Program Manager, Fellowship Experience

Job Title: Program Manager, Fellowship Experience
Functional Team:  Program Team, Regional Impact
Job Type: Full-Time
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Location: Hybrid in New York
Desired Start Date: September/October 2025
Direct Supervisor: Associate Director of Program, New York

Who We Are

COOP is building a diverse movement of upwardly mobile first-generation college grads overcoming underemployment through digital skills and peer connections. We want to reignite our nation’s promise of upward mobility for those who strive to achieve a brighter future for themselves and their families—to ensure the American Dream is a reality for all. We connect un-/underemployed first-gen college graduates to one another—within cohorts and across “generations” of cohorts. By growing their peer professional networks, members of our community achieve upward economic mobility by building the skills and connections they need for the careers they deserve.

Our intervention for underemployed graduates has produced compelling wage outcomes for thousands of first-generation and low-income grads in New York, California, Illinois, and Florida. 

Within 12 months of program completion, three-in-four COOP alumni are fully employed.

Learn more about COOP Careers’ here: 

• https://coopcareers.org/mission
• https://coopcareers.org/impact

Our Workplace

COOP is an alumni-led organization where we bring our authentic selves to work every day. Over 60% of our staff members have been program participants which translates into a workplace that is mission-driven with deep connections to our community. Rooted in the core values that comprise our three pillars of Head, Heart, and Hustle, we approach our work with empathy, curiosity, and a shared sense of purpose.

Our teams span across NYC, Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami. We come together virtually each month to create space for collective learning and professional development, and regionally in-person each month to build connections. We approach our shared mission of overcoming underemployment with resourcefulness and optimism while bringing fun to the challenge.

What You Will Do

The Program Manager, Fellowship Experience is a key member of the Program Team, responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and experience of a regional portfolio of COOP fellows and new alumni. This role coordinates and executes cohort-based programming, fostering a supportive and engaging environment from training through job placement. Working closely with a core team, the Program Manager ensures high-quality program delivery, supports fellows and new alumni in achieving career readiness milestones, and builds strong, lasting relationships with the fellows and alumni in their cohorts.

In addition to overseeing program logistics and implementation of curriculum, the Program Manager mentors and supports COOP Captains -  alumni of COOP’s program serving as near-peer coaches to current fellows. This role also monitors key program data, identifies trends, and develops improvements to strengthen retention, engagement, and employment outcomes for their cohorts. The ideal candidate brings a passion for educational equity, exhibits strong operational and interpersonal skills, is a strong coach and mentor, and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced, and mission-driven environment.

Responsibilities

Cohort Management (30%)

• Partner with a “core team” composed of HQ staff and Captains to deliver programming for an assigned portfolio of cohorts from training through job attainment with a specific focus on managing and executing the fellowship experience from training through job attainment. 
• Build and maintain authentic relationships with COOP fellows and new alumni to foster a vibrant and engaged peer community.
• Maintain virtual and in-person presence for Phase 1 of the program (Weeks 1-16), supporting logistics of both virtual and on-site programming and building community among fellows, alumni, and guests. 
• Attend Phase 2 and Phase 3 alumni programmatic workshops to provide continued presence and support of “core team” cohorts across all phases, and attend employer and community events, as relevant. 
• In partnership with their core team, oversee the review process for fellow resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles, ensuring fellows meet established career readiness criteria by the end of Phase 1 of the program, as a key driver for career obtainment success. 
• Provide direct support (group and/or individual) to fellows, addressing fellow performance, time management, and career-related concerns.
• Collaborate with Partnerships Manager to identify and match appropriate candidates with curated employer opportunities.

Program Delivery (25%)

• Coordinate and distribute program materials (e.g., handouts, schedules) to fellows and Captains in a timely and organized manner during Phase 1. 
• Equipped with tools and training from the Associate Director of Program Operations, Alumni Coaches, oversee the implementation of the Client Project, ensuring Captains understand the project scope and effectively guide fellows to meet requirements within the set timeline. 
• Collaborate with the Partnerships team to manage region-specific event logistics for employer partner events. 

