OD Consultant – Recognition Program Manager

Location: San Francisco, CA, United States

Job Summary:

Serves as the enterprise owner of employee recognition strategy and execution. Establishes frameworks, governance, enterprise standards, and best practices that promote meaningful, equitable, and timely recognition across the organization.

Leads the development and evolution of enterprise recognition programs, including values-based recognition, peer-to-peer recognition, service awards, and key employee milestone recognition such as onboarding milestones, certifications, promotions, years of service, retirements, and other significant career achievements. Ensures programs reinforce organizational values, strengthen employee engagement, celebrate meaningful contributions, and support employee retention.

Owns recognition program strategy, metrics, reporting, and continuous improvement efforts while influencing senior leaders, HRBPs, and cross-functional partners to cultivate a culture where recognition is embedded into everyday leadership practices.

The Recognition Program Manager is a senior, enterprise-level role responsible for setting and driving the strategy, governance, and effectiveness of employee recognition programs across UCSF. Reporting to the Director of Organizational Effectiveness, this role ensures recognition practices are equitable, meaningful, data-driven, and fully integrated into how leaders and teams celebrate contributions, reinforce organizational values, and strengthen employee engagement.

This position has direct accountability for the design, implementation, adoption, and continuous improvement of enterprise recognition programs, ensuring leaders consistently recognize employee contributions and key career milestones in ways that reinforce organizational culture, values, and strategic priorities.

The role partners closely with HR Business Partners (HRBPs), Organizational Effectiveness, Learning & Development, Internal Communications, and business leaders to embed recognition into the employee experience and foster a culture of appreciation across the organization.

Department Overview:

UCSF Human Resources has a mission of attracting, developing and retaining outstanding and diverse people with a vision of being a strategic and trusted partner empowering the UCSF Health community to leverage their talents. Human Resources is committed to providing outstanding customer experience, leading workforce strategies, creating an engaging environment focused on continuous improvement for the HR team, and demonstrating value to the organization. 

About Us