Watson Institute

Identify, build, and grow corporate and foundation partnerships to support Watson Institute's Fellowship programs. | Significant experience in enterprise sales/strategic partnership roles, excellent communication skills, systems-oriented approach, and familiarity with CRM and graphic design tools. | Overview of Watson Institute: Watson Institute powers transformative Fellowships in partnership with leading corporations and foundations to support highly promising entrepreneurs and leaders from underserved backgrounds. The Fellowships provide proven entrepreneurship and leadership skills training, committed mentorship, community development stipends, long-term Alumni support, and access to a global community of peers, mentors, and opportunities. In partnership with Google, JPMorganChase Foundation, Walmart.org, Wells Fargo, Ford Philanthropy, SAP, Truist Foundation, BMO, Comcast, Western Union, and several private foundations, Watson Institute’s programs will reach over 2,400 rising leaders this year. Alumni of Watson Institute’s Fellowships have raised over $190 million, created over 2,300 paid jobs, and impacted over 11 million people around the world through initiatives they have helped lead. 93% of Watson Institute alums are employed, continuing their education, or building a venture. 85% of Watson Institute Alumni use a skill they learned while in a Watson Institute-powered program up to 12 years later. Watson Institute’s Alumni have been selected to Y Combinator, the Echoing Green Fellowship, and 11 have been named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 lists. Alums continue their education at Harvard University, New York University, and Princeton University, among others. Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships - Mission Statement: The primary mission of the Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships is to identify, build, and grow new corporate and foundation partnerships. Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships – Role: Partner Identification/Prospecting - 25%: Collaborate closely with Watson Institute’s CEO and VP of Strategic Partnerships to grow Watson Institute’s Fellowship model and impact through research, outreach, and relationship building with new prospective corporate partners. Participate in weekly prospecting meetings with the CEO and VP of Strategic Partnerships. Conduct research and lead outreach to aligned corporate and private foundation partners to create Fellowships powered by Watson Institute. Draft speaking and engagement applications for conferences that are aligned with Watson Institute’s strategy. Build strong relationships with conference organizers as a way to secure and strengthen Watson Institute’s presence at relevant conferences and events. Help design systems and processes that strengthen how Watson Institute tracks and grows prospective partnerships. Partnership Building - 50%: Play a critical role in building and growing new partnerships with corporate and foundation partners to create Fellowships powered by Watson Institute. Write and design compelling, persuasive, tailored, and well-designed/visual impact updates for Watson Institute’s top prospects and partners. These impact updates may include decks, emails, Alumni and Fellow highlights, and more. Participate and lead prospect and partner meetings including associated preparation, talking points during the meeting, diligent notes, and coordinating with appropriate team members on timely and comprehensive follow-ups. Develop compelling concept notes, decks, and grant applications for prospects and partners. These concept notes, decks, and grant applications should demonstrate both business impact (for the partner) and community impact (for the Fellows and their communities) in a strategic and nuanced way. Design impactful points of ‘business connectivity’ that create connections across multiple teams within each corporate prospect and partner ranging from employee engagement to communications, brand, and supply chain connections to deepen the impact of the Fellowship. Coordinate with Watson Institute’s VP of Strategic Partnerships, CEO, and other members of the leadership team to ensure cross-functional input in all proposals. Collaborate closely with Watson Institute’s Design Team on the monitoring, evaluation, and learning process and analysis to ensure it supports partner expectations. Special Projects - 25%: Serve as the Strategic Partnerships Lead for special projects that are critical to Watson Institute’s corporate partnership strategy and growth. Examples include conducting landscape analyses for partners who are looking to bring their Fellowship to new markets and developing thought pieces/reports on current trends in entrepreneurship, corporate impact, and community impact. *New responsibilities may develop as the position evolves. Culture Add: In order to thrive as the Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships at Watson Institute, a candidate must: Eager to join a team with extremely high standards