Career Center

Program Director, Break Through Tech

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

About Break Through Tech

Break Through Tech works at the intersection of academia and industry to propel more underrepresented women into higher education and careers in tech -- with a particular emphasis on Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and first- generation college going women and non-binary students.

Launched in 2016 in New York City as a partnership between Cornell Tech and the City University of New York (CUNY), Break Through Tech began expanding nationally in 2020 opening additional affiliate sites in Chicago, DC, Miami, Boston and LA.

Job Summary

Break Through Tech seeks a New York Program Director to manage regional programs, starting with Break Through Tech's foundational Sprinternship program in New York City. The Program Director will cultivate and manage industry partner relationships, manage company engagement throughout the program, partner closely with student support partners within Break Through Tech and our regional university partners, especially the City University of New York (CUNY), and will provide overall project management to ensure that program is delivered efficiently and effectively.

As the industry point of contact for the NY Sprinternship program, the successful candidate in this role will ensure an excellent customer experience for our industry partners, will leverage data to identify and codify best practices, and will employ a feedback loop to iterate and continuously improve the program.

The Program Director will work closely with partners at CUNY and the Break Through Tech Assistant Director for Student Recruitment and Preparation to ensure alignment between company participation and the preparation of students to ensure a positive experience for all participants. The Program Director will work with industry partners to better connect the Sprinternship program participation with company internship and entry level job hiring.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Plan, lead, and oversee the execution of the Break Through Tech Sprinternship Program within the New York City region (50%)
• Develop and manage corporate partnerships in the New York City region. (30%)
• Support Sprinternship expansion plans and marketing. (20%)

This role will report into the Break Through Tech Director of Micro-Internships and will work cross-functionally with the Break Through Tech National Senior Director of Industry Partnerships and Business Development to ensure that industry partnership approaches are aligned to national strategy.

The Program Director must have strong organizational skills and experience in both partnership development, relationship management and program execution, with the ability to set priorities and coordinate ongoing activities in parallel, manage competing demands, and provide timely responses to urgent issues. The ideal candidate has experience working with the tech sector and has a flexible, entrepreneurial spirit, thrives in a startup environment, has the ability to connect academic culture and curriculum to real-world digital culture, and excels in development and management of both personal and corporate partnerships.

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible 3-year term position with the possibility of renewal. This position is hybrid, which involves working at least one day per week on the Cornell Tech NYC campus. The flexible work schedule is subject to change according to the needs of the business.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Minimum Requirements

• Master's degree and 3 to 5 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Passion for diversity in tech, education, and social impact.
• Have significant experience and demonstrated success in leadership roles developing and executing programs in the areas of education, employer partnerships, internship, and/or alternative education pathways.
• Must have very strong organizational and program management skills with experience in independently planning and executing large academic or corporate programs.
• Must have experience building and maintaining authentic and reciprocal relationships externally with both corporate and startup executives to expand corporate engagement.
• Have experience preparing students to engage in professional workplace settings.
• Ability to define and analyze data from a variety of sources to ensure programs are achieving measurable impact.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to serve as an advocate for individuals of all ethnicities, genders, ages, and backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• A background in computer science or the tech industry a plus.
• Experience with Salesforce or equivalent CRM tool.
• Familiarity with related educational/entrepreneurial programs at other universities and organizations (capstone projects, cooperative projects, incubators accelerators, etc.).
• Experience fostering a collaborative environment for professional volunteers.

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Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)

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Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also visit the office of Workforce Recruitment and Retention Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. to use a dedicated workstation to complete an online application.

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EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose, and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.