Search Lead, Domestic (Contractor)

Watson Institute

South Carolina

Hybrid

USD 25,000

Full time

14 days+

Application generator

An application made for this job — a tailored resume and cover letter that speak straight to the posting.

Get past ATS filters

Job summary

A nonprofit organization supporting entrepreneurs is looking for a Search Lead to recruit promising candidates for their Fellowship programs. This performance-based contractor role requires building partnerships, organizing recruitment events, and conducting candidate screening. Successful candidates will be relationship-oriented, self-directed, and passionate about the organization’s mission. The position is flexible, requiring approximately 25 hours/week, with compensation of $25,000. The location focus includes South Carolina and other states.

Qualifications

Natural network builder with ability to build relationships.
Must be a comfortable public speaker for presentations and events.
Proactive in finding candidates, rather than waiting for applications.

Responsibilities

Conduct research to identify organizations and community groups.
Build and manage relationships with local nominators.
Organize and lead recruitment events for candidates.

Skills

Network building

Public speaking

Proactive candidate outreach

Self-directed work

Mission alignment

Tools

Salesforce

Excel

Job description

Overview

Watson Institute powers transformative Fellowships in partnership with leading corporations and foundations to support highly promising entrepreneurs and leaders from underserved backgrounds. 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. 93 % of alums are employed, continuing their education, or building a venture. 85 % of alumni use a skill learned while in a Watson Institute‑powered program up to 12 years later. Alums have been selected to Y Combinator, the Echoing Green Fellowship, and 11 have been named to Forbes' 30 under 30 lists. They also continue their education at Harvard, New York University, and Princeton, among others.

Search Lead (Contractor Role) – Mission Statement

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.

Responsibilities

Geographic Recruitment & Partnerships (66%)
- Conduct research and mapping to identify key organizations, universities, incubators, community groups, and influencers in the assigned geography
- Build relationships with local nominators and organizations that can refer qualified candidates; attend their events and co‑host info sessions (virtual or in‑person)
- Organize and lead virtual info sessions and recruitment events; present at community gatherings
- Proactively identify and reach out to highly promising entrepreneurs through LinkedIn, network referrals, and personalized engagement
- Attend community events to pitch the Fellowship and represent Watson Institute regionally

Fellow Review (15%)
- Review and screen applications from the assigned geography
- Conduct preliminary interviews with prospective Fellows
- Manage the candidate pipeline in Salesforce for the assigned geography
- Maintain communication with applicants

Data Management & Analysis (7%)
- Report weekly on progress, challenges, and leads
- Track recruitment metrics for the assigned geography

Collaboration & Reporting Structure (12%)
- Weekly team meeting (1 hour): share updates, coordinate across geographies, and align on strategy
- Weekly 1:1 (30–60 minutes): review progress, troubleshoot challenges, and receive guidance on recruitment approach

Performance Benchmarks
- Performance evaluated weekly and monthly based on partnerships established, outreach conducted, events hosted, applications generated, and interviews completed
- New responsibilities may develop as the role evolves

Culture Add & Candidate Profile

Must‑Haves (non‑negotiable)

Natural network builder: cold‑reach into communities, build trust quickly, and establish relationships from scratch

Public speaker: comfortable presenting to groups (virtual and in‑person), hosting events, and pitching compellingly on the spot

Hunter mentality: proactive, doesn't wait for applications to come in; finds compelling candidates directly

Self‑directed: works independently without hand‑holding; manages own time across 25 hours/week

Mission‑aligned: genuinely passionate about Watson Institute's work and can authentically represent it in the community

Strongly Preferred

Local connections: already embedded in the assigned geography or has strong experience building networks there (especially for international sites)

Entrepreneurial experience: has started something, worked at a startup, or maintains meaningful ties to entrepreneurship or innovation ecosystems

CRM comfort: familiar with Salesforce or similar, or able to learn quickly

Content & outreach experience: experience with content creation, paid media, or digital marketing campaigns

Technical skills: proficiency in Excel, strong email communication, rapid follow‑up, and comfort with data analysis

Community orientation: passion for building community and forging meaningful relationships in recruitment environments

Benefits and Vitals

Estimated time commitment: 25 hours per week with flexibility around the schedule

Competitive contractor compensation according to experience: $25,000.00, paid monthly via Gusto

Contractor role reporting to the VP of Admissions & Programs and Associate Director of Search

Location focus: Georgia (Austell, Douglas County); Oklahoma (Tulsa, Stillwater, Muskogee, Mayes County); South Carolina (Berkeley County); Texas (Midlothian, Haskell, Red Oak)