for quality and excellence, recognizing that demonstrating excellence in partnership building is a direct path to scaling impact and achieving outsized results. An exceptional eye for detail. You enjoy spending time with words, style, and formatting in order to make the most compelling product possible. Detail Oriented: You are meticulous and have excellent organizational skills. You are especially attuned to spotting mistakes or inconsistencies in writing and external communications. You take pride in completing your work accurately and on schedule. You have a knack for project management and a love for work plans and checklists. You cringe at missed steps and you are the first to identify a typo or formatting error. Intentional: Your working style is about creating order and planning ahead. You think systematically and excel at establishing elegant processes. Results-Driven: You bring an eagerness to grow and to roll up your sleeves and contribute. You have a go-getter attitude and a drive to solve all sorts of problems, no matter the size or shape. When something is your responsibility, you find a way to see it through to the end. High Integrity: You will be asked to make sensitive and critical judgment calls, and as such, you are known for your integrity and you take that reputation seriously. You always choose to make the right decision versus the easy decision. You know what information is sensitive, and you will protect it accordingly. You are comfortable escalating issues and holding your ground when you think it’s the right thing to do for the organization and mission. Systems-minded: Demonstrated experience in building and implementing systems. You are comfortable designing, testing, improving, and smoothly running systems and processes. This could be any system that involves inputs from or serves multiple people and requires consistent and accurate functioning. Communication Style: Based on a story from Watson Institute’s early days, ‘Come to the Window’ represents the principles of our communication including: Obligation to Dissent: If you disagree with a decision or direction as an organization, you are expected to bring attention to this challenge because true leaders believe dissent is an obligation. Disagree and Commit: To complement Obligation to Dissent, there are times when we need to Disagree and Commit. Once all concerns and criticisms are shared, the course of action must be committed to by all involved. No Drama: We prioritize purpose and don’t involve ourselves in the drama created by backroom chatter, hearsay, and unnecessary focus on issues that do not place impact first. Go to the Source: Our culture is defined by direct, honest, and frequent communication. We expect team members to ‘go to the source’ of concerns by speaking up, communicating frequently, and taking issues directly to the individuals involved. Candidate Profile: Top candidates should demonstrate: A deep-seated passion for Watson Institute’s mission to develop innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs to solve the toughest challenges facing the world. Experience in enterprise sales/strategic partnership roles, specifically with corporations, corporate foundations, and corporate CSR teams. Previous experience should include building and growing impactful corporate partnerships that deliver on business impact (for the corporate partner) and community impact (for the Fellows and their communities). A natural inclination to build and strengthen relationships and partnerships to grow Watson Institute’s impact. A love and talent for persuasive writing, enterprise sales, and communication designed to build and grow impactful corporate and foundation partnerships. A systems-oriented and highly organized approach to work. Experience with Salesforce (or other CRM platforms) and Canva (or other graphic design platforms) are a strong plus. Mandatory skills: Excel mastery, email wizardry, rapid follow-up, and data analysis. Competitive base salary according to experience: $80,000.00-$95,000.00. Annual Happiness Fund that increases with time and seniority. Unlimited vacations (3 weeks required vacation time per year). Healthcare benefit via Thatch (ICHRA provider), where employees have the option to apply this amount towards their choice of medical plans, with the option to add vision and dental plans. Automatic 3% contribution to your retirement account. The Vitals: The Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships is a full-time commitment and reports to the VP of Strategic Partnerships. The Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships position can work remotely, but should be based in CO, PA, GA, FL, ME, AZ, DC, OK, SC, or MD. Travel: You will likely take short trips each year to spend immersive, hands-on time with our team, Fellows, and partners—whether at events, conferences, or other programming. We accept applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The start date for this position is April 15th. We use E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.

