Regional Business & Program Development Manager – LatAm (Fixed-term/Remote)

Job description

ABOUT GENERATION At Generation , we believe in the power of employment to change lives. We are a global nonprofit organization that supports adults to achieve economic mobility through employment. Generation trains and places adult learners of all ages into careers that are otherwise inaccessible, working in partnership with governments, employers, and other system actors. We also conduct original research and share data insights on high-priority global workforce transition topics to inform decision-making by workforce system stakeholders. Launched in 2015, Generation comprises a global hub (Generation You Employed, or GYE) and a network of in-country affiliates. To date, the network has 150,000+ graduates and 23,000+ employers across 50 professions and 17 countries. When learners join Generation, 91% are unemployed, of which nearly half are long-term unemployed. Three months after completing our program, graduates have a 78% job placement rate, rising to 88% within six months. Of our employed graduates, 79% are hired by repeat employers who have previously hired Generation graduates, and 89% are in jobs directly related to the profession for which we have trained them. Employed graduates immediately earn an average of 3-4X their previous earnings. Two to five years after graduation, 77% of our alumni from upper-middle income countries continue to meet their daily financial needs and 63% can save for the future. To date, Generation’s global graduates have earned more than $1.9 billion in wages. Generation graduates typically have a secondary school background, 52% are female, 28% have dependents, and the majority identify with underrepresented communities in their country. POSITION OVERVIEW The Business & Program Development Manager will lead the identification, design, and launch of new training and employment programs in high-growth sectors across Latin America. This role is responsible for developing strong, evidence-based program concepts by combining labor market research, employer engagement, learner value proposition development, and structured business case development. The individual will work closely with country teams and global functions to take new programs from concept to launch, ensuring implementation excellence and alignment with market demand and organizational priorities. This is a regional role, initially focused on Colombia, with potential to expand across Latin America. This is a 1-year fixed-term role from approximately July, 2026 - July, 2027, located in Colombia (with some flex in LatAm). RESPONSIBILITIES 1) Market Research & Program Opportunity Identification Conduct labor market research, starting from macro-level industry growth trends through to role-level demand analysis, to identify high-demand roles and growth sectors Analyze employment trends, salary benchmarks, AI resilience, implementation feasibility, and career pathways to inform program shortlist Translate insights into clear program opportunities aligned with country and regional strategies Partner with the Program Delivery Support team to leverage existing program demand diagnostic methodologies and labor market tools (e.g., AI Job Market Agent, TalentNeuron, LinkedIn Talent Insights) to strengthen opportunity assessment. 2) Employer Engagement & Demand Validation Lead employer outreach and engagement to validate hiring demand and role requirements Identify employer pain points and ensure they inform program design and delivery Secure employer commitments for pilot hiring and build a strong pipeline of job opportunities Build relationships with key employers, industry partners, and ecosystem stakeholders in collaboration with country teams Maintain employer engagement records in Generation’ systems (e.g., Salesforce), including lead tracking, confirmed vacancies, grant agreements, and meeting notes. 3) Activity Mapping & Program Design Input Lead or validate activity mapping exercises in partnership with Curriculum & Instruction teams Ensure real job requirements and employer expectations are translated into program design inputs Contribute to defining role scope, skills, and competencies required for successful employment 4) Business Case Development & Stakeholder Alignment Conduct learner research to identify target learner profiles, motivations, barriers, and program interest through methods such as focus groups and interviews. Lead the development of robust, evidence-based business cases for new programs, integrating market insights, employer demand, learner value proposition, delivery model, and financial sustainability Collaborate closely with country and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and shared ownership Prepare and present clear, compelling materials to senior internal stakeholders to support decision-making, collect feedback and secure program approval 5) Project Management & Program Launch Lead end-to-end program development from concept through launch Manage timelines, milestones, and cross-functional coordination across countries Support country teams in adapting and operationalizing programs in local contexts Identify and mitigate risks to ensure successful program implementation 6) Performance Tracking & Continuous Improvement Define success metrics (e.g., enrollment, graduation, placement, cost per learner) Monitor early program performance, identify opportunities for improvement and follow-up on program adjustments for program scale-ups Capture and apply learnings to strengthen future program development efforts across countries and leverage insights and best practices from the global network. ABOUT YOU Experience: 6–10+ years of experience in strategy, consulting, business development, or program development Strong experience building business cases and leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives Experience engaging employers, HR leaders, hiring managers, or industry stakeholders Experience working in more than one country in Latin America strongly preferred Skills: Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills Excellent project management and stakeholder management capabilities Ability to translate insights into actionable program design Clear and effective communication and presentation skills High level of ownership and ability to operate in ambiguous environments and influence others Fluent in English and Spanish (required); Portuguese desirable Other: Availability and to collaborate across multiple countries and time zones ***Please submit an English version of your resume/CV***