Program Manager, Funded Programs

CIEE is seeking an energetic, relationship-focused Program Manager to help start two new exciting scholarship programs with CIEE - the U.S.-Baltic Bridge Fellowship and the Global Innovators Academy. The program recruitment will initially begin in Estonia and expand throughout the Baltic region. 

The U.S. Baltic Bridge Fellowship will initially support interns from the Baltic region to participate in a 9-month paid internship in the United States. 

Launching in summer 2027, the Global Innovators Academy will bring together American and Baltic high school students for a three-week program based in the United States, focused on entrepreneurship, leadership, and cross-cultural understanding. 

Reporting to the U.S.- based Senior Manager of Funded Programs, this position will play a critical role in managing prospective participants from initial inquiry to scholarship selection to program enrollment, including assisting with all requirements for entry into the United States. This role will build strategic partnerships with secondary schools (for the Global Innovators Academy), universities, employers, government organizations, and industry associations.

This is a hands-on business development role ideal for someone who enjoys working directly with secondary students and young professionals while helping expand CIEE's presence in the Baltic market. As one of the first members of our Estonian team, you will help build scalable recruitment and selection processes, strengthen local partnerships, and deliver an exceptional participant experience.

What you’ll do:

Recruitment & Lead Management

• Manage inquiries for CIEE’s U.S.-Baltic Bridge Fellowship and the Global Innovators Academy.
• Conduct virtual consultations with prospective participants to understand their goals and recommend appropriate programs.
• Guide applicants throughout the application and selection process from inquiry through enrollment and program confirmation.
• Maintain regular follow-up with prospective participants throughout the process.
• Track recruitment activities and maintain accurate records within Salesforce/CRM.

Participant Advising

• Advise participants on eligibility requirements, application process, and timelines.
• Assist participants throughout the application process.
• Support applicants during visa preparation and required documentation.
• Coordinate with U.S.-based operations teams to ensure a smooth participant experience.
• Conduct pre-departure orientations for participants and secondary student parents prior to their departure to the U.S.
• For the U.S. Baltic Bridge Fellow, help participants understand training plans, employer expectations, and program requirements.

Business Development

• Develop relationships with:
  • Secondary schools, universities, and higher education institutions.
  • Government agencies.
  • Chambers of commerce.
  • Career centers.
  • Host companies and employer partners.
  • Professional organizations.
• Identify new partnership opportunities that generate participant referrals.
• Attend secondary school and university events, career fairs, and networking opportunities throughout Estonia.
• Represent CIEE at conferences, information sessions, and recruitment events.

Program Development

• Collaborate with host companies and operations teams to help develop training plans for Intern and Trainee participants.
• Support employers throughout the onboarding process.
• Gather market intelligence and participant feedback to improve products and services.
• Assist with special projects that support market growth.

Marketing Support

• Work closely with the Senior Manager and marketing team to execute local recruitment campaigns.
• Participate in webinars, information sessions, and social media initiatives.
• Collect participant stories and testimonials to support marketing efforts.
• Provide local market insights to improve campaign effectiveness.

Success Measures

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Achievement of individual recruitment goals.
• Lead-to-enrollment conversion rate.
• Speed and quality of lead follow-up.
• Participant satisfaction.
• Growth of university and employer partnerships.
• CRM accuracy and pipeline management.
• Contribution to overall Tallinn office growth.

What you’ll bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Marketing, International Relations, Education, or a related field.
• Approximately 5 years of experience in sales, business development, recruitment, international education, HR, or account management.
• Experience managing a consultative sales process with multiple customer touchpoints.
• Strong relationship-building and networking skills.
• Excellent presentation and communication abilities.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail.
• Experience using CRM systems (Salesforce preferred).
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable working independently in a growing startup environment.

Preferred Experience

• International education or exchange programs.
• Internship or graduate recruitment.
• Higher education partnerships.
• Immigration or visa processes.

Skills

• Consultative selling.
• Relationship management.
• Negotiation.
• Customer service.
• Business development.
• Pipeline management.
• Presentation skills.
• Project coordination.
• Cross-cultural communication.
• Problem solving.

Travel

Occasional travel throughout Estonia and occasional international travel may be required.

CIEE believes that professionals with varied backgrounds bring unique approaches and ideas to solving problems and advancing our mission to bring the world together. Qualified candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.