Build local networks, develop partnerships, host events, and manage candidate pipelines to recruit entrepreneurs for Watson Institute. | Strong network-building skills, public speaking ability, proactive outreach, independent work ethic, and alignment with Watson Institute's mission. | Overview of Watson Institute Watson Institute powers transformative Fellowships in partnership with leading corporations and foundations to support highly promising entrepreneurs and leaders from underserved backgrounds. The Fellowships provide proven entrepreneurship and leadership skills training, committed mentorship, community development stipends, long-term Alumni support, and access to a global community of peers, mentors, and opportunities. In partnership with Google, JPMorganChase Foundation, Walmart.org, Wells Fargo, Ford Philanthropy, SAP, Truist Foundation, BMO, Comcast, Western Union, and several private foundations, Watson Institute’s programs will reach over 2,400 rising leaders this year. Alumni of Watson Institute’s Fellowships have raised over $190 million, created over 2,300 paid jobs, and impacted over 11 million people around the world through initiatives they have helped lead. 93% of Watson Institute alums are employed, continuing their education, or building a venture. 85% of Watson Institute Alumni use a skill they learned while in a Watson Institute-powered program up to 12 years later. Watson Institute’s Alumni have been selected to Y Combinator, the Echoing Green Fellowship, and 11 have been named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 lists. Alums continue their education at Harvard University, New York University, and Princeton University, among others. Search Lead (Contractor Role) - Mission Statement The primary mission of the Search Lead is to recruit and select highly promising, rising entrepreneurs and leaders for a Fellowship powered by Watson Institute. Working independently in your assigned geography, you will build a robust network of local nominators, partner organizations, and community influencers, conduct direct outreach to prospective Fellows, and host virtual and in-person recruitment events. This is a performance-based role measured by consistent activity and demonstrated results: partnerships established, outreach conducted, events hosted, applications generated, interviews completed, and filling the Fellowship slots needed for the geography. The ideal candidate is a proactive relationship-builder who can design data-driven outreach approaches, manage candidate screening and preliminary interviews, and continuously optimize recruitment tactics to ensure a strong pipeline of Fellows aligned with Watson Institute's mission. Success requires the ability to work autonomously, meet weekly reporting expectations, and deliver recruitment outcomes in a fast-paced, goal-oriented environment. Search Lead (Contractor Role) – Role Geographic Recruitment & Partnerships (66% of the time - ⅔ of time) As the Search Lead, you will build a strong recruitment ecosystem in your assigned geography by cultivating relationships, identifying strategic partners, and directly engaging promising entrepreneurs. You will serve as Watson Institute’s on-the-ground connector, designing outreach strategies, hosting events, and ensuring high-quality applicants are consistently entering the pipeline. Local Ecosystem Building: Conduct thorough research and mapping to identify key organizations, universities, incubators, community groups, and influencers in the assigned geography who can connect you to promising entrepreneurs. Partnership Development: Build relationships with local nominators and organizations that can refer qualified candidates; attend their events, offer to present, and co-host info sessions (virtual or in-person). Virtual & In-Person Event Hosting: Organize and lead virtual info sessions and recruitment events for the assigned geography; co-host events with local partners; present at community gatherings. Direct Headhunting: Proactively identify and reach out to highly promising entrepreneurs through LinkedIn, network referrals, and personalized engagement. In-Person Presence: Attend community events, pitch the Fellowship, and represent Watson Institute in your region. Fellow Review (15% of time) The Search Lead will support the full admissions process for the assigned region. From application review to candidate interviews, ensuring that each prospective Fellow is evaluated with care, consistency, and alignment with Watson Institute’s mission. The Search lead will maintain an organized and responsive pipeline while guiding applicants through each stage. Review and screen applications from the assigned geography. Conduct preliminary interviews with prospective Fellows. Manage the candidate pipeline in Salesforce for the assigned geography. Maintain communication with applicants. Data Management & Analysis (7% of time) Strong recruitment depends on accurate, timely data. The Search Lead will maintain organized records, monitor progress against benchmarks, and report on performance. These insights will help refine outreach strategies and guide weekly decision-making. Report weekly on progress, challenges, and leads. Track recruitment metrics for the assigned geography. Collaboration & Reporting Structure (12% of time) The Search Lead will work independently day-to-day while staying closely aligned through structured communication pipelines and weekly touchpoints. These meetings ensure consistency across geographies and provide you with support, real-time feedback, and strategic guidance. Weekly Team Meeting (1 hour): Attend the Fellowship recruitment team meeting to share updates, coordinate across geographies, and align on strategy. Weekly 1:1 (30-60 minutes): Review the assigned geography's progress, troubleshoot challenges, and