Program Manager

Seeking a strategic, highly organized, and mission-driven Program Manager to lead the execution and strategic evolution of our flagship internship and early-career talent program.

The Program transforms individual internships into a shared regional experience - bringing interns together across dozens of companies for shared professional growth, mentorship, and community-building that creates lasting ties and strengthens Buffalo's ability to attract and retain top talent.

This role is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of the program: operational execution, talent experience, alumni engagement, employer satisfaction, and continuous improvement. You will work closely with students, colleges and universities, employers, ecosystem partners, and internal teams to ensure the program delivers real outcomes and operates as Buffalo's early-career talent engine.

You are equal parts program architect and operator - someone who can zoom out to see the system strategy and zoom in to make sure the details work.

Primary Responsibilities

Program Strategy, Design & Execution

* Own the execution and evolution of the program as a year-round talent system - including extensions of recruitment, candidate preparedness, mentorship, and a digital platform to host it all.

* Translate talent strategy into clear program design, timelines, and participant experiences.

* Identify gaps, friction points, and opportunities across the talent journey and proactively design improvements.

* Ensure the program remains scalable, employer-relevant, and aligned with regional workforce needs.

Talent Experience & Development

* Oversee the participant experience from application through placement, mentoring, and post-program outcomes.

* Design and manage a mentoring framework that supports interns and early-career talent beyond the summer experience.

* Identify best practices for engagement, support, and retention - and operationalize them across cohorts.

* Ensure participants receive clear communication, meaningful support, and access to opportunity.

Employer Engagement & Recruitment Extension

* Manage employer participation across internships, early-career hiring, and post-internship recruitment extensions.

* Support employers in converting interns and program participants into long-term hires.

* Surface employer needs, behaviors, and constraints to inform program design and platform features.

* Partner with the Engagement team to align employer readiness, expectations, and outcomes.

Platform Feedback & Systems Design

* Serve as a core feedback loop between the program operations and the organizations talent platform.

* Inform platform design by translating real-world program needs, employer behavior, and participant feedback into actionable insights.

* Help define workflows, data points, and user journeys that improve matching, engagement, and reporting.

* Collaborate cross-functionally to test, refine, and improve tools that support program delivery.

Data, Insights & Best Practices

* Track and analyze program metrics including participation, conversion, retention, and employer satisfaction.

* Identify and document best practices across employers, institutions, and cohorts.

* Contribute to internal reporting, funder updates, and strategic planning with data-informed insights.

* Ensure accurate and consistent data entry across HubSpot and internal systems.

Cross-Team & Ecosystem Collaboration

* Work closely with Communications & Engagement to support storytelling, events, and employer-facing materials.

* Collaborate with partners across education, workforce, and industry to strengthen alignment and outcomes.

* Support orientations, workshops and ecosystem touch-points tied to the program.

* Bachelor's degree in education, business, communications, public administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

* 3+ years of experience in program management, workforce development, education, or a related field.

* Strong project management and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.

* Comfort managing multiple stakeholders and moving parts simultaneously.

* Clear written and verbal communication skills.

* Experience working with employers, students, and/or community partners.

* Familiarity with CRM systems (HubSpot preferred) and comfort working with data and reporting.

* Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends for program-related events.