Program Coordinator

About the job
Title:
Program Coordinator, Bezos Scholars Program
Location:
Seattle, WA - Hybrid Onsite
Reports to:
Senior Program Manager, Bezos Scholars Program
Job Type:
Full-Time

The Bezos Scholars Program (BSP), a program of the Bezos Family Foundation, is seeking a Program Coordinator to support its mission of investing in the science of learning and the experiences youth need from birth to high school to pursue their own path for success. Established in 2005, BSP started as a transformative, yearlong leadership development program that amplifies youth voice and action so young people with passion can start making a difference today.

The program now operates through three core pillars: (1) the Current Scholar Cohort, where Scholars build leadership skills while launching 13 Community Change Projects annually; (2) Continuing Projects, which provides ongoing support and funding to approximately 30 Scholar-founded initiatives each year; and (3) the Alum Network, which sustains relationships and creates opportunities for more than 300 program alum who previously participated as student Scholars.

The Foundation is seeking an experienced educator, skilled in virtual and in-person facilitation and coaching, to lead the Current Scholar Cohort. Each year, 17 exceptional high school juniors from across the U.S. and Africa, along with 13 educators from each of their schools, are selected as Bezos Scholars. They are tasked with and supported in developing and launching Community Change Projects that address community needs.

This full-time position supports the small, high-impact Bezos Scholars team and collaborates with the broader adolescent team to advance the Foundation's priority of creating and sustaining opportunities for youth to contribute and lead. The program's structure and offerings foster adolescents' remarkable capacity for learning and leadership, with an emphasis on supporting students' evolving needs for belonging, identity-building, collaboration, agency, and desire to contribute to civic impact.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Promotion and Selection:

• Support national promotion and recruitment to eligible U.S. public high schools and partner organizations, assisting with managing outreach strategies, timelines, and materials.
• Assist with the online application process in partnership with the platform vendor, including setup, testing, monitoring, and applicant communications.
• Build and sustain strong, professional relationships with schools, partners, and stakeholders throughout promotion, selection, and onboarding.
• Coordinate the Scholar selection process, engaging and supporting a diverse committee of 60+ annual reviewers, including staff, partners, alumni, and education and youth leadership professionals.
• Collaborate with the program's contracted college advisor to support student Scholars in exploring and accessing higher education opportunities, including sharing relevant information, crafting and submitting Letters of Recommendation and helping Scholars navigate key steps in the college preparation and application process.
• Track and manage selection data and documentation to support program learning, reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Manage Scholar selection and onboarding logistics, ensuring clear, timely communication and secure collection of required permissions and documentation.

Yearlong Program Coordination:

• Lead a yearlong leadership program for a cohort of 30 Scholars (students and educators),
• fostering a strong, inclusive learning community across virtual and in-person experiences.
• Adapt and facilitate curriculum, workshops, and asynchronous learning opportunities that scaffold Scholar growth and engagement.
• Plan and co-facilitate twice-monthly virtual sessions and monthly student and team coaching meetings, managing program flow from May through March.
• Plan, coordinate, and help facilitate the annual six- to seven-day Scholar convening in Aspen, CO, including student chaperoning and logistics.
• Coach and support student-led teams in designing and implementing Community Change Projects that strengthen leadership and community impact.
• Monitor Scholar engagement and proactively coordinate supports to promote perseverance and success.
• Manage and sustain key program partnerships, collaborating on sessions and experiences for Scholars and alum.
• Support Scholar grant processes, including workshops, proposal and report review, feedback, and coordination with fiscal sponsors and the accounting team.
• Gather and synthesize feedback from Scholars and educators to inform ongoing program improvements and learning.
• Maintain strong program operations through clear documentation, effective communication, budget-aware logistics, and continuous improvement of systems and processes.
• Support program communications, including newsletters, website updates, social media, etc.
• Demonstrate flexibility in schedule and travel, including working approximately two Saturday mornings per month, occasional evening hours to support…