Internship Program Manager

The Opportunity

The Internship Program Manager leads a workforce development-focused program that prepares youth ages 17–23 for careers in the creative industries. This role oversees a dynamic, year-round internship program serving both college students and high school seniors, with peak activity in the summer.

Through a combination of traditional internships and cohort-based Learning Pods, the program connects young people to hands-on professional experiences, mentorship, and career exposure across creative fields, including art, design, fashion, media, and more.

This role is both strategic and highly hands-on, combining program leadership, partnership development, and direct student engagement. It also plays a key role in strengthening Free Arts’ long-term impact by building systems for college student support, mentorship, and alumni engagement, ensuring participants remain connected to opportunities beyond high school.

Program Overview

• Traditional Internships (30+ placements annually): College students are placed individually at creative companies, artist studios, and organizations for hands-on paid professional experience
• Learning Pods (30+ participants annually): Cohort-based, six-week summer experiences designed for high school seniors, where small groups of students engage with a host company, learn directly from professionals, and complete structured projects and assignments
• Summer Programming: Weekly workshops, site visits, and career exposure opportunities (e.g., financial literacy, professional development, industry panels)

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Implementation

• Lead and grow a year-round internship program with a primary focus on summer placements
• Oversee the execution of both traditional internships and Learning Pods, ensuring high-quality, structured experiences
• Design and coordinate weekly summer programming, including workshops, panels, and site visits
• Collaborate with internal staff to align internship programming with broader Teen Arts Program goals
• Work closely with the Development Team to secure new partnerships, secure funding for placements, and locations for workshops
• Manage Program Coordinator and summer Fellow/Intern

Partnership Development & Industry Engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with creative companies, nonprofits, and artist studios
• Secure and manage internship and Learning Pod placements across a range of creative industries
• Collaborate with partners to design meaningful, hands-on experiences for participants
• Engage partners as mentors, speakers, and long-term supporters of Free Arts

Student Recruitment, Placement & Support

• Recruit, screen, and match high school seniors and college students to appropriate placements
• Match participants with mentors based on interests, goals, and experience level
• Conduct regular check-ins with interns and host supervisors through calls, meetings, and site visits
• Visit internship sites (1–2 times per placement) to support student success and strengthen partnerships

College Student Engagement, Mentorship & Alumni Pathways

• Maintain strong relationships with college students in the Free Arts pipeline, ensuring continued engagement in internships and program offerings
• Develop and implement a mentorship model to support students navigating college and early career pathways
• Create opportunities for networking, industry exposure, and community-building, including panels, workshops, and company visits
• Host monthly engagement sessions (both virtual and in-person), including workshops, information sessions, and networking opportunities for students to stay engaged and connected.
• Track student progress and outcomes, including internships and jobs secured both within and outside of Free Arts, academic milestones, and career pathways
• Build and sustain an engaged alumni network that serves as ambassadors and supports current participants
• Ensure ongoing communication with alumni to keep them connected to opportunities, resources, and the Free Arts community

Program Operations & Administration (with support from the Program Coordinator/Intern/Fellow)

• Manage all aspects of onboarding, including the collection of required documentation (W-9s, working papers, payment forms, reimbursements)
• Track attendance, participation, and program data in Salesforce
• Develop and collect evaluation tools for interns and supervisors
• Compile and share program data for reporting, communications, and grant requirements
• Facilitate career readiness workshops and support organization-wide program events
• Support additional programmatic initiatives, including company visits and special projects throughout the year
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of experience in youth development, workforce development, internships, or related fields
• Experience working with college-aged and high school youth
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities
• Passion for the arts and expanding access to creative careers
• Commitment to equity and experience working with diverse communities
• Spanish language skills a plus