Community Growth & Operations Associate

Community Growth & Operations Associate

Pursuit is a social impact organization building the future of economic mobility in the age of AI. For over a decade, we've transformed lives through immersive training programs that propel adults from low-income backgrounds—often without college degrees—into high-growth tech careers. Now, as AI reshapes every industry, Pursuit is evolving into an AI-native organization. We're training AI-native talent, embedding AI into our operations, and building scalable software to extend our impact. From grassroots partnerships to national policy (like our Good Jobs Guarantee), we're not just filling jobs—we're rethinking how economic opportunity works at scale.

The Role: Community Growth & Operations Associate

We're looking for a builder. Someone who's energized by meeting people and designing systems. As Community Growth & Operations Associate, you'll be the bridge between Pursuit and the communities we serve, driving recruitment and partnerships while architecting the operational backbone that makes it all scalable.

You'll play a key role in shaping Pursuit's in-house AI-driven admissions platform, collaborating cross-functionally to refine workflows and automate key processes. You'll also be on the ground engaging with our community—attending events, hosting info sessions, and joining partner meetings—expanding access to AI literacy and tech careers for underserved New Yorkers.

This is a startup-like role: fast-paced, high-autonomy, and full of opportunities to prototype, iterate, and build systems that directly impact people's lives. You don't need prior AI expertise, but you should be curious, resourceful, and eager to learn by doing.

What You'll Do

Community & Partnerships

• Own relationships with community-based organizations, city agencies (e.g., NYCHA, CUNY, Libraries), and grassroots leaders to fuel our recruitment pipeline.
• Represent Pursuit at events, info sessions, and community forums—pitching the mission and connecting with prospective Builders.
• Shape outreach strategies: identify new partner opportunities, set engagement goals, and execute campaigns.
• Track partner interactions and outcomes in Salesforce to drive data-informed decisions.

Recruitment Ops & Systems Building

• Plan and execute in-person and virtual recruitment and interview events with seamless logistics and communications.
• Manage and streamline applicant tracking and outreach workflows using Airtable, HubSpot, and automation tools like Make and Google Apps Script.
• Build automated outreach campaigns (email, SMS, Eventbrite) to drive engagement and optimize conversion.
• Analyze recruitment data and synthesize insights to continuously improve operations and outreach strategies.

AI-Driven Admissions Product

• Collaborate with Pursuit's Chief Product Officer to refine our in-house AI-powered admissions platform.
• Act as a key operator and feedback loop for the product team, ensuring the admissions tool reflects real-world operational needs and community insights.
• Participate in internal "Build Days" to prototype workflows, experiment with AI tools, and contribute to product iterations.
• Surface trends, feedback, and opportunities from community interactions to inform product development and AI literacy initiatives.

What You Bring

• 1-4 years in community engagement, program operations, or a similar "builder" role in a tech/startup or nonprofit setting.
• A systems mindset: You're always thinking about how to scale, automate, and optimize workflows.
• A connector mentality: You thrive in people-facing environments and know how to build trust in diverse communities.
• Data-driven and detail-oriented: Comfortable with CRM systems, Airtable, Google Sheets, and tracking operational metrics.
• Curious about AI's impact on the workforce and excited to gain hands-on experience building with AI tools.
• Strong communication skills: You can own a room at an event and collaborate cross-functionally within a fast-moving team.
• Self-starter with a flexible, can-do attitude; you're comfortable wearing multiple hats and pivoting as priorities shift.

Bonus (but not required):

• Experience with AI tools like ChatGPT, Zapier AI, or Make.
• Familiarity with email marketing tools (Mailchimp, HubSpot) and workflow automations.
• Experience working in high-growth startup environments or mission-driven tech organizations.

Salary & Benefits:

The salary range for this role is $60,000 - $65,000 base + incentive compensation.

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.
• 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
• Monday and Friday work from anywhere policy
• Catered lunches once a week and delicious snacks
• Dedicated time to build in AI and hone your AI skills

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.