Founding Programs Manager

We are seeking an entrepreneurial Founding Programs Manager (employee #4) to lead the development and execution of our Workforce Development Pillars: Student Industry Pipeline and Training Bootcamps. This is not a maintenance role; it is a build role designed for a high-agency individual with 5–7+ years of experience.

Reporting directly to the founders, you will help recruit instructors and industry crew to develop curricula, nurture our university and studio partnerships, and orchestrate the launch of our internship and certification programs. You will oscillate between high-level strategy and tactical execution, ensuring our initiatives move from vision to operational reality while managing the necessary internal and external resources to scale.

A successful candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, is self-directed, team-oriented, and wants to be part of a mission-driven team.

Key Responsibilities

Workforce Development (Veterans & Texans)

• Design and launch certification training sessions for veterans and emerging crew members across Texas, including translating military skills to film set requirements.
• Manage the full lifecycle of workshop events, including curriculum industry alignment, instructor recruitment, and venue logistics.
• Drive statewide outreach and recruitment strategies in partnership with government agencies and veteran organizations to ensure high-volume enrollment and diverse participation across all programs.

Student Industry Pipeline

• Launch our statewide internship placement program, acting as the liaison between universities and active productions.
• Design and implement a system to manage the end-to-end logistics of student placements, internship provider tracking, and production coordination.
• Develop a "Set Readiness" vetting process to ensure student interns are prepared for professional environments.
• Track placement metrics to demonstrate long-term career outcomes and program impact.

Strategy & Operations

• Collaborate with founders on emerging initiatives and program strategy.
• Manage program budgets and grant reporting data with precision.
• Produce weekly updates on progress, metrics, barriers, and next actions.
• Focus on high-impact pilot programs and phased rollouts to ensure sustainable growth.

Required Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of program management experience, ideally within a non-profit or startup environment.
• Strategic Architect: Proven track record of building and scaling programs from concept to implementation.
• Agility: The ability to thrive in a startup-like environment and pivot based on real-time feedback.
• Operational Rigor: Experience managing program budgets, timelines, and cross-functional teams.
• Data-Driven: Ability to build reporting frameworks and define success metrics from scratch.
• Executive Communication: Superior writing and presentation skills for high-level stakeholders.
• Location: Based in Dallas, TX.

Bonus Points (Preferred)

• Industry Expertise: Direct experience working within the Film, TV, or digital media production industries.
• Curriculum Design: Experience building educational or professional certification frameworks (alone or with a team) from the ground up.
• Workforce Development: Prior success navigating state agencies (e.g., Texas Workforce Commission) or veteran transition programs.

What We Offer

• Founding Ownership: We provide the vision - you build the engine. This is a "Zero to One" opportunity to design and launch the core pillars of a statewide nonprofit from the ground up.
• Industry Access: Work alongside leading Texas filmmakers, actors, and top-tier studios as you build the programs that power the next generation of the industry.
• Growth: A strong career trajectory as a founding team member within a rapidly expanding organization.
• Impact: A direct hand in shaping the future of Texas film and media - not from the sidelines, but from the inside.

Compensation, Benefits, & PTO

• Salary: $80K–$95K/yr (Exempt) (commensurate with experience)
• Benefits: Comprehensive Health/Dental/Vision insurance.
• 20 Days of Flexible PTO + Paid Federal Holidays

Travel

• Expect occasional statewide travel (approximately 25–50% depending on programming cadence).
• Schedule: Full-time with a hybrid workflow. While primarily weekday-based, this role requires the flexibility to support evening and weekend programming and events as needed

How To Apply

Please send one document containing both your resume and a cover letter. In your letter, please outline:

• A “blank-slate” program you built from concept to launch (or a program you significantly scaled), including what success looked like and how you measured it.
• How you work with external partners (schools, employers, and community groups) to launch programs successfully.
• Why this mission - building career pathways for veterans and students into Texas’s film and media economy - resonates with you.

Email: careers@mediafortexas.com

Subject Line & File Name: "Founding PM - [Full Name]”

Compensation, Benefits, & PTO

• Salary: $80K–$95K/yr (Exempt) (commensurate with experience)
• Benefits: Comprehensive Health/Dental/Vision insurance.
• 20 Days of Flexible PTO + Paid Federal Holidays

Proficient in English