Community Growth & Operations Associate

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Requirements

• 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.

Nice to Have

• 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.

Qualifications

• Educational background is not explicitly specified, but experience in community engagement or program operations is required.

Benefits & Perks

• Salary range of $60,000 - $65,000 base + incentive compensation.
• 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.