Programs Coordinator, Impact Fellowships

Overview of Watson Institute

Watson Institute powers transformative Fellowships in partnership with leading corporations and foundations to support highly promising, historically disenfranchised rising entrepreneurs and leaders. The Fellowships provide proven entrepreneurship and leadership skills training, committed mentorship, community development stipends, long-term Alumni support, and access to a global community of peers, mentors, and opportunities.

In partnership with JPMorganChase, Walmart.org, Ford Philanthropy, Comcast, Google, Western Union Foundation, Truist Foundation, BMO, and several private foundations, Watson Institute’s programs will reach over 2,400 rising leaders this year.

Alumni of Watson Institute’s Fellowships have raised over $185 million, created over 1,900 paid jobs, and impacted 10 million people around the world through initiatives they help lead. 90% of Watson Institute alums are employed, continuing their education, or building a venture. This is on par with leading business schools, yet all of the Fellowships Watson Institute powers are free. 99% of Watson Institute Alumni use a skill they learned while in a Watson Institute powered program up to 10 years later. Watson Institute’s Alumni have been selected to Y Combinator, the Echoing Green Fellowship and ten have been named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 lists. Alums continue their education at Harvard University, New York University, and Princeton University, among others. 

Programs Coordinator, Impact Fellowships  – Mission Statement

The mission of the Programs Coordinator is to collaborate with Program Manager/Leads to enhance the foundational aspects of the Fellowship journey, including Watson Institute’s Summits, Basecamps, and immersives. By fostering a supportive and empowering environment and through a dedication to excellence, the Programs Coordinator contributes to the overall success of our Fellows as they navigate their entrepreneurship journey.

Detailed Position Breakdown: 
Summit Support (30% of time):

Summit is the culminating event where Fellows will be selected to pitch virtually/ in-person to local leaders, funders, and entrepreneurs. All Fellows are celebrated during the event and are encouraged to network with Watson Institute’s global community to build connections and promote their ventures.

External Communication:

• Design and create visually appealing Crowdcast elements including banners, backgrounds, start and end slides.
• Craft compelling and informative communication for event descriptions and attendee emails.
• Develop graphic content and write engaging captions for social media platforms to promote Summit events.

Invitations and RSVP Tracking:

• Manage the process of sending out invitations for Summit events.
• Implement effective RSVP tracking systems to monitor attendance and plan accordingly.

Communication to Development:

• Facilitate seamless communication between Fellows and the Development Team.
• Collect final pitches from Fellows and ensure proper documentation for review and approval by the Development Team.

Follow-up and Fellow Support:

• Coordinate and execute follow-up communications with Fellows post-Summit.
• Distribute final pitches to the Development Team for thorough review and approval.

Basecamp Support (30% of time):
Basecamps are 1-3 days workshops, organized and hosted by the Fellows, to help rising entrepreneurs from their communities ideate solutions, design business models, and compellingly communicate their businesses and organizations to an external audience. 
promotional items) are provided. 

1-on-1 Sessions and Brainstorming:

• Conduct 1-on-1 sessions with Fellows to brainstorm and develop their Basecamp events.

• Provide guidance and support to help Fellows refine their event ideas and ensure alignment with program objectives.

Data Collection for Internal & External Communication:

• Gather relevant data from Fellows to assist the creation of informative and engaging bi-weekly emails.
• Ensure the timely submission of data by Fellows to maintain communication consistency.

Collateral Creation:

• Design and produce collateral such as social media graphics to promote Basecamp events.
• Contribute to the creation of visually appealing materials that resonate with the target audience.

Airtable Maintenance:

• Update the program's Airtable regularly to reflect accurate and up-to-date information.
• Ensure that the database is organized and readily accessible for the program's decision-making processes.

Lead Immersives & In-person Program Operations (30% of time):
The Programs Coordinator will lead the Impact Fellowships in-person and Immersive logistics. 

Coordination & Planning: 

• Collaborate with Program Managers, attend planning meetings, and manage immersive project planning, track progress, and ensure all logistics are in place for immersives and in-person Fellowships. 
• Coordinate insurance with the Operations Team for specific program immersives and events. 

Catering & Transportation: 

• Coordinate food for Fellows, ensuring dietary restrictions are met, and arrange transportation and accommodations for Fellows, Impact Series Teachers, and special guests.

