Program Manager, Break Through Tech (NYC)

About Break Through Tech

Break Through Tech empowers, trains, and connects students from different lived experiences to influential tech opportunities. We are focused on launching a generation of diverse tech talent into the workforce with an emphasis on Black, LatinX, Native American, low-income women, and gender non-conforming individuals because those who break into today's tech jobs will be writing the rules that will shape the future for all of us.

Position Summary

Break Through Tech is seeking a Program Manager to oversee the successful delivery of our innovative work-based learning programs. In this role, you will onboard and manage industry professionals, graduate students and other temporary staff who will in turn work directly with our students as they build their professional and technical skills.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Successful candidates will need to have and display the following competencies as part of this role:

• Optimizes work processes, Identifies and creates the processes necessary to get work done; Separates and combines activities into efficient workflow; Designs processes and procedures that allow managing from a distance; Seeks ways to improve processes, from small tweaks to complete reengineering
• Manages complexity, asks the right questions to accurately analyze situations; Acquires data from multiple and diverse sources when solving problems; Uncovers root causes to difficult problems; Evaluates pros and cons, risks and benefits of different solution options
• Decision Quality, Makes sound decisions, even in the absence of complete information; Relies on a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment when making decisions; Considers all relevant factors and uses appropriate decision-making criteria and principles; Recognizes when a quick 80% solution will suffice.
• Plans and Aligns, Sets objectives to align with broader organizational goals; Breaks down objectives into appropriate initiatives and actions; Stages activities with relevant milestones and schedules; Anticipates and adjusts effective contingency plans
• Balances Stakeholders, Understands internal and external stakeholder requirements, expectations, and needs; Balances the interests of multiple stakeholders; Considers cultural and ethical factors in the decision-making process; Acts fairly despite conflicting demands of stakeholders

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible 3-year term position with the possibility of renewal. This is a hybrid position with the expectation to work at least 1 day per week (Wednesday) on the Cornell Tech campus in New York City. Flexible work schedules are subject to change.

Visa sponsorship is not available.

Essential Functions Include

Program Operations - 65%

• Plan and manage the successful delivery of program activities for one or more cohorts of participants:
  • Collaborate with other program staff to assist in developing long range goals, action plans and measurement/evaluation processes; regularly review and analyze program data to assess effectiveness of the program; determine any adjustments needed.
  • Develop, manage and monitor program budget; ensure that all grant obligations and reporting duties are met.
  • Assist in developing and implement programmatic policies and systemic procedures.
  • Participate in and recommend strategic and operational planning for programs.
  • Coordinate and administer programs both in-person and online
• Ensure program health metrics and outcomes meet or exceed our benchmarks for quality and efficiency.
  • Track and report on program health metrics and outcomes data.
  • Produce regular program reports and develop special reports as needed.
• Monitor student engagement and progress towards goals; partner with other staff to ensure we intervene appropriately to maximize retention, completion and outcomes attainment.
  • Ensure all student issues are resolved in partnership with Program leadership and supporting teams
  • Advise and serve as a resource and liaison to students, connecting students with support resources as appropriate within Break Through Tech and beyond.
  • Provide guidance, advice, and oversight to student groups and organizations.
  • Oversee the facilitation and development of the student community to drive retention.
• Plan and execute key events and program components for participants including orientation sessions, training workshops, social events and other core experiences.
  • Work behind-the-scenes with other team members to produce events and experiences
  • May facilitate activities or present information during events and experiences
• Partner with other teams to ensure all challenges are addressed in a timely fashion to drive program success; may include the resolution of complex concerns and problems
• Partner with our Product Design team to inform changes to our program model over time.

Volunteer, Host Company and/or Temporary Staff Management - 30%

• Partner with other Break Through Tech teams to cultivate and maintain strong partnerships with corporate and university partners who supply volunteers, Sprinternships Hosts and temporary staff for our programs:
  • Share data and insights with the Industry Partnerships team and partners themselves in order to drive retention and expansion of strategic corporate relationships.
  • Coordinate with the Instruction team to support strong relationships with our university partners.
• Recruit, select and onboard volunteers, host companies and/or temporary staff in advance of program delivery:
  • In advance of each cohort, ensure each program has the right number of volunteers, host companies and/or temporary to adequately support our target student numbers.
  • Partner with other teams to source and recruit potential volunteers and/or temporary staff
  • Participate in Business Development calls with potential new partners and help with existing partner renewal
  • Guidance (Depending on focus area):
    • Guide volunteer Challenge Advisors through the project development process and preparation.
    • Guide mentors in preparing for monthly mentorship sessions.
    • Guide temporary staff in preparing for instructional and other support roles in the program.
    • Guide Sprinternships Hosts through the project development and program planning process.
• Manage volunteers, host companies, and/or temporary staff to deliver an excellent program experience for students:
  • Teams may include Challenge Advisors, Sprinternships Hosts, and/or Mentors as well as temporary staff (Instructors and Teaching Assistants), depending on the program focus areas.
  • Teams may require contributions from other Break Through Tech staff members including Student Success, Career Services or Industry Partnerships
  • Ensure all contributors are trained and supported to perform well in their roles
  • Intervene to address issues or challenges with volunteer, host company and/or temporary staff performance; ensure all volunteer, host company and/or temporary staff issues are resolved in partnership with Program Delivery leadership and supporting teams at Break Through Tech
  • Facilitate the development of a strong team culture for contributors. Drive positive team health and long-term retention and satisfaction of top performing contributors.

Other position-related responsibilities - Participate in projects with occasional work responsibility falling above or below current classification. - 5%

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree and 3 to 5 years relevant experience or equivalent combination
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, volunteers and community members.
• Passionate about working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and wellbeing.
• Strong program management experience, preferably in the early career, internship or higher educational space.
• Demonstrated experience successfully delivering work-based learning programs in-person and online.
• Prior experience managing volunteers and/or temporary staff to deliver excellent experiences.
• Data-driven decision maker with experience leveraging tools including Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets, Microsoft PowerPoint / Google Slides to evaluate and report on impact and effectiveness.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, particularly when working with high level internal and external stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented and organized systems thinker.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, quickly changing work environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with diversity, equity, inclusion, and wellbeing programs.
• Deep expertise with early career programs (internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, new grad programs) in the technology industry
• Experience working with highly technical audiences (software development, computing, data science, AI)
• Experience leading programs for and with undergraduate students

Culture of Inclusion and Community Standards

As an individual contributor you will model and support a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.

Rewards and Benefits

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Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
• Unique applicable skills
• Academic Discipline

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EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.