Program Manager, Recruitment and Workforce Strategy (BravenX)

Job Title: Program Manager, Recruitment and Workforce Strategy (BravenX)

Team: Innovation

Location: In-Person in Chicago (IL) or New York City (NY)

Employment Type: Full-time

Start Date: May 2025

About Braven

Braven is a national nonprofit that prepares promising young people—many of whom are people of color, from low-income backgrounds, and the first in their families to attend college—to secure a strong first opportunity after college graduation through a career-accelerating program.

We work with higher education and employer partners to offer a life-changing experience that begins with a semester-long course for college students followed by support that lasts through graduation.  

Together, we are helping to open up access to the American Promise, empowering a generation of leaders who mirror the diversity of our country.

To learn more, take a look at Braven’s Impact Report and Jobs Report.

About the Role

In order to achieve its ambition of serving 80,000-100,000 Fellows over the next decade, Braven is hiring a Program Manager, Recruitment & Workforce Strategy (PMRW) who will grow the BravenX program and accelerate Braven’s national impact. BravenX is the program offered in partnership with other nonprofits across the country (vs. in partnership with higher education institutions in our core model.) As a member of the Innovation Team, you will be responsible for recruiting ~500 students per semester into Braven’s Leadership and Career Accelerator course. You will also be responsible for supporting students who have already completed the Accelerator (“Post-Accelerator Fellows” or “PAFs”) in subsequent semesters towards strong post-career outcomes. The balance between Student Recruitment and Workforce Strategy responsibilities may vary depending on lighter or heavier seasons for each workstream, with the possibility of shifting over time as business needs evolve.

This role is on the Innovation team and reports directly to the Managing Director, BravenX.

What You’ll Do

Student Recruitment (50%)

• Manage relationships with BravenX partners (K-12 networks, scholarship organizations & college access/success nonprofits) to ensure they collectively meet our enrollment goals of ~ 500 students/semester
• Conduct regular meetings with partners on strategies to recruit eligible students, such as email/text communications, information sessions, in-person engagements with eligible students, etc.
• Use Salesforce to track and inform partners on progress toward their recruitment goals, as well as use data to suggest tactical pivots 
• Support cultivation of new BravenX partnerships, including research, meeting preparation, data tracking, and communications
• Share design input and feedback with Braven’s External Affairs team on marketing materials

• Create social media calendar and posts to promote Braven brand to partners and prospective students
• Collaborate with peers across the organization for best practices in recruitment

• Support the successful onboarding of new students into the Accelerator 

Workforce Strategy (50%)

• Manage and analyze student-level and program data to drive strategy and support for PAFs
• Lead annual PAF Jobs Campaign to ensure grads land strong first jobs after college
• Manage progress-to-goals tracking/reporting for internships and job attainment
• Lead targeted outreach to and career coaching for PAFs to help them meet internship and strong job outcome goals
• Support PAF communications and collaborate with central PAF team on national PAF communication strategies
• Recruit PAFs for the Professional Mentor program and support success of program
• Design and manage job referrals process; source appropriate internship and job opportunities 
• Create, plan, and execute events with Employer Partners to promote continued career exploration and skills development

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s or equivalent degree
• 2-4 years of experience of achieving student outcomes in recruitment, college readiness, college persistence, and/or career readiness
• Proven ability to create, operationalize, and manage project plans, meeting milestones and deadlines
• Track record of using data and metrics to drive decisions and measure performance
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion and cultural competence
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong meeting facilitation and public speaking skills
• Prior experience in marketing, external affairs, or partnerships
• Experience that has informed your belief in Braven’s mission and have prepared you to work with, or for, Braven’s student Fellow population.

Please know that no one ever meets 100% of the preferred qualifications. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.

Work Demands

• Ability to work in-person in Chicago (IL) or New York City (NY) office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
• Ability to attend three virtual Learning Labs every week during academic year (September-May):
• (Likely to be added) Tuesdays from 6-8PM EST
• Wednesdays from 6-8PM EST
• Thursdays from 5-7PM EST
• Ability to travel 3-4 times annually for staff or partner events

Additional Requirements

• Authorized to work in the U.S.
• Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of such by the date of hire. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons.

Application & Interview Process

While the interview process may vary slightly, the general process will be:

• Phone screen with Talent Team member
• Performance Task
• Interview with Hiring Manager
• Panel Interview with Key Partners
• Reference Checks

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position, which depends on prior work experience and our assessment of your demonstrated fit for the role, will likely be between $51,500-$64,400 in Chicago and $56,800-$70,900 in New York. This is a full-time regular, exempt, and benefits eligible position where you will be working at 100% capacity. Braven offers competitive base salaries based on the midpoint of the market among not-for-profit organizations of similar size, with opportunities for salary growth over time. We believe in compensating staff members fairly in relation to each other, their qualifications, and their impact on behalf of the organization, and take internal and external equity seriously. Given our commitment to equity, Braven does not negotiate salary offers; instead each salary offer is determined carefully using external and internal benchmarking. You will have an opportunity to discuss salary in more detail after you begin the application process.

Braven also provides competitive, comprehensive benefits, recognition, and career development. While Braven reserves the right to change benefits at any time, current benefits include: 

• Unlimited vacation time in addition to org-wide holidays and three team-wide, week-long shutdowns in Spring, Summer, and Winter (this is a minimum of 24 days per year)
• Match of your 401K contribution up to 5% of your base annual salary, starting your first full month
• Coverage of 85% of health insurance premium for employee and dependents
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• A one-month paid sabbatical after 4 years on staff

Location

We gather in the office at least 3 days per week (on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) and often work remotely 2 days per week (although certain commitments might adjust that from time to time). Therefore, this role requires teammates to live within commuting distance of New York City. We believe in the magic, connection, and collaboration that happens when people work together face-to-face and we believe in giving people flexibility to focus, balance personal priorities, and save themselves two commutes per week.

Braven is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.  We encourage talented individuals of all backgrounds to apply.