receive guidance on recruitment approach. Total internal meeting commitment: Approximately 2-3 hours per week. Performance Benchmarks The Search Leads’ performance will be evaluated weekly and monthly, with the specific benchmarks outlined in the contract. These benchmarks will be based on the following: partnerships established, outreach conducted, events hosted, applications generated, and interviews completed. *New responsibilities may develop as the Search Lead position evolves. Culture Add In order to thrive as the Search Lead at Watson Institute, the contractor should possess: An exceptional eye for detail. You enjoy spending time with words, style, and formatting to create the most compelling product possible. Detail-Oriented: You are meticulous and have excellent organizational skills. You are especially attuned to spotting mistakes or inconsistencies in writing and external communications. You take pride in completing your work accurately and on schedule. You have a knack for project management and a love for work plans and checklists. Results-Driven: A proactive problem-solver who takes ownership of tasks and ensures they are completed to a high standard. High Integrity: Demonstrates integrity in decision-making and effectively handles sensitive information. Systems-minded: Demonstrated experience in building and implementing systems. You are comfortable designing, testing, improving, and smoothly running systems and processes. Communication Style: Maintains direct, honest, and solution-focused communication to address issues and ensure project success. Candidate Profile Must-Haves (non-negotiable) Network Builder: Natural ability to cold-reach into communities, build trust quickly, and establish partnerships from scratch. Public Speaker: Comfortable presenting to groups (virtual and in-person), hosting events, and pitching compellingly on the spot. Hunter Mentality: Proactive, doesn’t wait for applications to come in. Goes out and finds compelling candidates directly. Self-Directed: Can work independently without hand-holding; figures things out, problem-solves, manages own time across 25 hours/week. Mission-Aligned: Genuinely passionate about Watson Institute’s work and can authentically represent it in their community. Strongly Preferred: Local Connections: Already embedded in the assigned geography OR has strong experience building networks in that region (especially for international sites). Entrepreneurial Experience: Has started something, worked at a startup, or maintains meaningful ties to entrepreneurship or innovation ecosystems. CRM Comfort: Familiar with Salesforce or similar (or able to learn quickly). Content & Outreach Experience: Experience with content creation, paid media, or digital marketing campaigns. Technical Skills: Proficiency in Excel, strong email communication, rapid follow-up, and comfort with data analysis. Community Orientation: Passion for building community and forging meaningful relationships in recruitment environments. The Vitals The time commitment is an estimated 25 hours per week with flexibility around the schedule. Competitive contractor compensation according to experience: $25,000.00. Compensation is paid monthly via Gusto. The Search Lead is a contractor role and reports to the VP of Admissions & Programs and Associate Director of Search. Location: We aim to work with the communities we serve; candidates from the following key geographies will be prioritized: Oklahoma: Tulsa, Stillwater, Muskogee, Mayes County Texas: Midlothian, Haskell The start date for this position is March 16, 2026. The end date for this position is July 31, 2026, with the possibility of extension based on project needs and performance.

Manage and lead all elements of Watson Institute's Fellowship programs including planning, implementation, communications, community outreach, curriculum oversight, and pitch coaching. | Experience in program management, strong organizational and communication skills, passion for mission-driven work, facilitation skills, and ability to build community and partnerships. | Overview of Watson Institute Watson Institute powers transformative Fellowships in partnership with leading corporations and foundations to support highly promising rising entrepreneurs and leaders, primarily from historically disenfranchised backgrounds. The Fellowships provide proven entrepreneurship and leadership skills training, committed mentorship, community development stipends, long-term Alumni support, and access to a global community of peers, mentors, and opportunities. In partnership with Google, JPMorganChase Foundation, Walmart.org, Ford Philanthropy, Comcast, Truist Foundation, BMO, Western Union Foundation, and several private foundations, Watson Institute's programs will reach over 2,400 rising leaders this year. Alumni of Watson Institute's Fellowships have raised over $190 million, created over 2,300 paid jobs, and impacted over 11 million people around the world through initiatives they have helped lead. Watson Institute's Alumni have been selected to Y Combinator, the Echoing Green Fellowship, and 11 have been named to Forbes' 30 under 30 lists. Alums continue their education at Harvard University, New York University, and Princeton University, among others. Programs Manager, Impact Fellowships - Mission Statement The primary mission of the Programs Manager is to manage and lead all elements of Watson Institute's Fellowship programs. The goal is for each Fellowship to receive a 9.0/10 or above on the Fellow reviews, meet the key milestones and overall north star goals of each Fellowship. The Fellowship consists of 4 major programmatic elements: • Delivering high quality weekly programming for the Fellows, both virtually and in-person (when applicable) • Leading all Fellowship communications