Program Manager, AI Native

About Pursuit

Pursuit is a social impact organization building the future of economic mobility in the age of AI. For over a decade, we've created life-changing outcomes through training programs for adults from low-income backgrounds—especially those without college degrees. Our graduates have generated nearly $1 billion in lifetime wage gains. 

Now, as AI reshapes the future of work, Pursuit is evolving as a leader at the intersection of AI, jobs, economic opportunity, and tech innovation. We're becoming an AI-native organization: training AI-native talent, embedding AI across our operations, and building software to scale our impact. Beyond direct training, we’re driving systems change. Through initiatives like the Good Jobs Guarantee, we’re advocating for outcomes-based funding and national policy to make economic mobility possible for millions.

About the Role

Pursuit is hiring a Program Manager to own the learning experience for our nights and weekend cohort of Builders in our AI-native program. This is not a traditional teaching role - it’s about leading a high-energy, outcomes-driven experience where persistence, community, and problem-solving are at the core.

You’ll be responsible for managing a cohort of low-income, high potential adults (18+) through our intensive program designed to equip them with AI fluency, critical thinking skills, and access to high-paying careers. Your role is equal parts facilitation, coaching, and culture-building, ensuring the cohort thrives as a team while each individual Builder reaches their full potential.

You’ll join a collaborative team of program managers and report directly to the COO, with clear accountability for cohort outcomes, community cohesion, and Builder success. This is a chance to help shape the future of work at the intersection of social impact, AI, and economic mobility.

This is an onsite, fulltime role in our Long Island City office with the following schedule:

• Sat/Sun: 9am–5pm
• Mon/Tues/Wed: 2pm–10pm

(Classes run Sun/Mon 10am–4pm and Mon–Wed 6:30–10pm)

Key Responsibilities

• Lead transformative learning experiences: Facilitate ~20 hrs/week of high-energy classes, accountable for Builder persistence, completion, and NPS.
• Coach and champion Builders: Build strong relationships with Builders and across the cohort that foster persistence, accountability and long-term success
• Drive performance and growth: Track progress, give feedback,  adapt facilitation in real time and proactively identify and support at-risk Builders.
• Foster a scrappy, start-up minded culture: Set the tone and vibe for your cohort while driving persistence, accountability, and a sense of fun.
• Cultivate AI confidence and passion: Spark enthusiasm for AI, connect learning to real-world applications, and empower Builders to confidently use and advocate for AI in their careers.
• Design impactful learning tools: Design slides, activities, and exercises that reinforce instruction.
• Represent Pursuit externally: Host AI Native workshops and info sessions for applicants, corporate and nonprofit partners. 
• Help define a scalable delivery model: Identify opportunities to streamline facilitation with better tools and processes, share learnings, and contribute to team retros.. 
• Help build our AI training agent: Provide product feedback, representing facilitator and learner needs as  key stakeholders to our product team and help build the product.

Ideal Experience: 

• 4-6 years of professional background in startups, tech or another fast-paced, outcomes-driven environment, with Enablement or L&D experience a plus.
• Proven ability to lead groups with presence and confidence, whether through facilitation, training, coaching, or high-energy team leadership.
• Excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to model and coach those skills for others.
• Data-driven and outcomes-oriented, comfortable using performance metrics to guide facilitation and improve results.
• Highly organized, adaptable, and solutions-oriented, able to pivot quickly while keeping outcomes in focus.
• A strong relationship-builder who can foster accountability and persistence while creating a supportive, empowering cohort culture.
• Believe that community and experience design drive outcomes, and brings that mindset into every interaction.
• Passionate about equity, tech access, and expanding opportunity for marginalized communities across NY
• Comfort exploring and testing AI tools; prior experience building small projects a plus.
• Thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment and bring a flexible, can-do attitude to your work

Pursuit offers: 

• An opportunity to work at the intersection of tech and social impact, and make a direct impact on the communities of those we serve.
• Competitive compensation in base, plus bonus and a full benefits package
• 401k Match
• Unlimited PTO and an all-Pursuit summer break the last week of August and a week-long holiday the last week of December
• Catered lunches once a week and delicious snacks
• Dedicated time to build in AI and hone your AI skills

Salary & Benefits:

The expected salary range for this role is $100,000 - $115,000 base + incentive compensation.

The compensation above is for the expectations as laid out in the job description, however, we are often open to a wide variety of profiles and recognize that the person we hire may be less experienced (or more senior) than this job description as posted.  If that ends up being the case, the updated salary range will be communicated to you as a candidate.

Pursuit values diversity: 

Our team has a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, and we value the richness that diversity brings to our organization. We welcome new perspectives and affirm that all employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, age, familial or marital status, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuit is an equal opportunity employer.