2025 PROGRAM MANAGER

Start.coop is seeking a Program Manager to lead our Spring 2025 Incubator and Fall 2025 Accelerator by providing operational support for the programs. 

Our Spring 2025 Incubator is designed to help rural entrepreneurs explore and develop their business ideas into the beginnings of a cooperative business in an online, 8-week facilitated program. Our Fall 2025 Accelerator is for Black-led cooperatives who want to get to the next level in their business.  Using our Lean Co-op methodology via an online 12-week experience, the Accelerator is designed to help cooperative entrepreneurs build their business and ownership models.

Status: Part-time, 6-month contract position. 20 hours per week with the possibility to expand to full-time in future. 

Location: Remote (within the U.S.)

Compensation:  $50 per hour

Project Scope

• Program Management

• Recruitment: Conduct outreach and recruitment efforts primarily through email promotion, network promotion and social media. Support 2 Information Sessions Answer questions and inquiries as they come in and update FAQs on website as need be

• Admissions: Process applications, checking for eligibility requirements. Communicate with applicants on their status. Coordinate with Start.coop team on admissions decisions. 

• Onboarding: Get entrepreneurs set up in our systems, finalize participation agreements and send calendar requests.

• Workshop support: Support Director of Community & Training in preparing session agendas, slides and activities.  Coordinate with guest speakers as required.

• Coaching schedules: Support Director of Community & Training in securing external coaches, manage coach contracts, payments and calendars

• Logistics Management

• Manage comprehensive logistics for program activities, including the coordination of program calendars, and coaching schedules. Ensure all participants—including founders, coaches, speakers, and partners—are well-informed and engaged in program activities.

• Reporting

• Maintain records to support reporting requirements from the USDA

• Support Director of Community & Training in administering feedback forms

The Role

The Program Manager must be capable of self-direction to drive forward this project. We particularly value candidates who have prior experience in cooperatives or online education. 

This role is fully remote. However, the candidate must be available for some meetings between 11am to 5pm Eastern Time (8am to 2pm PT). We understand candidates will likely be balancing this role with other work.

Qualifications and Desired Experiences 

• Proven track record of managing program logistics and coordinating multiple stakeholders, including participants, coaches, and guest speakers.

• An understanding of the cooperative business model. 

• Strong email and external communication capability; friendliness and professionalism in communicating with external stakeholders 

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex schedules, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.

• Experience with outreach and recruitment, including managing social media promotions, email campaigns, and network engagement.

• Experience with Google Suite and Zoom

• Experience with Typeform, Hubspot, Notion is a plus. 

• Familiarity with maintaining program records, managing feedback forms, and supporting reporting requirements, especially for government grants or programs (e.g., USDA)