to both the Fellows, community and team • Supporting events to ensure they are held at the highest level of quality possible from the pre-planning, communication and implementation phase • Delivering and tracking all of our surveys to ensure we are conducting ongoing measurement and evaluation of each program. The Programs Manager will lead the implementation of Watson Institute's Fellowships with a singular focus on delivering a high quality program for our Fellows and partners. Some of the key elements of this role include: Planning & Implementing all Programmatic Components of the Fellowship (50% of their time), Leading All Fellowship related Communications (20% of their time), Leading Community Outreach and Engagement Initiatives (15% of their time), Design Team Support (5% of their time), Curriculum Oversight (5% of their time), and Preceptor Facilitation for Pitch Block & Pitch Coaching (5% of their time). Requirements Detailed Position Breakdown: Planning & Implementing all Programmatic Components of the Fellowship (50%) Program Pre-Planning: • All Programs Managers are responsible for the pre-planning, implementation and leading the 16-week Fellowship. Program Managers will be responsible for leading two Fellowship programs per year. • They will build out a Fellowship Success Tracker provided to them by the Design team as a guide for the structure of each Fellowship. • They are responsible for leading a multi-day Immersive experience, either in person or virtually depending on the Fellowship with the support of the Events Team • In order to successfully lead a Fellowship, the Program Manager will work closely with the Strategic Partnerships Team, People & Operations Team, Design Team, as well as the Programs Team and act as the primary liaison between the Fellows and other departments in the organization. • During the planning months, Programs Managers are responsible for scheduling the core programmatic elements of each Fellowship, in a way that directly corresponds to the "theme" of that Fellowship and the profiles of the Fellows admitted • The Programs Managers will work with the Programs Team and Design Team to ensure the Success Tracker of each Fellowship is reflected on the calendar for Fellows, partners and the team to engage with. • Programs Managers are responsible for a successful Fellow Onboarding experience. This means they will need to engage with the Search Manager the month prior to the start of the program to coordinate an engaging onboarding experience for Fellows (Meet the Cohort, Intake Form, Getting to know the Fellows) Program Implementation: • As the gatekeeper of the community, the Programs Managers should lead each Fellowship with empathy, perception, and remain committed to the growth of each Fellow by leading 1- on-1's with the Fellows throughout the duration of the program. In addition they will need to plan Community Building sessions • Programs Managers are responsible to connect Fellows to additional Mentors in the Watson Institute Mentor network when particular expertise is observed to be helpful to the Fellow's growth. • They are accountable for the successful execution of the Program Operations, Basecamps, Curriculum and Summit. Leading All Fellowship related Communications (20%): The Programs Manager will be responsible for all Fellow communications beginning as soon as the Fellows have been admitted to the program. They will be responsible for hosting consultation calls, conducting on-going communications leading up to the official start of the Fellowship and being the main point of contact throughout the Fellowship until the Fellows have officially completed the program, received their certificate and completed their Basecamps (if applicable). Leading Community Outreach and Engagement Initiatives (15%): The Programs Manager role is responsible for engaging the local community (when applicable) and engaging our global community in order to meet the Programmatic theme and needs of the partner / Fellow. This includes: • Developing and sustaining a trusting relationship with entrepreneurial leaders and community stakeholders, specifically with location-based Fellowships. • Ensuring Fellows are connected to Watson Institute's Mentor network, when applicable and if appropriate, to meet the venture-specific needs of each Fellow • Invite community members involved in each Fellowship to Summit, Watson Institute's culminating event. Design Team Support (5%): The Programs Manager is responsible for supporting the Design Team including: • By deeply understanding the cohort within the Fellowship they manage, the Programs Manager actively liaises with Preceptors and EIRs to ensure programming and facilitation are tailored to the Fellows' needs, goals, and priorities • Supports pre-program alignment sessions with Preceptors and EIRs to share updates on the cohort and ensure everyone is prepared for a successful Fellowship launch Curriculum Oversight (5%): The Programs Manager will be asked to audit courses to ensure the facilitators are consistently delivering quality content in each session and reporting high level feedback to the Director of Design. They will also be asked to support Preceptors (if needed) with technology, prep and the facilitation of the course. Pitch Block & Pitch Coaching (5%): Each Programs Manager will be asked to teach one "Block" per Fellowship, which consists of a series of modules related to the specific hardskill. The Programs Manager will specifically lead the Pitch content in preparation for Summit, the culminating pitch event of the Fellowship. All Programs Managers will be presented with content and coaching to ensure that they are set up for success in delivering this critical content. • New responsibilities may develop as the Programs Manager position evolves Culture Add In order to