Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Activate is a nonprofit dedicated to turning scientific discoveries into real-world impact. The Program Manager, Fellowship & Programs Recruitment will focus on attracting top science entrepreneurs to Activate programs by establishing relationships, managing recruitment strategies, and ensuring a positive applicant experience.
Responsibilities
- Partner with the Program and Development teams to develop and refine recruitment strategies using data insights and experimentation
- Execute recruitment campaigns end-to-end, including hosting informational webinars, supporting marketing outreach, and representing Activate at campus visits and conferences
- Serve as a primary point of contact for prospective applicants, providing timely, thoughtful support via email, virtual meetings, and virtual office hours
- Drive the recruitment funnel to ensure a robust pool of high-quality applications
- Collaborate with staff, partners, and fellows to develop compelling recruitment materials and toolkits that extend outreach efforts
- Use live and retrospective recruitment data dashboards to set and adapt strategy
- Hire, onboard, and manage a seasonal recruitment intern to help execute on activities from July-October
- Develop and maintain relationships across the innovation ecosystem, connecting potential applicants with relevant networks and resources
- Support and participate in events that strengthen community engagement and expand recruitment reach
- Work closely with program staff to identify and activate recruitment opportunities at universities, labs, and ecosystem events
- Track and manage applicant pipeline data to ensure strong, diverse candidate pools aligned with priority technical areas
- Contribute to the development of shared fellowship resources and materials
- Lead and participate in cross-team meetings to ensure alignment, clarity, and timely information sharing
- Additional project support/management as assigned. For example, this role might lead execution of Finalist Week, an annual event in the Spring that brings together Activate staff, selection committees and subject matter experts for a week of presentations by finalists
- Serve as a connector across teams, sharing best practices and ensuring consistency in recruitment efforts
- Oversee logistics, timelines, budgets, and documentation for recruitment-related activities
- Lead on evaluation and continuous improvement efforts, using data and feedback to strengthen program design over time
Skills
- 4-6 years of program management, fellowship management, or related experience (experience with, science, engineering, or fellowship programs a plus)
- Strong event and logistics planning and execution skills; proven ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders
- Excellent relationship-building and communication skills; comfortable engaging with diverse stakeholders from scientists to investors
- Fluent with data outputs: can read dashboards, review reports, connect to reality on the ground, and ask good questions. Able to use data to tell stories, set priorities, align stakeholders, and surface opportunities
- Conversant with software tools—project management, data management, customer relationship management, applicant tracking systems, or surveys—and is willing to learn others
- Highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented
- Has experience representing an organization at events, and ability to travel domestically and internationally (up to 25%)
Benefits
- Professional development
- $2,000 in annual wellness funds
- Flexible paid time off
- Healthcare coverage for employees and dependents, with 90–100% of premiums covered
- The opportunity to join a retirement plan with a 3% match beginning after 3 months at Activate
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