Associate Manager, Innovation & Advancement (Program Design)

The Associate Manager develops and pilots high-quality social impact programs using a Human Centered Design framework. Working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders (community members, Social Impact team members, members of the Best Buy field structure, etc.), the Associate Manager conducts research, facilitates conversations, and analyzes insights, transforming complex information into innovative and impactful programmatic concepts. The ideal candidate is self-directed, self-aware, an active problem solver, seeks to understand and impact complex situations with rigor and evidence based insight, and approaches failure through the lens of opportunity.

Key Responsibilities
Program Design
1) Framework

• Contribute to defining and refining the Social Impact program design framework
• Develop tools and processes to support the framework
• Support the learning and development of other team members in innovative thinking, human centered frameworks, and process improvement.

2) Design

• Using an empathy framework, engage stakeholders to develop a deep understanding of program development and impact opportunities
• Lead research, data collection and landscape analysis
• Draft program scope, timeline and roll-out plan
• Working with an external evaluator and/or evaluation manager, integrate measurement and evaluation frameworks within program scope
• Present draft design to internal/external stakeholders for feedback and refine based on insights
• Synthesize research findings to inform leadership and business partner decision making

3) Pilot

• Oversee program pilots, in coordination with team members and community partners
• Facilitate regular stakeholder learning conversations to understand areas for improvement and adjust program design accordingly
• Monitor program pilot progress and shepherd towards implementation
• Lead integration of Program Implementation/Operations team to ensure seamless transfer to Implement phase

4) Implement & Scale

• Facilitate regular checkpoints with Program Implementation/Operations team to understand program challenges/successes, suggesting and supporting changes to program design as necessary.

Thought Leadership

• Analyze, synthesize, and produce key insights for leadership, business teams, and community partners
• Raise the profile of Social Impact's innovation practice through internal & external presentations and events
• Support capacity building of partner organizations by sharing insights and analytics

Other Duties

• Act as an internal consultant and champion to ensure that consideration of the social impact element of any given initiative is embedded into the decision-making process at all levels of the organization.
• Support storytelling and communications initiatives

Basic Requirements

• 3 years background working with community and philanthropic organizations
• 3 years project and program management experience.
• 3 years program design experience. Social Impact focus preferred.
• 2 years excellent relationship management skills. Candidate should have experience managing partner relationships and corporate and community leaders.
• 1 year experience working with employee volunteer engagement programs, preferably in a corporate setting.
• 1 year experience managing vendor and 3rd party relationships, directly or indirectly providing supervision and oversight.

Preferred Requirement

• Deep understanding of technology and tech education programs or experience working with programs that provide programming for underserved youth.