thrive as the Programs Manager at Watson Institute, a candidate must: • Eager to join a team with high standards for quality and excellence • An exceptional eye for detail. You enjoy spending time with words, style, and formatting in order to make the most compelling product possible. • Detail Oriented: You are meticulous and have excellent organizational skills. You are especially attuned to spotting mistakes or inconsistencies in writing and external communications. You take pride in completing your work accurately and on schedule. You have a knack for project management and a love for work plans and checklists. You cringe at missed steps and you are the first to identify a typo or formatting error • Intentional: Your working style is about creating order and planning ahead. You think systematically and excel at establishing elegant processes • Results-Driven: You bring an eagerness to grow and to roll up your sleeves and contribute. You have a go-getter attitude and a drive to solve all sorts of problems, no matter the size or shape. When something is your responsibility, you find a way to see it through to the end • High Integrity: You will be asked to make sensitive and critical judgment calls, and as such, you are known for your integrity and you take that reputation seriously. You always choose to make the right decision versus the easy decision. You know what information is sensitive, and you will protect it accordingly. You are comfortable escalating issues and holding your ground when you think it's the right thing to do for the organization and mission • Systems-minded: Demonstrated experience in building and implementing systems. You are comfortable designing, testing, improving, and smoothly running systems and processes. This could be any system that involved inputs from or served multiple people and required consistent and accurate functioning • Communication Style: Based on a story from Watson Institute's early days, ‘Come to the Window' represents the principles of our communication including: • Obligation to Dissent: If you disagree with a decision or direction as an organization, you are expected to bring attention to this challenge because true leaders believe dissent is an obligation • Disagree and Commit: To complement Obligation to Dissent, there are times when we need to Disagree and Commit. Once all concerns and criticisms are shared, the course of action must be committed to by all involved • No Drama: We prioritize purpose and don't involve ourselves in the drama created by backroom chatter, hearsay, and unnecessary focus on issues that do not place impact first • Go to the Source: Our culture is defined by direct, honest, and frequent communication. We expect team members to ‘go to the source' of concerns by speaking up, communicating frequently, and taking issues directly to the individuals involved Candidate Profile Top candidates should demonstrate: • A deep-seated passion for building community and Watson Institute's mission to develop innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs to solve the toughest challenges facing the world. • A natural inclination to build relationships and partnerships in the local community in order to strengthen Watson Institute's presence. • Facilitation skills, with the ability to inspire and draw out the best in a room during each of the workshops and events being facilitated. • Experience as an entrepreneurial leader throughout their lives. The Programs Manager work will be in close tandem with the Watson Institute Fellows, each of whom are entrepreneurs, therefore they need to understand the Fellows trajectories and challenges. • Dedication to leading quality programming Benefits • Competitive base salary according to experience: $65,000.00-$75,000.00 • Annual Happiness Fund that increases with time and seniority • Unlimited vacations (3 weeks required vacation time per year) • Healthcare benefit via Thatch (ICHRA provider) where employees have the option to apply this amount towards their choice of medical plans, with the option to add vision and dental plans • Automatic 3% contribution to your retirement account The Vitals • The Programs Manager is a full-time commitment and reports to the Senior Programs Manager. • The Programs Manager position can work remotely, but should be based in either DC or Baltimore, MD. • This position is offered as a one 1-year contract, with the possibility of renewal based on performance and organizational needs • We accept applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. • The start date for this position is January 15, 2026 • Travel Required: This role involves travel occasionally for programmatic events. • We use E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires

Manage and lead all elements of Watson Institute’s Fellowship programs including planning, implementation, communications, community outreach, curriculum oversight, and pitch coaching. | Experience in program management, strong organizational and communication skills, ability to build relationships with entrepreneurs and community stakeholders, and passion for mission-driven work. | Overview of Watson Institute Watson Institute powers transformative Fellowships in partnership with leading corporations and foundations to support highly promising rising entrepreneurs and leaders, primarily from historically disenfranchised backgrounds. The Fellowships provide proven entrepreneurship and leadership skills training, committed mentorship, community development stipends, long-term Alumni support, and access to a global community of peers, mentors, and opportunities. In partnership with Google, JPMorganChase Foundation, Walmart.org, Ford Philanthropy, Comcast, Truist Foundation, BMO, Western Union Foundation, and several private foundations, Watson Institute’s programs