Venue & Supplies: 

• Manage space reservations, procure necessary supplies, and ensure any Watson Institute branded event materials (including Watson Institute backdrops and promotional items) are provided. 
• Coordinate SWAG with the Operations Team. 

Guest Experience: 

• Organize travel, lodging, and personalized gifts for IST members or special guests to ensure a seamless and welcoming experience.

Overall Support (10% of time):
Communication in Slack:

• Actively participate in communication channels on Slack to facilitate efficient team collaboration.
• Provide timely responses to inquiries and contribute to a positive and communicative team environment.

Session Facilitation:

• Take the initiative to start sessions if the Programs Manager/Lead is unavailable.
• Ensure the smooth running of program sessions by stepping in when needed and maintaining a supportive atmosphere.

*New responsibilities may develop as the Programs Coordinator position evolves.

Culture Add
In order to thrive as the Programs Coordinator at Watson Institute, a candidate must:

• Eager to join a team with high standards for quality and excellence.
• An exceptional eye for detail. You enjoy spending time with words, style, and formatting in order to make the most compelling product possible. 
• Detail Oriented: You are meticulous and have excellent organizational skills. You are especially attuned to spotting mistakes or inconsistencies in writing and external communications. You take pride in completing your work accurately and on schedule. You have a knack for project management and a love for work plans and checklists. You cringe at missed steps and you are the first to identify a typo or formatting error.
• Intentional: Your working style is about creating order and planning ahead. You think systematically and excel at establishing elegant processes.
• Results-Driven: You bring an eagerness to grow and to roll up your sleeves and contribute. You have a go-getter attitude and a drive to solve all sorts of problems, no matter the size or shape. When something is your responsibility, you find a way to see it through to the end.
• High Integrity: You will be asked to make sensitive and critical judgment calls, and as such, you are known for your integrity and you take that reputation seriously. You always choose to make the right decision versus the easy decision. You know what information is sensitive, and you will protect it accordingly. You are comfortable escalating issues and holding your ground when you think it’s the right thing to do for the organization and mission.
• Systems-minded: Demonstrated experience in building and implementing systems. You are comfortable designing, testing, improving, and smoothly running systems and processes. This could be any system that involved inputs from or served multiple people and required consistent and accurate functioning.
• Communication Style: Based on a story from Watson Institute’s early days, ‘Come to the Window’ represents the principles of our communication including:
• Obligation to Dissent: If you disagree with a decision or direction as an organization, you are expected to bring attention to this challenge because true leaders believe dissent is an obligation.
• Disagree and Commit: To complement Obligation to Dissent, there are times when we need to Disagree and Commit.  Once all concerns and criticisms are shared, the course of action must be committed to by all involved.
• No Drama: We prioritize purpose and don’t involve ourselves in the drama created by backroom chatter, hearsay, and unnecessary focus on issues that do not place impact first.
• Go to the Source: Our culture is defined by direct, honest, and frequent communication. We expect team members to ‘go to the source’ of concerns by speaking up, communicating frequently, and taking issues directly to the individuals involved.
  

Candidate Profile
Top candidates should demonstrate:

• A deep-seated passion for building community and Watson Institute’s mission to develop innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs to solve the toughest challenges facing the world. 
• A natural inclination to build relationships and partnerships in the local community in order to strengthen Watson Institute’s presence. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Mandatory skills: Excel mastery, email wizardry, rapid follow-up, and data analysis. 
• Ability to excel under pressure without sacrificing quality. 
• Experience in project management, from conception to delivery.
• Excellent time management and interpersonal skills.
• Previous experience working in a team would be advantageous.
• 1+ years of media and/or virtual event management experiences. 
  

Benefits 

• Competitive base salary according to experience: $55,000.00-$60,000.00.
• Annual Happiness Fund that increases with time and seniority.
• Unlimited vacations (3 weeks required vacation time per year).
• Healthcare benefit via Thatch (ICHRA provider) where employees have the option to apply this amount towards their choice of medical plans, with the option to add vision and dental plans.
• Automatic 3% contribution to your retirement account.

The Vitals

• The Programs Coordinator is a full-time commitment and reports to the Senior Programs Manager. 
• The Programs Coordinator position offers remote work flexibility during certain times of the year while requiring in-person availability for programming at other times. The role must be based in Boulder, Denver, or the surrounding areas.
• The start date for this position is July 1, 2025.
• We use E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.