Associate Programs Manager

Overview of Watson Institute

Watson Institute powers transformative Fellowships in partnership with leading corporations and foundations to support highly promising entrepreneurs and leaders from underserved backgrounds. 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 Google, JPMorganChase Foundation, Walmart.org, Wells Fargo, Ford Philanthropy, SAP, Truist Foundation, BMO, Comcast, Western Union, 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 $190 million, created over 2,300 paid jobs, and impacted over 11 million people around the world through initiatives they have helped lead. 93% of Watson Institute alums are employed, continuing their education, or building a venture. 85% of Watson Institute Alumni use a skill they learned while in a Watson Institute-powered program up to 12 years later. Watson Institute’s Alumni have been selected to Y Combinator, the Echoing Green Fellowship, and 11 have been named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 lists. Alums continue their education at Harvard University, New York University, and Princeton University, among others. 

Associate Programs Manager - Mission Statement

The Associate Programs Manager plays a central role in shaping and implementing the student experience at Watson Institute at Lynn University. This individual helps design, lead, and execute high-impact student experiences focused on leadership development, community building, professional growth, mentorship, and experiential learning, ensuring students feel supported, challenged, connected, and equipped to pursue impactful, successful careers.

Student Experience, Facilitation & Community Building (35%)

The Associate Programs Manager will help shape and lead the student experience at Watson Institute at Lynn University by facilitating programming, strengthening student engagement, and cultivating a connected, high-accountability community culture. Responsibilities include:

• Lead and facilitate weekly All Hands on Deck programming, student engagement experiences, and community-building initiatives.
• Build meaningful relationships with students across all cohorts to foster trust, accountability, and connection.
• Help cultivate a positive, inclusive, and high-accountability student culture throughout the program experience.
• Support onboarding, orientation, and transition experiences for new students.
• Design and facilitate interactive sessions focused on leadership, collaboration, communication, and professional development.
• Partner closely with the Student Leadership Committee to strengthen community culture and support student-led initiatives and programming.
• Coordinate volunteering and community engagement opportunities that deepen student connection and impact.
• Maintain consistent communication with students to support participation, accountability, and overall engagement.
• Collaborate closely with the Executive Director to continuously enhance the student experience.

Program Operations & Execution (30%)

The Associate Programs Manager will support the successful execution of Watson Institute at Lynn University’s core programming and student experiences. This individual will help ensure program experiences are organized, engaging, and executed to a high standard. Responsibilities include:

• Lead logistics and operational coordination for core WILU experiences, including Orientation, Summit, Impact Series, workshops, excursions, volunteering activities, and community events.
• Manage calendars, timelines, forms, checklists, and operational systems that support program delivery and execution.
• Coordinate speakers, mentors, photographers, external guests, and event logistics across student-facing experiences.
• Manage student-facing operational platforms, including Google Workspace, Slack, scheduling systems, and program communications.
• Ensure strong execution, responsiveness, and follow-through across all programmatic experiences and operational workflows.
• Support the continuous improvement of systems, processes, and organizational workflows to strengthen program operations and efficiency

Professional Development, Mentorship & Opportunity Ecosystem (25%)

The Associate Programs Manager will help support students’ professional growth by coordinating mentorship experiences, strengthening career development programming, and helping students access meaningful opportunities, networks, and experiential learning connections. Responsibilities include:

• Support students with internship readiness, career exploration, professional development, and goal-setting conversations.
• Host 1-on-1 coaching conversations focused on student growth, opportunities, and professional readiness.
• Coordinate internship tracking and opportunity-sharing systems across the program.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with mentors, employers, and external community partners.
• Support mentor onboarding, communication, matching, and ongoing engagement processes.
• Coordinate mentorship events, networking opportunities, and mentor-related programming.
• Help connect students to meaningful opportunities, experiences, and professional networks aligned with their goals.

Measurement, Feedback & Continuous Improvement (10%)

The Associate Programs Manager will support ongoing program evaluation and operational improvement efforts by helping gather feedback, identify areas for growth, and strengthen systems that enhance the overall student experience. Responsibilities include:

• Gather and analyze student feedback, participation trends, and program evaluation data. 
• Identify opportunities to improve student experience, communication, engagement, and operational systems.

*New responsibilities may develop as the Associate Programs Manager position evolves.