Part-Time Program Manager
Job Description
Position Overview
To meet the demands of the future workforce, students need to engage in active learning that promotes and develops the skills, technologies, and resiliency required to work collaboratively, solve stubborn problems, and overcome adversity. These are the skills and traits at the core of entrepreneurship, and intentionally cultivating them will prepare and propel learners regardless of their individual pathway.
SEED SPOT, a global leader in entrepreneurial education, has received a grant sponsored by the Best Buy Foundation to cultivate these youth entrepreneurial talent outcomes in Minneapolis-St. Paul. This position will be a contract role focused on executing the goals and objectives of this grant program.
The SEED SPOT Program Manager is responsible for representing the SEED SPOT brand, the successful production and execution of programming, and for facilitating the mission and vision of SEED SPOT in the Minneapolis-St. Paul entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Program Manager will take the lead on onboarding student program participants, facilitating programming, and serving as the liaison between SEED SPOT, Best Buy in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and students themselves. The Program Manager will play a critical role in the success of the project, and will assist the SEED SPOT team in reporting on the outcomes of the program.
Program Description
SEED SPOT’s Youth Entrepreneurship Program is a flexible program designed to help students identify social problems, understand the root causes of systemic issues, and explore what it means to be a social entrepreneur. The curriculum leverages video lessons, guided collaborative work, and technology-driven project learning, and may be delivered virtually if in-person gathering is suspended at any time. The program focuses on the following objectives:
Activating curiosity and personal agency in teens exploring career choice by instilling an entrepreneurial mindset among youth ages 13-21 that encourages recognition of opportunities, confidence in risk taking, adaptability, and innovation
Developing confidence and competence with in-demand technical skills and tools that are relevant across a majority of industries and careers through “lean” start-up methodology training
Building human skills that increase young people’s ability to thrive regardless of which employment path they choose
Providing an understanding of entrepreneurship as a viable, meaningful career, and a foundation for further career exploration and education
In 12 weeks, program participants will identify a social problem and design a venture that provides a solution to the problem. Along the way, program facilitators will guide students through curriculum that embraces youth’s passion, creativity and talent, and delivers the skills, technologies, and knowledge needed to pursue entrepreneurship as a viable career path. Combining direct instruction with hands-on learning activities and mentorship, the program focuses on the themes of communication, problem solving, collaboration, and creativity.
SEED SPOT firmly believes that core entrepreneurial traits like curiosity, initiative, and persistence can be effectively taught and cultivated in our young learners. By nurturing students’ entrepreneurial mindset and exposing students to real-world problem solving, impact-driven business models, and emerging industries, SEED SPOT is preparing students to thrive in a global innovation economy and to tackle the social issues that impact their lives. Our social entrepreneurship curriculum ignites within students a passion for pursuing meaningful change through entrepreneurship.
To achieve these objectives, the Youth Entrepreneurship Program includes:
12 weeks of entrepreneurship programming that provides participants with a structured approach to social problem identification, hypothesis building, data collection and analysis, responsive solution design, and professional presentation skills, to empower the next generation of social impact entrepreneurs.
Social impact entrepreneurship curriculum
Mentorship experiences
Project-based learning opportunities
Programming focused on technical skills development and experiential learning
Essential Requirements:
Undergraduate or Graduate Degree preferred
Team player with go-getter attitude
Self-starter who strives to meet and exceed goals
Alignment with SEED SPOT mission, vision, and core values
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Prior knowledge of and interest in Entrepreneurial Ecosystems a plus
Prior experience leading an educational program or workshop required
Strong relationships within local startup and startup-support communities required
Experience working with entrepreneurs is required; experience as an entrepreneur is extremely helpful, but not required with significant “intrapreneur experience” (product development, sales, client work, etc.)
Responsive, empathetic, outgoing, and enthusiastic demeanor
Event management experience
Highly organized, responsive, communicative, and driven
Willingness and ability to travel to facilitate additional SEED SPOT programming as needed
Ability to lift and move at least 20 pounds
Reporting and Role Details:
Reports to Senior Director of Programs
1099 Contractor
Role dates: March – June 2022
Compensation:
$3,000/month for up to 20 hours of work per week
End of program bonus incentive available
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Serve as the main point of contact within the local community for SEED SPOT programming
Manage and execute the Best Buy grant program to meet milestones
Meet regularly with the Measurement & Evaluation team, and the Development Operations Manager to report on grant outcomes and progress.
Recruit all positions that support program implementation including volunteers and Mentors
Actively support and engage with the SEED SPOT programs team on programmatic elements and curriculum feedback and enhancements
Alert SEED SPOT of any program changes, snags, or issues in real time
Connect participating entrepreneurs and students with additional resources and network within local ecosystem to further venture growth and relationships
Deliver in-program and virtual training to entrepreneurs in an informed, engaging manner
Coordinate additional SEED SPOT Content Experts to lead training
Oversee entrepreneur progress and adjust program content and pace accordingly
Supplement the provided curriculum with examples and illustrations from personal experience working in, on, and with startups and other businesses
Work 1:1 with entrepreneurs weekly to fill in learning gaps and apply the overarching concepts to their individual businesses/use cases
Manage all facilitation materials and suggest curriculum development opportunities to SEED SPOT
Coordinate and manage events (space, food/beverage, supplies, technology, equipment, communications, logistics, etc.)
Work with SEED SPOT to establish marketing & outreach plan for programmatic events
Be a collaborative brand ambassador within the entrepreneurial ecosystem by speaking at and attending key events.
Capture images and screenshots of events and regularly share across the SEED SPOT communication channels in team meetings and slack channels.
Project timeline:
March 2022 – Project Manager onboarding and training
April 2022 – Program launches
June 2022 – Program ends
Project and Grant (through end of June 2022) Performance Deliverables:
Facilitator training program: Teen Tech Center-based facilitators will receive instructor preparation and certification by SEED SPOT’s youth educators through a “train-the-trainer” model
Facilitator guide: lesson-by-lesson curriculum guide that outlines the purpose, content, recommended discussion questions, technology tools, and critical points to cover each week
Facilitation materials: branded presentation slides with linked recorded micro-lessons delivered by SEED SPOT’s youth educators, technology tool access and support, and access to pre-planned activities
Facilitator direct support: scheduled check-ins with SEED SPOT youth educators and on demand access to support, recommendations, and additional resources
Digital participant workbooks: interactive course workbook that provides project-based templates and curriculum, and allows facilitators to virtually check for participant understanding and progress to goals
Digital participant “data rooms”: online digital portfolio of project assets that participants can share by URL with prospective employers or educational institutions after the program
Access to relevant digital tools and subscriptions for project work: login and account information for participants and instructors
Access to SEED SPOT’s professional mentorship community: data-informed mentor matching for participants, and resources for instructors to recruit and engage local mentors
Community resources: weekly resources for parents, teachers, and other community members to reinforce learning objectives with suggested questions, recommended media (i.e. podcasts and documentaries), and related career and educational paths
Data gathering and analysis: pre- and post-surveys, regular “pulse” micro surveys, impact reporting, and academically- developed success metrics and indicators.
Location:
Must be based in Minneapolis-St. Paul and available to do in-person events and programming. Program will run two-four times a week for twelve weeks.
Hours are 3:00-6:00 pm
Equal Opportunity Employer:
SEED SPOT is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace and we hire the most qualified candidates without regard for age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, language differences, nationality or national origin, family or marital status, physical, mental, and developmental abilities (or the perception of a disability), genetic information, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, skin color, social or economic class, education, work and behavioral styles, political affiliation, military service, caste, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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