Founding Instructor - Entrepreneurial Leadership

Founding Instructor - Entrepreneurial Leadership

Reports To: Program Director

Location: In Person at 801 Market St Philadelphia, PA

Launchpad Background:

Launchpad is a "learn-and-earn" workforce program that prepares Philadelphia young adults, rising seniors through age 22, to thrive in a rapidly changing economy. Participants build hands-on fluency in AI, full stack engineering, and project management through an entrepreneurial leadership lens, alongside the durable, in-demand skills employers need. At every step, students earn credentials through paid, applied work-based learning, preparing them to move into college, job training programs, or directly into high-wage careers with real choice and confidence.

Position Overview:

After three years of training young people in software development, Launchpad is launching its first ever non-coding pathway: Entrepreneurial Leadership. We are seeking a passionate, creative, and experienced individual to help design and teach this new offering. The Instructor should possess a deep commitment to our mission, a strong ability to connect with young people, and an enthusiasm for building a program from the ground up. An ideal candidate possesses a background in AI, project management, and/or entrepreneurship, capable of instructing classes and supporting students one to one or small group. The future belongs to problem-solvers. At Launchpad, we're hiring an Instructor who knows that equipping Philadelphia young adults with AI fluency and real-world skills is a critical component of economic mobility and eliminating poverty. This pathway doesn't exist yet, and you'll shape what it becomes. Come build with us.

What you’ll do:

• Serve as the primary instructor and academic support for a cohort (~20 students) of High School seniors and recent graduates as they move through the Launchpad 101 program - an introductory program focused on building foundational AI skills, professional competencies, and exposure to authentic business problems.
• Collaborate closely with Launchpad’s Program Director and Executive Director on the pilot of this brand new pathway, sharing recommendations, student updates, and outcomes data to inform program design, recruitment, fundraising, and scaling.
• Prepare students for success on the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification through a mix of self-paced instruction, group lessons, and project-based assessments.
• Meet regularly with employer partners to source real-world problems and challenges, designing profession-based learning experiences that give students authentic context for the skills they're building.
• Facilitate personal growth and professional development workshops with Launchpad 101 students as well as older LiftOff associates covering post-secondary planning, resume writing, building a professional brand, and interviewing.
• Monitor student progress and solicit regular feedback to improve day-to-day instructional plans and activities to match learner needs with key teaching objectives.
• Collaborate with Launchpad’s coaching staff to ensure all students receive the support necessary to successfully complete the program.
• Support and participate in full-group programming such as community building, field trips, recruitment events, and industry exposure.
• Engage in professional development activities to enhance teaching skills and stay current with emerging technologies.
• Build deep relationships with all of our students in order to best nurture their growth and development in and outside of the classroom.

Within the first 90 days in this role, you will:

• Receive employer-sponsored training and certification, earn your CAPM, and become an authorized instructor by the Project Management Institute (PMI)
• Become familiar with Building 21’s Competency-Based Education model and design your own studio using Launchpad’s competency set
• Work closely with a small group of current Launchpad program participants to evaluate entrepreneurship and project management curriculum offerings and determine the key skills required for success on the certification exam
• Help identify employer-driven problems that 101 students can tackle as part of the entrepreneurial leadership coursework
• Serve as a key facilitator in Launchpad Foundations, our six week summer program - teaching lessons on AI, Goal Setting, and Design Thinking

The beliefs, mindsets, and skills you possess:

• Ability to inspire authentic joy and a passion for entrepreneurship in young adults
• Commitment to tailoring instruction to meet the diverse learning styles of individual students and empower students to fully utilize their peer networks and online resources to problem solve
• Knowledge of AI, project management, and entrepreneurship-related subjects and best practices for building mastery in these content areas
• Experience using flagship LLMs to develop instructional materials, support diverse learners, and model the kind of AI fluency students will need to thrive in their careers
• Willingness to explore new teaching methodologies, technologies, and approaches to enhance the learning experience and achieve better outcomes for students
• Data driven attitude toward measuring learner progress and analyzing program outcomes to inform instructional decisions and improve effectiveness
• Strong classroom management skills to create and maintain a supportive and optimal learning environment
• Deep belief in the potential of young people to master the skills necessary to succeed in their future careers
• Comfort with the ambiguity and rapid change of a startup environment and a desire to claim space and spearhead efforts on a small team
• Certified teachers or experienced project management professionals encouraged to apply, we are committed to upskilling the right candidate for this role!

Salary and Benefits:

• Salary is commensurate with experience and discussed early in the interview process
• Benefits:
  • 100% employer covered medical, dental, and vision for employee
  • 100% employer covered dental for spouse/dependents
  • 50% employer covered medical and vision for spouse/dependents
  • $500 annual FSA contribution
  • 15 paid team-wide holidays annually
  • 21 days individual PTO annually

Application Submission:

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Building 21 is a non-profit organization that is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. Building 21/Launchpad’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of races, ethnicities, national origins, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities, beliefs, religions, faiths and ideologies, cultures, socio-economic backgrounds and levels of ability.

Apply online at: www.launchpadphilly.org/careers

• • 100% employer covered medical, dental, and vision for employee
  • 100% employer covered dental for spouse/dependents
  • 50% employer covered medical and vision for spouse/dependents
  • $500 annual FSA contribution
  • 15 paid team-wide holidays annually
  • 21 days individual PTO annually