Search Lead, Domestic; Contractor

Overview of Watson Institute

Watson Institute powers transformative Fellowships in partnership with leading corporations and foundations to support highly promising, primarily from historically disenfranchised, rising entrepreneurs and leaders. The Fellowships provide proven entrepreneurship and leadership skills training, committed mentorship, community development stipends, long‑term Alumni support, and access to a global community of peers, mentors, and opportunities.

In partnership with Google, JPMorgan

Chase Foundation, Walmart.org, Wells Fargo, Ford Philanthropy, SAP, Truist Foundation, BMO, Comcast, Western Union, and several private foundations, Watson Institute’s programs will reach over 2,400 rising leaders this year.

Alumni of Watson Institute’s Fellowships have raised over $190 million, created over 2,300 paid jobs, and impacted over 11 million people around the world through initiatives they have helped lead. 93% of Watson Institute alums are employed, continuing their education, or building a venture. 85% of Watson Institute Alumni use a skill they learned while in a Watson Institute‑powered program up to 12 years later.

Watson Institute’s Alumni have been selected to Y Combinator, the Echoing Green Fellowship, and 11 have been named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 lists. Alums continue their education at Harvard University, New York University, and Princeton University, among others.

The primary mission of the Search Lead is to recruit and select highly promising, rising entrepreneurs and leaders for a Fellowship powered by Watson Institute. Working independently in your assigned geography, you will build a robust network of local nominators, partner organizations, and community influencers, conduct direct outreach to prospective Fellows, and host virtual and in‑person recruitment events.

This is a performance‑based role measured by consistent activity and demonstrated results: partnerships established, outreach conducted, events hosted, applications generated, interviews completed, and filling the Fellowship slots needed for the geography. The ideal candidate is a proactive relationship‑builder who can design data‑driven outreach approaches, manage candidate screening and preliminary interviews, and continuously optimize recruitment tactics to ensure a strong pipeline of Fellows aligned with Watson Institute’s mission.

Success requires the ability to work autonomously, meet weekly reporting expectations, and deliver recruitment outcomes in a fast‑paced, goal‑oriented environment.

As the Search Lead, you will build a strong recruitment ecosystem in your assigned geography by cultivating relationships, identifying strategic partners, and directly engaging promising entrepreneurs. You will serve as Watson Institute’s on‑the‑ground connector, designing outreach strategies, hosting events, and ensuring high‑quality applicants are consistently entering the pipeline.

• Local Ecosystem Building:
  Conduct thorough research and mapping to identify key organizations, universities, incubators, community groups, and influencers in the assigned geography who can connect you to promising entrepreneurs.
• Partnership Development:
  Build relationships with local nominators and organizations that can refer qualified candidates; attend their events, offer to present, and co‑host info sessions (virtual or in‑person).
• Virtual & In‑Person Event Hosting:
  Organize and lead virtual info sessions and recruitment events for the assigned geography; co‑host events with local partners; present at community gatherings.
• Direct Headhunting:
  Proactively identify and reach out to highly promising entrepreneurs through Linked In, network referrals, and personalized engagement.
• In‑Person Presence:
  Attend community events, pitch the Fellowship, and represent Watson Institute in your region.

The Search Lead will support the full admissions process for the assigned region. From application review to candidate interviews, ensuring that each prospective Fellow is…