Program Manager, Entrepreneurship Programs (West Region | Based in WA, CA, UT, CO)

Location: Remote (candidates must reside in Washington, California, Utah or Colorado)

Reports to: National Director, Entrepreneurship Pathways

Salary: $68,000 - $74,000

About the Role

Defy Ventures’ Entrepreneurship Pathway helps justice-impacted people strengthen their economic stability and sense of agency through the practice of entrepreneurship. The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp is the first step in that process, providing a structured and supportive learning experience that combines business fundamentals, personal development, and practical coaching.

The Program Manager for Entrepreneurship Programs, West Region, is responsible for delivering high-quality virtual Bootcamp experiences that meet Defy Ventures’ standards for learning, accessibility, and impact. You will facilitate live classes, guide participants through the early stages of business ideation, and provide individualized feedback that helps them build clarity and confidence in their ideas and themselves.

All Bootcamp sessions are grounded in Defy Ventures’ trauma-informed and equity-centered approach. You will create an environment that supports open dialogue, builds psychological safety, and honors the lived experiences of participants while maintaining clear structure and professional boundaries.

Strong candidates for this role are skilled facilitators who can thrive while guiding groups through a structured and rigorous curriculum that includes fundamentals of entrepreneurship. They balance professionalism with authenticity, can hold both compassion and accountability in the same space, and bring a thoughtful presence to every class they lead. They care deeply about the craft of facilitation and the growth of others, and they believe that entrepreneurship can be a powerful way to build stability, purpose, and leadership after incarceration.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate at least four virtual Bootcamp sessions per week (two cohorts), scheduled in collaboration with the national team; classes typically occur in evening time blocks, with daytime hours dedicated to preparation, coaching, and program support.
• Deliver engaging, trauma-informed instruction aligned with Defy’s Bootcamp curriculum and entrepreneurship learning outcomes.
• Provide individualized coaching to help participants develop the skill of entrepreneurial thinking, small business concepts and customized business pitches.
• Review and provide feedback on assignments to ensure quality and understanding of key concepts.
• Recruit participants, process applications, and maintain accurate participant and performance data.
• Support the planning and facilitation of virtual events, guest speakers, and pitch showcases in collaboration with the regional and national teams.
• Coordinate with community partners and recruitment allies to strengthen participant pipelines.
• Use Defy Ventures data and program systems (including Apricot and Google Suite) to track engagement, assignments, and program outcomes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying participant needs, surfacing insights, and proposing solutions.
• Cultivates rapport and trust with volunteers to support effective program participation
• Represent Defy Ventures at community events and external meetings as needed.

Requirements

• Meaningful experience in facilitation, coaching, or teaching.
• Available during evening hours
• Proficient with databases, Microsoft Office, and Google Workspace (especially Sheets).
• Comfortable leading groups over video-based platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams.
• Strong organization, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and trauma-informed learning environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lived experience with the justice system.
• Business experience or understanding of entrepreneurship fundamentals and/or human-centered design.
• Experience facilitating multi-week virtual learning experiences for adult learners.

About Us:

Defy Ventures is an entrepreneurship, employment, and personal development training program that recognizes the potential in many formerly and currently incarcerated people to become successful, legal entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs inTraining (EITs) “defy the odds” through our program, which includes intensive leadership development, Shark Tank-style business pitch competitions,and executive mentoring. We work to address injustice through our commitment to changing perceptions, breaking cycles of recidivism, and helping people to create equity in historically marginalized communities.

Defy Ventures is an equal opportunity employer. Defy Ventures uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires in the United States. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race,color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran,or disability status.

Comprehensive health benefits

15 days of vacation per year