Search Lead (Contractor)

Overview of Watson Institute

Watson Institute is a place where rising entrepreneurs and leaders can find their community, discover their calling, and accelerate their careers. 

Watson Institute powers Fellowships for partners including Ford Philanthropy, Western Union Foundation, Truist Foundation, BMO, Walmart.org for Racial Equity, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and several private foundations. Since our inception in 2013, Watson Institute’s programs have positively impacted 6,000 rising leaders and entrepreneurs. 

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 seven have been named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 lists. Alums continue their education at Harvard University, New York University, and Princeton University, among others. 

Search Lead - Mission Statement

The primary mission of the Search Lead is to support the recruitment and selection of highly promising  entrepreneurs and leaders for Fellowships powered by Watson Institute. The Search Lead will develop and execute effective recruitment strategies to attract applicants for the fellowship programs by leveraging partnerships with nominators, thought leaders, community influencers, and alumni, as well as developing robust digital marketing tactics. The ideal candidate will design data-driven outreach approaches, manage candidate screening and preliminary interviews, and continuously optimize recruitment tactics to ensure a strong pipeline of future Fellows who align with Watson Institute's fellowships.

Search Lead – Role

Recruitment, Strategy, Partnerships, & Marketing (60% of the time)

Nominator & Organizational Partnerships: Watson Institute’s network of over 350 nominators are the primary way in which aligned entrepreneurs  find out about Fellowships powered by Watson Institute. This individual will lead the process of strengthening and building relationships with new and existing nominators. The elements of the nominator process include:

• Develop and execute comprehensive recruitment strategies to attract high-potential entrepreneurs for the fellowship programs.
• Conduct thorough ecosystem mapping and research to identify strategic nominators, organizations, and networks aligned with fellowship priorities across target geographies and sectors, creating a dynamic database of potential recruitment channels.
• Build and maintain relationships with key partners, universities, incubators, and organizations that can refer qualified candidates.
• Proactively identify and directly approach highly promising  entrepreneurs through targeted outreach strategies, including LinkedIn outreach, network referrals, and personalized engagement with candidates whose work aligns with fellowship objectives.

Marketing: Watson Institute’s Search & Admissions Team deploys paid social media ads (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), paid Opportunity Sites (Opportunity Desk, ProFellow), and other forms of digital marketing (Webinars, Newsletters, etc.) to increase the reach of our programs, attract applicants, and build our cohorts. The responsibilities of this will include:

• Create compelling recruitment content for various channels (social media, email, website).
• Organize and participate in virtual and in-person recruitment events.
• Develop targeted outreach campaigns for different regions or entrepreneur segments.

Fellow Review & Selection (30% of time)

Selection & Admission: The Search Lead will support the selection process for the Fellowships. Search Lead will ensure the proper admissions processes are being followed and utilized through our applicant tracking system. This includes:

• Review and screen fellowship applications, conducting initial assessments of candidates' fit and potential.
• Coordinate and conduct preliminary interviews with prospective fellows.
• Manage the candidate pipeline and application tracking system (Salesforce).
• Maintain regular communication with prospective applicants.
• Provide regular updates on recruitment progress and metrics.

Data Management & Analysis (10% of time)

• Create, maintain, and analyze comprehensive recruitment reports using Salesforce to track key metrics and inform strategy.
• Monitor and analyze recruitment performance across all outreach channels, including conversion rates and yield metrics.
• Track and report on paid marketing campaign effectiveness, including reach, leads, inquiries, and application conversion rates.
• Manage database integrity and ensure accurate documentation of all candidate interactions and recruitment activities.

*New responsibilities may develop as the Search Lead position evolves.

Culture Add

In order to thrive as the Search Lead at Watson Institute, the contractor should possess:

• 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. 
• Results-Driven: A proactive problem-solver who takes ownership of tasks and ensures they are completed to a high standard.
• High Integrity: Demonstrates integrity in decision-making and effectively handles sensitive information.
• Systems-minded: Demonstrated experience in building and implementing systems. You are comfortable designing, testing, improving, and smoothly running systems and processes. 
• Communication Style: Maintains direct, honest, and solution-focused communication to address issues and ensure project success.

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 recruitment communities in order to strengthen Watson Institute’s presence. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 

• A systems-oriented and highly organized approach to their work.
• Experience with Salesforce (or other CRM platforms) is a plus.
• Experience with content creation and running paid media campaigns is a plus. 
• Mandatory skills: Excel mastery, email wizardry, rapid follow-up, and data analysis.

The Vitals

• Number of weekly hours/deliverables flexible and to be determined depending on program. 
• Competitive contractor compensation according to experience: $7,500.00-$18,000.00. 
• The Search Lead is a contractor role and reports to the VP of Admissions & Programs.  
• Location: we aim to work with the communities we serve; candidates from the following key geographies will be prioritized:

US: Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming.

Europe/UK: Amsterdam, Southern Finland, UK. 

• The start date for this position is March 17, 2025. 
• The end date for this position is August 15, 2025, with the possibility of extension based on project needs and performance.