Senior Program Manager, Employee Experience

Dropbox; San Francisco (CA); Remote; USD 128,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

Dropbox is adopting a Virtual First approach where work is distributed and asynchronous collaboration is embraced. The Senior Program Manager, Employee Experience will own a strategic stream focused on tool optimization and AI-enabled ways of working across Zones 2 and 3.

The role combines program management with research, experimentation, and stakeholder management, driving knowledge management and change across People, Technology, and Operations to improve employee effectiveness and adoption

Qualifications

• 8+ years in program management, org effectiveness, workplace strategy, employee experience, innovation, research, or related field.
• Experience leading cross-functional programs from ambiguity to measurable outcomes.
• Experience designing and managing research, pilots, experiments, or evidence-based programs.
• Strong understanding of Virtual First, distributed, hybrid, or modern ways of working.
• Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and executive communication skills.
• Comfort working in ambiguity and proactively identifying opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Own the strategy, roadmap, priorities, and outcomes of a Virtual First work stream focused on technology, including tools, workflows, automations, AI enablement, and knowledge management
• Design and lead organizational research, pilots, and experiments that test new ways of working
• Translate qualitative and quantitative findings into actionable recommendations, behavioral frameworks, and operating models for downstream adoption
• Manage a portfolio of concurrent programs and initiatives from initial scoping through research, validation, and enablement planning
• Establish clear objectives, success measures, milestones, risks, and reporting across the work stream
• Facilitate cross-functional Steering Committees and initiatives involving stakeholders across People, Technology, Communications, Operations, and other business functions
• Partner with People Analytics and other measurement experts to establish research methodologies and evaluate outcomes.

Skills

Program management

Stakeholder management

Executive communication

Change management

Tools

AI enablement tools

Knowledge management systems

Digital workflows

Job description

Dropbox is a Virtual First company. For this role, we are hiring in Zones 2 and 3. Zones are determined by your zip code; if you’re within 100 miles of a listed metro area (straight-line radius), you’re included in that Zone.

• Remote - US: Select locations
• Remote
• People
• Full Time

Role Description

Dropbox’s Virtual First team researches, tests, and scales better ways of working for a distributed organization. We combine organizational research, experimentation, behavioral science, technology, and employee experience to continuously improve how Dropboxers work—wherever they are.

As a Senior Program Manager, Employee Experience, you will own a strategic Virtual First work stream focused on tool optimization and technology-enabled ways of working, identifying opportunities to improve employee effectiveness and translating those opportunities into research, experiments, recommendations, and scalable organizational change.

This role combines program management with research, innovation, and cross-functional stakeholder management. You will manage a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a single project, with particular focus on knowledge management, AI enablement, and building employee confidence with tools and technology. You will establish research priorities, design and facilitate experiments, synthesize findings, and work with partners across Dropbox to turn evidence into better ways of working.

Success in this role means creating new knowledge, translating that knowledge into clear recommendations, and driving measurable improvements in employee effectiveness, tool confidence, and adoption of AI-enabled and technology-supported ways of working.

Responsibilities

• Own the strategy, roadmap, priorities, and outcomes of a Virtual First work stream focused on technology, including tools, workflows, automations, AI enablement, and knowledge management
• Design and lead organizational research, pilots, and experiments that test new ways of working
• Translate qualitative and quantitative findings into actionable recommendations, behavioral frameworks, and operating models for downstream adoption
• Manage a portfolio of concurrent programs and initiatives from initial scoping through research, validation, and enablement planning
• Establish clear objectives, success measures, milestones, risks, and reporting across the work stream
• Facilitate cross-functional Steering Committees and initiatives involving stakeholders across People, Technology, Communications, Operations, and other business functions
• Partner with People Analytics and other measurement experts to establish research methodologies and evaluate outcomes.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in program management, organizational effectiveness, workplace strategy, employee experience, innovation, research, or a related discipline.
• Expertise in tools and technology enablement, including AI adoption, knowledge management, digital workflows, automation, and the design of technology-enabled ways of working that improve employee effectiveness.
• Demonstrated experience independently leading complex, cross-functional programs from ambiguity through measurable outcomes.
• Experience designing and managing research, pilots, experiments, or other evidence-based innovation programs.
• Strong understanding of Virtual First, distributed, hybrid, or modern ways of working.
• Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and executive communication skills.
• Comfort working in ambiguity and proactively identifying opportunities rather than waiting for assignments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a distributed or Virtual First organization.
• Experience with organizational behavior, change management, behavioral science, workplace research, or human-centered design.
• Demonstrated curiosity about the future of work and emerging technologies.

