Program Manager

About Pursuit

Pursuit is a social impact organization building the future of economic mobility in the age of AI. For over a decade, we've created life-changing outcomes through training programs for adults from low-income backgrounds—especially those without college degrees. Our graduates have generated nearly $1 billion in lifetime wage gains. 

Now, as AI reshapes the future of work, Pursuit is evolving as a leader at the intersection of AI, jobs, economic opportunity, and tech innovation. We're becoming an AI-native organization: training AI-native talent, embedding AI across our operations, and building software to scale our impact. Beyond direct training, we’re driving systems change. Through initiatives like the Good Jobs Guarantee, we’re advocating for outcomes-based funding and national policy to make economic mobility possible for millions.

About the Role

Pursuit is hiring a Program Manager to own the learning experience for our nights and weekend cohort of Builders in our AI-native program. You’ll be responsible for leading an intensive, transformative experience where persistence, community, and problem-solving are at the core.

You’ll be responsible for supporting a cohort of high-potential adults from low-income backgrounds (18+) as they build AI fluency, sharpen critical-thinking skills, and unlock pathways into high-paying, career-advancing jobs. Your role blendsfacilitation, coaching, and culture-building — creating an environment where Builders feel seen, supported, and pushed to reach their full potential.

As a key member of our facilitation team, you’ll report directly to the COO and be accountable for cohort outcomes, community cohesion, and each Builder’s persistence and success. This is a chance to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of work — helping individuals break into the tech economy while advancing Pursuit’s mission at the intersection of social impact, AI, and economic mobility.

This is an onsite, fulltime role in our Long Island City office with the following schedule:

• Sat/Sun: 9am–5pm
• Mon/Tues/Wed: 2pm–10pm

(Classes run Sun/Mon 10am–4pm and Mon–Wed 6:30–10pm; many of our Builders have family care or FT jobs during the day wit limited flexibility)

About You

You’re a human-centered builder who believes in the power of transformative, community-based experiences. You love working with people, coaching them to exceed their own expectations while holding a high bar for excellence, accountability, and growth. You might have trained or managed frontline teams in hospitality, retail, or other experience-driven environments, or built learning and leadership programs at a high-growth startup. Maybe you’ve helped run or participated in immersive programs like On Deck, Techstars, or other leadership or accelerator communities, and want to bring that same kind of energy and transformation to others. You bring presence, empathy, and momentum to every room you lead — the hype person who also drives results. You’re tech-savvy, curious about AI, and excited about how it can unlock new ways to learn, work, and empower others to thrive in fast-moving, mission-driven environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead transformative learning experiences: Facilitate ~20 hrs/week of high-energy classes, accountable for Builder persistence, completion, and long-term outcomes.
• Coach and champion Builders: Build strong relationships with Builders,provide 1:1 support, and help Builders stay on track through challenges on their path to new careers.
• Drive performance and growth: Track performance, give feedback,  adapt facilitation in real time and proactively identify and support at-risk Builders.
• Foster a scrappy, start-up minded culture: Set the tone and vibe for your cohort - optimistic, collaborative, and tech-forward - while instilling accountability and resilience.
• Cultivate AI confidence and relevance: Connect learning to real-world applications so Builders can see themselves as future leaders and advocates in the AI economy.
• Design impactful learning tools: Design slides, activities, and exercises that reinforce learning and spark engagement.
• Represent Pursuit externally: Facilitate AI Native workshops and info sessions for prospective Builders, corporate partners and nonprofit stakeholders. 
• Help shape a scalable delivery model: Streamline facilitation with tools and processes, share learnings, and contribute to team retrospectives.
• Help build our AI training agent: Provide feedback to our product team, representing facilitator and learner needs as a key stakeholder in the development of Pursuit’s AI training agent.

Ideal Experience: 

• 4–6 years of professional experience in startups, tech, or other fast-paced, outcomes-driven environments; bonus for background in leadership coaching, learning and development, organizational development, or team management or operations roles where KPIs and culture mattered (e.g. hospitality/retail operations).
• Proven ability to lead groups with presence and confidence, whether through facilitation, training, coaching, or high-energy team leadership.
• Deep belief in human potential and the conviction that with the right support and high expectations, anyone can grow, succeed, and become a leader.
• Community- and human-centered, with demonstrated experience creating environments where people feel supported, empowered, and part of something bigger than themselves.
• Experience running or participating in immersive, community-based programs (e.g., On Deck, Techstars, NextGen HQ / Summit Series / Renaissance Weekend /Aspen Institute Fellowships, AltMBA, Reality Israel Programs, or similar leadership accelerators, or fellowship-style environments) where participants were supported, challenged, and held to high standards.
• Skilled at balancing support and accountability, pushing people to meet high standards while maintaining trust and respect.
• Strong relationship-builder who can foster accountability and persistence while creating a supportive, empowering cohort culture.
• Excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to model and coach those skills for others.
• Data-driven and outcomes-oriented, comfortable using performance metrics to guide facilitation and improve results.
• Highly organized, adaptable, and solutions-oriented, able to pivot quickly while keeping outcomes in focus.
• Passionate about equity, tech access, and expanding opportunity for marginalized communities across New York.
• Curious and comfortable exploring AI tools; prior experience building small projects with AI is a plus.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment and brings a flexible, can-do attitude to your work.

Pursuit offers: 

• An opportunity to work at the intersection of tech and social impact, and make a direct impact on the communities of those we serve.
• Competitive compensation in base, plus bonus and a full benefits package
• 401k Match
• Unlimited PTO and an all-Pursuit summer break the last week of August and a week-long holiday the last week of December
• Catered lunches once a week and delicious snacks
• Dedicated time to build in AI and hone your AI skills

Salary & Benefits:

The expected salary range for this role is $100,000 - $115,000 base + incentive compensation.

The compensation above is for the expectations as laid out in the job description, however, we are often open to a wide variety of profiles and recognize that the person we hire may be less experienced (or more senior) than this job description as posted.  If that ends up being the case, the updated salary range will be communicated to you as a candidate.

Pursuit values diversity: 

Our team has a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, and we value the richness that diversity brings to our organization. We welcome new perspectives and affirm that all employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, age, familial or marital status, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuit is an equal opportunity employer.