-year site plans and organizational growth footprints.

- Translate team growth, laboratory requirements, and equipment needs into physical space plans and capital expenditure (CapEx) requests in partnership with Engineering and Space Planning

Executive Communications & Operating Cadence

- Facilitate recurring operational reviews and leadership staff meetings; track action items, distribute pass-down notes, and drive accountability across teams.

- Produce key leadership forums and all-hands meetings: lead agenda planning, keynote design, speaker notes, live demo logistics, and post-event feedback.

- Author organization-wide communications and executive announcements aligned with organizational priorities.

- Organize leadership off-sites, leading agenda design, content collection, decision capture, and follow-through.

- Manage internal communication touchpoints, including team collaboration channels, documentation hubs, and recorded sessions.

Minimum Qualifications

Cross-functional leadership: Proven track record of leading complex operational programs and initiatives within fast-paced technical organizations.

Executive partnership: Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships, challenge assumptions constructively, and communicate effectively with executives and partners across Engineering, Recruiting, HR, Finance, and Technical Program Management.

Business planning and resource management: Hands-on experience with headcount planning, position management, operational budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.

Executive communications and forums: Demonstrated experience owning narrative development, keynote presentations, and end-to-end logistics for high-profile executive events (All-Hands, leadership offsites, business reviews).

Analytical problem solving: Strong critical thinking skills and acute attention to detail.

Integrity and adaptability: High discretion handling confidential organizational data, paired with a collaborative, solution-oriented mindset.

4+ years of experience in business operations, strategy, program management, or a related function supporting large-scale technical organizations.

Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience required. MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

Modern workflows: Proficient in leveraging agentic AI tools and modern productivity software to accelerate strategic planning, content generation, and analytical workflows.

Tools: Advanced proficiency in Numbers or Excel. Hands-on experience with Keynote and HRIS platforms (such as Workday) and business intelligence tools (Tableau or equivalent).

MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.

About Apple

Apple is a corporation that designs, manufactures, and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. Apple provides many products and services, including iPhone; iPad; iPod; Mac; Apple TV; a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications; the iOS and OS X operating systems; iCloud; and accessories, service, and support offerings. It sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores, direct sales force and third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, and value-added resellers to the consumer and also sells third-party iPhone, iPad, Mac and iPod compatible products, including application software and accessories through its online and retail stores. Introduced in 1984, the Macintosh was the first widely sold personal computer with a graphical user interface (GUI). That feature and others such as an improved floppy drive design and a low-cost hard drive that made data retrieval faster helped Apple cultivate a reputation for innovation. Apple was named as the most admired company in the United States in 2008 and in the world from 2008 to 2012 by the Fortune magazine. The company was founded by Steven Paul Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Gerald Wayne on April 1, 1976, and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.

Apple Careers

Join Apple, a place where extraordinary people gather to do their best work. Our ever-expanding global team is at the forefront of innovation and leadership in the tech industry. At Apple, we're not just building products—we're crafting the kind of wonder that revolutionizes entire industries. It's the diversity of our people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Work You’ll Do Embark on a journey with Apple’s market-leading team to help some of the world’s most influential companies navigate their path to digital mastery with cutting-edge technology and services. Transform industries and touch lives with your unique ideas at Apple. Here, you’ll lead through a unique position at the intersection of technology, creativity, and robust industry expertise. Collaborate with a global team of professionals who are at the top of their game in technology and design. Apple isn’t just a company, it’s a community of innovators and passionate thinkers. Introducing the Apple Innovation and Leadership Initiative We are building a market-leading team to drive our efforts in delivering groundbreaking solutions and services. At Apple, job opportunities are abundant, offering you the chance to explore diverse roles from engineering to marketing, all designed to empower your career growth. Do Innovative Work Join the largest group of creative and technical experts in the world—professionals dedicated to redefining what’s possible through technology and innovation. Deliver targeted solutions through a depth and breadth of expertise that’s unmatched, driving forward our commitment to excellence and leadership in every project we undertake. Be Part of a Great Team Engage in a wide range of projects utilizing Apple’s technology and resources. Harness the unparalleled capabilities, global scale, and joint solution development that only Apple can offer. Future-Proof Your Career Advance your career with limitless opportunities at Apple. Go as far as your ambition takes you with unmatched training, development, and certification support. Explore Discover how Apple is leading the way in tech innovation: [With iOS] Businesses can streamline operations and enhance customer interactions... READ MORE Smart home technology integration that sets the standard for convenience and security... READ MORE The Apple Experience Our combined service capabilities, global scale, and joint solution development help clients overcome challenges and lead transformation in their industries. Clients worldwide look to Apple for new strategies and solutions that drive growth and innovation in the digital era. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Whether you’re seeking a professional role, an internship, or a leadership position, Apple offers a variety of employment opportunities. SEARCH APPLE JOBS Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Personalize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. See what exciting and rewarding opportunities await at Apple, a company committed to diversity, innovation, and leadership. Explore job opportunities, employment benefits, and the culture of growth and innovation at Apple. Prepare your resume, hone your interview skills, and ready yourself for a career at one of the most prestigious companies in the world. Join us in pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Learn more about Apple
Size
154,000 employees
Market Cap
$2,074.3 billion
Industry
Net Income
$63.9 billion
Founded
1976
5 Year Trend
+11.5%
Revenue
$294.1 billion
NASDAQ

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