will reach over 2,400 rising leaders this year. Alumni of Watson Institute’s Fellowships have raised over $190 million, created over 2,300 paid jobs, and impacted over 11 million people around the world through initiatives they have helped lead. Watson Institute’s Alumni have been selected to Y Combinator, the Echoing Green Fellowship, and 11 have been named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 lists. Alums continue their education at Harvard University, New York University, and Princeton University, among others. Programs Manager, Impact Fellowships – Mission Statement The primary mission of the Programs Manager is to manage and lead all elements of Watson Institute’s Fellowship programs. The goal is for each Fellowship to receive a 9.0/10 or above on the Fellow reviews, meet the key milestones and overall north star goals of each Fellowship. The Fellowship consists of 4 major programmatic elements: • Delivering high quality weekly programming for the Fellows, both virtually and in-person (when applicable). • Leading all Fellowship communications to both the Fellows, community and team. • Supporting events to ensure they are held at the highest level of quality possible from the pre-planning, communication and implementation phase. • Delivering and tracking all of our surveys to ensure we are conducting ongoing measurement and evaluation of each program. The Programs Manager will lead the implementation of Watson Institute’s Fellowships with a singular focus on delivering a high quality program for our Fellows and partners. Some of the key elements of this role include: Planning & Implementing all Programmatic Components of the Fellowship (50% of their time), Leading All Fellowship related Communications (20% of their time), Leading Community Outreach and Engagement Initiatives (15% of their time), Design Team Support (5% of their time), Curriculum Oversight (5% of their time), and Preceptor Facilitation for Pitch Block & Pitch Coaching (5% of their time). Detailed Position Breakdown: Planning & Implementing all Programmatic Components of the Fellowship (50%) Program Pre-Planning: • All Programs Managers are responsible for the pre-planning, implementation and leading the 16-week Fellowship. Program Managers will be responsible for leading two Fellowship programs per year. • They will build out a Fellowship Success Tracker provided to them by the Design team as a guide for the structure of each Fellowship. • They are responsible for leading a multi-day Immersive experience, either in person or virtually depending on the Fellowship with the support of the Events Team. • In order to successfully lead a Fellowship, the Program Manager will work closely with the Strategic Partnerships Team, People & Operations Team, Design Team, as well as the Programs Team and act as the primary liaison between the Fellows and other departments in the organization. • During the planning months, Programs Managers are responsible for scheduling the core programmatic elements of each Fellowship, in a way that directly corresponds to the “theme” of that Fellowship and the profiles of the Fellows admitted. • The Programs Managers will work with the Programs Team and Design Team to ensure the Success Tracker of each Fellowship is reflected on the calendar for Fellows, partners and the team to engage with. • Programs Managers are responsible for a successful Fellow Onboarding experience. This means they will need to engage with the Search Manager the month prior to the start of the program to coordinate an engaging onboarding experience for Fellows (Meet the Cohort, Intake Form, Getting to know the Fellows). Program Implementation: • As the gatekeeper of the community, the Programs Managers should lead each Fellowship with empathy, perception, and remain committed to the growth of each Fellow by leading 1- on-1’s with the Fellows throughout the duration of the program. In addition they will need to plan Community Building sessions. • Programs Managers are responsible to connect Fellows to additional Mentors in the Watson Institute Mentor network when particular expertise is observed to be helpful to the Fellow’s growth. • They are accountable for the successful execution of the Program Operations, Basecamps, Curriculum and Summit. Leading All Fellowship related Communications (20%): The Programs Manager will be responsible for all Fellow communications beginning as soon as the Fellows have been admitted to the program. They will be responsible for hosting consultation calls, conducting on-going communications leading up to the official start of the Fellowship and being the main point of contact throughout the Fellowship until the Fellows have officially completed the program, received their certificate and completed their Basecamps (if applicable). Leading Community Outreach and Engagement Initiatives (15%): The Programs Manager role is responsible for engaging the local community (when applicable) and engaging our global community in order to meet the Programmatic theme and needs of the partner / Fellow. This includes: • Developing and sustaining a trusting relationship with entrepreneurial leaders and community stakeholders, specifically with location-based Fellowships. • Ensuring Fellows are connected to Watson Institute’s Mentor network, when applicable and if appropriate, to meet the venture-specific needs of each Fellow. • Invite community members involved in each Fellowship to Summit, Watson Institute’s culminating event. Design Team Support (5%): The Programs Manager is responsible for supporting the Design Team including: • By deeply understanding the cohort within the Fellowship they manage, the Programs Manager actively liaises with Preceptors and EIRs to ensure programming and facilitation are tailored to the Fellows’ needs, goals, and