Durable Skills

AI fluency means using these tools to amplify human judgment, not replace it. We believe people with these skills will thrive as work and technology continue to evolve:

• Awareness: Understand yourself and others.
• Judgment: Evaluate information and make decisions in complex situations.
• Adaptability: Learn, adjust, and stay effective through change.
• Connection: Communicate, collaborate, and build trust.

Compensation

US Zone 1

This role is not available in Zone 1

US Zone 2

$143,800—$194,600 USD

US Zone 3

$127,800—$173,000 USD

The range(s) listed above is the expected annual salary/OTE (On-Target Earnings) for this role, subject to change. Please note, OTE are for sales roles only.

Salary/OTE is just one component of Dropbox’s total rewards package. All regular employees are also eligible for the corporate bonus program or a sales incentive (target included in OTE) as well as stock in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).

Dropbox takes a number of factors into account when determining individual starting pay, including job and level they are hired into, location/metropolitan area, skillset, and peer compensation. We target most new hire offers between the minimum up to the middle of the range.

Dropbox uses the zip code of an employee’s remote work location to determine which metropolitan pay range we use. Current US Zone locations are as follows:

• US Zone 1: San Francisco metro, New York City metro, or Seattle metro
• US Zone 2: California (outside SF metro), Colorado, Connecticut (outside NYC metro), Delaware, Illinois (Chicago metro), Indiana (Chicago metro), Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan (Chicago metro), New Hampshire, New Jersey (outside NYC metro), New York (outside NYC metro), Oregon, Pennsylvania (D.C. metro), Pennsylvania (outside NYC metro), Texas (Austin metro) Virginia (DC metro), Washington (outside Seattle metro), Washington DC metro, West Virginia (DC metro), Wisconsin (Chicago metro)
• US Zone 3: All other US locations

Team Description

The Dropbox People Team is designing a workplace where every Dropbox employee can thrive. We take a human-centered, HR as a Product approach—treating programs like well-designed products shaped by employee and candidate needs, informed by data, and backed by actionable insights. Our team continuously innovates to attract, develop, and retain world-class talent while building a culture of experimentation, craft, and community. From fostering connection in our Virtual First model to scaling HR systems and offering personalized learning tools and experiences, our work evolves to support the growth and needs of our people. We think big, act fast, and adapt with agility—grounded in outcomes, empathy, and clear communication.

Virtual First

Dropbox’s Virtual First way of working is designed to help people do their best work with flexibility, autonomy, and connection. Day to day, teams work remotely with nonlinear schedules and core collaboration hours that support deep focus and individual working styles. We prioritize asynchronous communication to improve clarity, respect deep work time, and reduce unnecessary meetings. While remote work is the primary experience for our employees, we also prioritize intentional, in-person connection. We bring teams together through regular team gatherings, on-demand workspaces, and Dropbox Neighborhood events in order to strengthen team cohesion, foster creativity, and enhance momentum. Virtual First is built to provide the same access to opportunity, growth, and impact for everyone, regardless of location.

This role requires travel to offsites and various other team gatherings (approximately 5-10% of the year or 2-3 days per quarter). We provide advance notice when possible and encourage candidates to discuss any accommodation needs during the interview process.

AI Fluency

AI fluency is a core part of how we work and grow. It’s not about being an expert—it’s about using these tools thoughtfully and effectively to improve your work and support others. We look for four key behaviors in candidates:

• Ownership: You use AI responsibly by protecting data, applying sound judgment, and taking accountability for the quality and accuracy of your work.
• Experimentation: You explore new AI capabilities and apply them to improve workflows within approved tools and practices.
• Leverage: You use AI to enhance thinking, improve efficiency, and increase your impact and your team’s.
• Learning: You stay current on emerging AI tools and trends, continuously build your skills, and share what you learn with others.

Together, these behaviors help build a workforce where technology amplifies human judgment, creativity, and impact.