Job Title 
Program Manager

About Pre-Scientist, Inc.
Pre-Scientist, Inc. is a startup nonprofit that facilitates Letters to a Pre-Scientist (LPS), a pen pal program that pairs students in US low-income communities with STEM professionals for a yearlong letter exchange during science class. Through interactions with a real STEM professional, students authentically connect to science and develop a broader awareness about what STEM professionals look like and do at work. Our mission is to facilitate one-on-one connections to humanize STEM professionals, demystify STEM career pathways, and inspire all students to explore a future in STEM.

We select and prepare science teachers to host our program with their students and cultivate a diverse, worldwide network of STEM professionals to serve as our volunteers. We provide a comprehensive support model for our teachers. 

Job Summary
Pre-Scientist, Inc. is a growing non-profit looking for a Program Manager to support the implementation of our core program, Letters to a Pre-Scientist (LPS).

As the LPS Program Manager, you are the main liaison between the teachers and STEM professional pen pals. You ensure that every student has a letter to open from a STEM pen pal each letter opening day and that teachers and STEM professionals implement the program with fidelity. You will also contribute to our outreach and engagement efforts, such as by creating blog posts, videos, social media posts, newsletter content, etc.

This is a full-time (40 hours/week), remote (work from home) position with occasional domestic travel (approximately once per quarter). We hope our new Program Manager will work on Pacific Time hours to support our West Coast classrooms. This person will join the founding staff of two, a Senior Program Manager and CEO, who both work remotely on East Coast hours. This position reports to the CEO and works directly with the CEO and Senior Program Manager.

The ideal candidate is excited to be part of a small, mission-driven start-up with big ambitions for social change. They are highly organized, self-motivated, creative, relationship focused, and eager to learn new things and solve problems.

Responsibilities

1. Remotely facilitate communication between STEM professionals and teachers as their main point of contact to ensure the pen pal program runs smoothly and on-schedule. Specifically:
   • Cultivate supportive, consistent relationships with up to 30 teachers hosting the pen pal program with their students. 
   • Communicate proactively and respond promptly to support STEM professionals volunteering as pen pals.
     
2. Creatively support all students’ participation in the program with direction from teachers.
3. Collaborate effectively with the other program staff to efficiently run the program. 
4. Meet (virtually) with teachers as needed to monitor program progress.
5. Manage program calendar to keep track of important school and program specific dates.
6. Use our database to track student/STEM professional pairs through program milestones.
7. Ensure legal and privacy requirements are followed to keep stakeholder data safe.
8. Assist with planning and executing in-person and online recruitment and preparation activities for teachers and STEM professionals to be successful in the program.
9. Facilitate the collection of evaluative program data.
10. Write and create program-specific media content weekly, such as social media posts, blog posts, short videos, and newsletter content.
11. Provide input about program scaling and organizational culture building.
12. Opportunity to liaise between staff and Board of Directors and provide input to improve the program model.
13. Contribute to fundraising activities at the direction of the CEO.

Required Skills, Characteristics, and Experience

1. Strong alignment with the organization’s mission.
2. Goal-oriented mindset.
3. Excited about working at a startup and comfortable with uncertainty.
4. Committed to supporting all aspects of diversity in STEM and working to build and maintain an inclusive organization and work culture that is welcoming to everyone. 
5. Demonstrated track record of taking initiative to creatively and strategically work through challenges.
6. Ability to work independently and remotely, and willingness to ask for help as needed.
7. Experience working with data in spreadsheets or databases and ability to learn new technology quickly.
8. Experience maintaining polite and effective email communication to develop and maintain professional relationships with key stakeholders.
9. Strong organizational skills and ability to adhere to systems.
10. Written communication and/or marketing experience or enthusiasm to learn (content planning and writing for social media, newsletters, blogs, etc.).
11. Ability to travel quarterly.

Desired Skills, Characteristics, and Experience

1. Leadership experience, especially supporting volunteers.
2. Lived experience in a low-income community or as the first in their family to attend college.
3. Located in the Pacific Time Zone, or willingness to work Pacific Time hours with occasional flexibility.
4. Familiarity with the following technology: Slack, GSuite, Airtable

Salary

We anticipate a starting salary between $55,000 – $60,000 commensurate with experience and location. We are proud to offer a flexible work schedule and health and retirement benefits.

Diversity

We welcome applicants of all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, and sexual orientations. Pre-Scientist, Inc is committed to creating an equitable, accessible, inclusive work environment that recognizes diversity and cultural competence as integral components of excellence. Applicants who can contribute to this goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in this area.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit a one page resume and answers to the following questions using the form below.

• What draws you to the LPS mission and vision? 
• What skills, characteristics, and prior experiences have prepared you to be successful in this role? 
• What do you need to be successful in this position? Tell us about how you want to grow your career at LPS. 

We aim to make this opportunity accessible to everyone. If you need support completing the application, or have questions, reach out to Lucy at lucy.madden@prescientist.org. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis beginning August 12, 2024. Start date is as soon as possible.