Senior Manager, Watsonville Center

Overview

Compensation Range: $70, annual salary

Position Type: 100% FTE, Exempt

Benefits Overview:
Medical, vision, dental and life insurance, vacation and sick time off, paid federal holidays, and retirement plan (See full job description for more details).

Organization Size: 50+ Employees

Reports to:

VP of Member Engagement

Location:

This is an in-person position in Watsonville.

Digital NEST creates access to opportunity through vibrant, tech-enabled workforce development centers that empower youth from working-class and farm worker communities to pursue wealth-building careers. We combine professional, technical, and career navigation skills training with mentorship, community, and access to cutting-edge technology.

This role serves as the primary owner of center-level recruitment and retention performance. The Senior Manager leads the center staff and manages the cross-functional "Hub Team" to drive membership growth, ensuring the site functions as a thriving community anchor. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for the site, ensuring the space embodies our “Third Place” philosophy: welcoming, inspiring, and rooted in community.

This role will partner closely with the VP of Member Engagement to operationalize recruitment systems, coach staff on conversion and retention, and lead by example in outreach.

Team Leadership & Culture (30%)

• Lead the Center Team. Supervise, coach, and develop Watsonville center staff (Coordinators and Advocates), ensuring professional growth, clear goals, and accountability.
• Drive recruitment accountability through facilitation of weekly Center Team meetings to review recruitment dashboards, track conversion rates, and hold the team accountable to weekly goals.
• Lead the Watsonville Hub Team (cross-program collaboration between Career Services, Pathways, and Center staff) to ensure site-wide alignment and culture.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and “love and rigor” – where staff feel both supported and challenged to excel.
• Collaborate with the People Ops Team to manage performance, onboard new hires, and address personnel matters.

Strategic & Operational Management (20%)

• Develop and execute annual center goals and operational plans aligned with organizational strategy.
• Oversee daily operations of the Watsonville center - ensuring safety, efficiency, and a consistently welcoming environment.
• Manage the center budget and monitor expenditures in partnership with the Finance team.
• Coordinate with Facilities and IT to ensure both sites are fully functional, safe, and equipped with appropriate technology and resources.
• Maintain a visible presence at the center, modeling high standards of member engagement and operational excellence.

Member Recruitment & Retention (40%)

• Own Center membership growth. Serve as the primary owner of center-level performance for recruitment, conversion, and retention strategies that meet annual goals for Watsonville.
• In collaboration with the VP of Member Engagement, develop and operationalize standardized recruitment playbooks that outline high-impact outreach tactics, messaging, follow-up systems, and conversion strategies that can be replicated across centers.
• Model effective recruitment. Lead by example by participating in school presentations, tabling, and community events, demonstrating excellence in member engagement and storytelling about the NEST experience.
• Lead seasonal, high-impact recruitment events (e.g., Open Houses, Showcases) that attract prospective members and families. Coordinate staff participation, community outreach, and event follow-up to maximize membership conversions.
• Monitor and ensure high-quality execution of the entire recruitment lifecycle.
• Assess staff skill gaps and collaborate with VP of Member Engagement to create a training plan to strengthen staff abilities in youth outreach, sales-style engagement, follow-up communication, and data tracking.
• Design and oversee the center’s monthly recruitment calendar, ensuring consistent classroom presentations and outreach during peak cycles.
• Lead center-level parent touchpoints during strategic recruitment seasons to support family…