priorities. • Supports pre-program alignment sessions with Preceptors and EIRs to share updates on the cohort and ensure everyone is prepared for a successful Fellowship launch. Curriculum Oversight (5%): The Programs Manager will be asked to audit courses to ensure the facilitators are consistently delivering quality content in each session and reporting high level feedback to the Director of Design. They will also be asked to support Preceptors (if needed) with technology, prep and the facilitation of the course. Pitch Block & Pitch Coaching (5%): Each Programs Manager will be asked to teach one “Block” per Fellowship, which consists of a series of modules related to the specific hardskill. The Programs Manager will specifically lead the Pitch content in preparation for Summit, the culminating pitch event of the Fellowship. All Programs Managers will be presented with content and coaching to ensure that they are set up for success in delivering this critical content. • New responsibilities may develop as the Programs Manager position evolves. Culture Add In order to thrive as the Programs Manager at Watson Institute, a candidate must: • Eager to join a team with high standards for quality and excellence. • An exceptional eye for detail. You enjoy spending time with words, style, and formatting in order to make the most compelling product possible. • Detail Oriented: You are meticulous and have excellent organizational skills. You are especially attuned to spotting mistakes or inconsistencies in writing and external communications. You take pride in completing your work accurately and on schedule. You have a knack for project management and a love for work plans and checklists. You cringe at missed steps and you are the first to identify a typo or formatting error. • Intentional: Your working style is about creating order and planning ahead. You think systematically and excel at establishing elegant processes. • Results-Driven: You bring an eagerness to grow and to roll up your sleeves and contribute. You have a go-getter attitude and a drive to solve all sorts of problems, no matter the size or shape. When something is your responsibility, you find a way to see it through to the end. • High Integrity: You will be asked to make sensitive and critical judgment calls, and as such, you are known for your integrity and you take that reputation seriously. You always choose to make the right decision versus the easy decision. You know what information is sensitive, and you will protect it accordingly. You are comfortable escalating issues and holding your ground when you think it’s the right thing to do for the organization and mission. • Systems-minded: Demonstrated experience in building and implementing systems. You are comfortable designing, testing, improving, and smoothly running systems and processes. This could be any system that involved inputs from or served multiple people and required consistent and accurate functioning. • Communication Style: Based on a story from Watson Institute’s early days, ‘Come to the Window’ represents the principles of our communication including: • Obligation to Dissent: If you disagree with a decision or direction as an organization, you are expected to bring attention to this challenge because true leaders believe dissent is an obligation. • Disagree and Commit: To complement Obligation to Dissent, there are times when we need to Disagree and Commit. Once all concerns and criticisms are shared, the course of action must be committed to by all involved. • No Drama: We prioritize purpose and don’t involve ourselves in the drama created by backroom chatter, hearsay, and unnecessary focus on issues that do not place impact first. • Go to the Source: Our culture is defined by direct, honest, and frequent communication. We expect team members to ‘go to the source’ of concerns by speaking up, communicating frequently, and taking issues directly to the individuals involved. Candidate Profile Top candidates should demonstrate: • A deep-seated passion for building community and Watson Institute’s mission to develop innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs to solve the toughest challenges facing the world. • A natural inclination to build relationships and partnerships in the local community in order to strengthen Watson Institute’s presence. • Facilitation skills, with the ability to inspire and draw out the best in a room during each of the workshops and events being facilitated. • Experience as an entrepreneurial leader throughout their lives. The Programs Manager work will be in close tandem with the Watson Institute Fellows, each of whom are entrepreneurs, therefore they need to understand the Fellows trajectories and challenges. • Dedication to leading quality programming. • Competitive base salary according to experience: $65,000.00-$75,000.00. • Annual Happiness Fund that increases with time and seniority. • Unlimited vacations (3 weeks required vacation time per year). • Healthcare benefit via Thatch (ICHRA provider) where employees have the option to apply this amount towards their choice of medical plans, with the option to add vision and dental plans. • Automatic 3% contribution to your retirement account. The Vitals • The Programs Manager is a full-time commitment and reports to the Senior Programs Manager. • The Programs Manager position can work remotely, but should be based in either DC or MD. • This position is offered as a one 1-year contract, with the possibility of renewal based on performance and organizational needs. • We accept applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. • The start date for this position is January 15, 2026. • Travel Required: This role involves travel occasionally for programmatic events. • We use E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.