Data Collection & Management (20%)

• Ensure accurate tracking of fellow data in relevant systems (Brightspace/Salesforce/Prentus) and oversee the timely distribution of program surveys, following up to achieve target completion rates and ensuring data accuracy. 
• Monitor data to identify and implement interventions to meet retention, career readiness, and employment outcome targets.
• Elevate data insights and observed trends to support real-time decision-making regarding regional and track adjustments to enhance improved programmatic outcomes.

Captain Management (20%) 

• Manage a portfolio of Captains assigned to the Core Team during Phase 1, providing guidance, mentorship, and resources to ensure effective curriculum facilitation and support for assigned fellows and alumni. 
• Conduct regular check-ins, addressing Captains' questions and needs regarding training materials and schedules.
• Observe and provide feedback on Captains' program delivery and facilitate workshops as needed.
• Act as a mediator and connector between Captains and fellows, resolving conflicts and implementing interventions when needed.
• Review Captains' timesheets to ensure adherence to prescribed monthly parameters and compliance with organizational policies.

Other Duties (5%)

• Contribute to regional or national program initiatives as needed.
• Provide input to strengthen program operations, program design and evaluation.

Who We Need

• 2-3 years of experience in career development, workforce programming, coaching, or a related field supporting college students or early-career professionals.
• Strong facilitation and coaching skills, particularly around career readiness topics like resume development, interviewing, and job search strategy.
• Proven ability to build trusting, supportive relationships with young professionals from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
• Effective project and people management skills, including experience coordinating program logistics and supporting peer leaders or volunteers.
• Comfortable with data collection and systems for tracking outcomes and informing program improvements (e.g., Salesforce, Prentus, or similar tools).
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and the ability to learn new tech platforms quickly.
• Willingness to work non-traditional hours (virtual or in-person) and periodically onsite (in-person) as needed to support program operations and events.
• Deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and COOP’s mission to close the social capital gap.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience required

Who You Are

• Workload Management - Breaks down a task/project into steps and executes them effectively and on time, adjusting course as needed

• Initiative & Results-Driven - Creates action plans to drive decisions that deliver results and enhance intended impact, accounting for internal and external factors that might affect desired results and adjusting course as needed

• Collaboration - Views work with a collective mindset; supports others in understanding how we achieve our shared purpose with mutual accountability and shared ownership to achieve our goals
• Data Mindset - Understands and analyzes data; uses data to identify insights and implications to make data-driven decisions and inform operations/strategy

What We Offer You

COOP Careers believes it is mission-critical to hire, retain, and motivate highly-qualified, passionate, dedicated professionals and is committed to providing a fair and comprehensive compensation package, which includes:

• Base Annual Salary: $60,000 - $ 65,000 (commensurate with experience)
• A generous and flexible vacation policy, including holidays and office closures for Wellness Weeks, the last week of December, and the first week of July 
• 100% employer-funded comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you (80% employer-funded coverage for dependents)
• Flexible spending account benefits (healthcare, dependent care, and commuter)
• 401(K) retirement plan and 4% employer match - eligibility to participate after one year of service

Hybrid Working Policy

COOP’s hybrid workplace strikes a thoughtful balance between at-home flexibility and in-person chemistry. Regular shared experience in person (structured and spontaneous) will enhance collaboration, strengthen existing relationships, and forge new ones within and across teams. Intentional, casual, and joyful moments together will infuse our culture with the sense of community that makes COOP unique and powerful, and will collectively push us toward our shared purpose. 

Currently, all COOP team members are working remotely and attending a once-a-month in-person coworking and team-building day at our co-located space in lower Manhattan (Civic Hall, 124 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003) for NYC team members and in San Francisco (Swissnex, San Francisco Pier 17, The Embarcadero Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94111) for Bay Area team members or a mutually convenient coworking location for our Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami team members. 

Residency Policy

All employees must reside within commuting distance (approximately two hours) of a COOP Program site located in the following cities: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Bay Area, and within the states of CA, CT, FL, IL, IN, NJ or NY.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

COOP provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. We seek to build a diverse staff representative of the communities we serve. All qualified applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.