About Pursuit
Pursuit is a social impact organization building the future of economic mobility in the age of AI. For over a decade, we’ve transformed lives through immersive training programs that propel adults from low-income backgrounds - often without college degrees - into high-growth tech careers. Our graduates have already generated nearly $1 billion in lifetime wage gains.
Now, as AI reshapes every industry, Pursuit is evolving into an AI-native organization. We’re training AI-native talent, embedding AI into our operations, and building scalable software to extend our impact. From grassroots partnerships to national policy (like our Good Jobs Guarantee), we’re not just filling jobs- we’re rethinking how economic opportunity works at scale.
About the Role
We are looking for a contract Strategy and Operations Associate to work closely with Pursuit’s CEO as a strategic right hand in developing core expansion plans for the organization. This is an opportunity to contribute directly to growth strategy, market expansion, and financing approaches at one of the most innovative nonprofits in the country.
This will be a Chief of Staff-type role, where you’ll work on high-priority, high-visibility projects, including:
- Leading industry and landscape analyses to inform Pursuit’s next phase of growth.
- Developing growth plans for expanding into new markets and sectors.
- Researching and modeling innovative financing approaches that align with Pursuit’s Jobs Fund and other vehicles.
- Partnering with the CEO and leadership team to shape strategic decision-making frameworks.
- Synthesizing data, trends, and insights into briefings, memos, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
This will be a hands-on role designed for pre-MBA candidates with prior consulting or strategy experience, or post-MBA professionals exploring applied impact and early-stage environments and who want to apply their skills in a mission-driven, AI-native context.
Who We’re Looking For
- Pre-MBA candidates with prior consulting or strategy experience, or post-MBA professionals
- Strategic thinker – You can connect data, market insights, and organizational goals to inform decision-making.
- Analytical and structured – You can bring order to ambiguous and complex challenges and create clear frameworks.
- Mission-driven – You want to apply your skills to economic mobility, equity, and the future of work.
- Adaptable and entrepreneurial – You thrive in fast-paced, high-growth, startup-style environments.
- Strong communicator – You can synthesize information and present it clearly to executives and stakeholders.
- Experience working with senior leaders – You’re comfortable partnering with C-suite leaders and skilled at “managing up.”
- Familiarity with financing models – Exposure to impact investing, nonprofit financing, or innovative capital models is a plus.
- Excited about AI – No prior experience required, but you’re curious about how AI is reshaping industries and eager to apply it to strategic challenges.
- No ego – You’re emotionally intelligent, culturally sensitive, and socially aware.
Other details:
Expected start date: ASAP
Duration: 6-8 months (open to extending to full-time consideration based on mutual fit and performance)
Structure: Open to structuring as a secondment, externship, or rotational program, aligned with your firm's requirements
Location: Option to choose between remote work or hybrid in-person schedule Tuesday - Thursday in New York City headquarters. NYC based preferred.
Reporting: You will report to CEO, Nick Simmons (MBA, Harvard Business School and MPP Harvard Kennedy School)
Compensation: $50/hour for 30-40 hours/week
Skills Required
- Pre-MBA candidates with prior consulting or strategy experience, or post-MBA professionals
- Strategic thinking and ability to connect data, market insights, and organizational goals
- Analytical, structured problem solving and ability to create clear frameworks
- Experience working with senior leaders and comfort managing up
- Strong written and verbal communication; ability to synthesize information for executives and stakeholders
- Mission-driven orientation toward economic mobility, equity, and future-of-work issues
- Adaptable, entrepreneurial mindset and ability to work in fast-paced, early-stage environments
- Familiarity with financing models (impact investing, nonprofit financing, innovative capital) - beneficial
- Curiosity about AI and interest in applying AI to strategic challenges
- Emotionally intelligent, culturally sensitive, collaborative ("no ego")
- NYC-based preferred (role can be remote or hybrid Tue-Thu in NYC)
What We Do
Pursuit is a social impact organization that creates transformation where it’s needed most. Through our intensive software developer training program, we teach high-need, high-potential adults the technical skills and industry smarts needed to get their first tech jobs, advance in their careers, and become the next generation of leaders in tech. In addition to training and career support, Pursuit’s innovative operating model combines partnerships with tech companies to retrain their blue-collar workers and social impact investments to re-envision funding for outcomes-based organizations. Our graduates are hired by leading companies like Pinterest, Kickstarter, LinkedIn, BlackRock, and JPMorgan Chase, and increase their average annual salaries from $18,000 to over $85,000. By connecting talent with opportunity, Pursuit empowers graduates to transform their families, tech companies, and communities across the nation. Read about our work in the New York Times: Income Before: $18,000. After: $85,000. Does Tiny Nonprofit Hold a Key to the Middle Class?
Why Work With Us
Pursuit is a social enterprise with the energy of a startup. We take new and innovative approaches and channel impact investments to drive greater scale and impact. We are passionate, collaborative, adaptable, and inclusive. Work with us to help underserved communities access life-changing tech opportunities.
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