Program Manager Internships
Program manager internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience, mentorship from working PMs, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across {{top_industries_phrase}}, with ASTROLAB, 826 Boston, and Blue Origin among the employers posting roles now.
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Mission Graduates is a nonprofit organization that empowers youth and their families on the path to higher education, equipping them for fulfilling careers that will strengthen future generations. We work towards fulfilling our mission through a wide range of after-school support and services that serve over 3,800 children, youth, and families each year. Our vision is to transform the culture of our neighborhoods so that college becomes the expectation for families, rather than the exception.
Position Overview: The Internship and Work-Based Learning Manager (IWBLM) supports high school students in developing essential job-readiness skills and securing internships that provide transferable experience for higher education and future careers. This role implements programming for grades 9–12 at Ida B. Wells High School, integrating youth development and workforce readiness through an equity-focused approach. The program addresses barriers to student success while offering skill-building and individualized case management. The IWBLM collaborates with the Community Schools Coordinator, CTE teacher, and PEERS teacher to foster internship partnerships and is employed by Mission Graduates, working primarily on-site at Ida B. Wells High School (1099 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94117).
Key Responsibilities & Primary Duties
Program Coordination & Administration (50%)
Coordinate and deliver activities that help young adults prepare for a career and/or transition to postsecondary education and training (soft skills development, personal management, and career pathways exploration) during the school day.
- Manage existing internship partnerships.
- Develop partnerships for additional internship and work-based learning opportunities for students.
- Place students in internship sites with training and coaching support.
- Oversee stipend payments for student work placements.
- Coordinate 1-2 career exploration activities with the College to Career Teams off-site during the school day.
- Provide barrier-removal assistance to students through community referrals.
- Become familiar with key people who support students (caseworkers, truancy officers, probation officers, etc.) and with support service agencies, their staff, and their programs to aid students in removing barriers.
- Oversee maintenance of all program records, including participant files and program curriculum, using Salesforce, Google Docs files, Excel, and Word.
- Collect student data for grants and board reports (partnerships developed, placements made, etc.)
- Support tracking of program outcomes by implementing program surveys in collaboration with the Director of Program Impact.
Program Development and Collaboration (30%)
Work with the Community Schools Coordinator, CTE teacher, and PEERS teacher on fostering existing partnerships.
- Develop and onboard new internship partners (MOUs, liability insurance requirements)
- Collaborate with other College to Career staff to support summer programming
- Develop and maintain positive, productive relationships with school staff, including administrators, teachers, counselors, and wellness staff.
- Regular communication with participants’ caregivers, teachers, counselors, and other adults in their lives who can support high school students in staying on-task.
- Collaborate closely with community stakeholders, including parents/guardians, community-based organizations, and local hiring agencies and programs.
Outreach (20%)
Present at advisories and staff PDs to promote opportunities.
- Create marketing materials as needed using Canva.
- Knowledgeable about Mission Graduates’ history and programs when implementing community outreach.
- Create a referral process for teachers, other school staff, and partners.
- Coordinate the selection process in coordination with other school site staff.
Required Qualifications
- 2-4 years of experience working with diverse youth in community and public school settings.
- Demonstrated success in providing youth workforce development programming and/or serving young adults in employment and education/training services.
- Demonstrated experience and established partnerships to implement job readiness training, barrier removal, and supportive services for young adults.
- Familiarity and experience working in or with schools and with community-based organizations.
- Understand the varied barriers first-generation students face when pursuing careers.
- Experience working in communities of color with low-income populations.
- Familiarity and experience working with undocumented youth.
- Bilingual Spanish/English required.
- BA or BS required.
- Current CPR certification (or attained within 2 months of employment).
- TB test clearance is mandatory before hiring.
- Some weekends and evenings required
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Mission Graduates is a nonprofit organization that empowers youth and their families on the path to higher education, equipping them for fulfilling careers that will strengthen future generations. We work towards fulfilling our mission through a wide range of after-school support and services that serve over 3,800 children, youth, and families each year. Our vision is to transform the culture of our neighborhoods so that college becomes the expectation for families, rather than the exception.
Position Overview: The Internship and Work-Based Learning Manager (IWBLM) supports high school students in developing essential job-readiness skills and securing internships that provide transferable experience for higher education and future careers. This role implements programming for grades 9–12 at Ida B. Wells High School, integrating youth development and workforce readiness through an equity-focused approach. The program addresses barriers to student success while offering skill-building and individualized case management. The IWBLM collaborates with the Community Schools Coordinator, CTE teacher, and PEERS teacher to foster internship partnerships and is employed by Mission Graduates, working primarily on-site at Ida B. Wells High School (1099 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94117).
Key Responsibilities & Primary Duties
Program Coordination & Administration (50%)
Coordinate and deliver activities that help young adults prepare for a career and/or transition to postsecondary education and training (soft skills development, personal management, and career pathways exploration) during the school day.
- Manage existing internship partnerships.
- Develop partnerships for additional internship and work-based learning opportunities for students.
- Place students in internship sites with training and coaching support.
- Oversee stipend payments for student work placements.
- Coordinate 1-2 career exploration activities with the College to Career Teams off-site during the school day.
- Provide barrier-removal assistance to students through community referrals.
- Become familiar with key people who support students (caseworkers, truancy officers, probation officers, etc.) and with support service agencies, their staff, and their programs to aid students in removing barriers.
- Oversee maintenance of all program records, including participant files and program curriculum, using Salesforce, Google Docs files, Excel, and Word.
- Collect student data for grants and board reports (partnerships developed, placements made, etc.)
- Support tracking of program outcomes by implementing program surveys in collaboration with the Director of Program Impact.
Program Development and Collaboration (30%)
Work with the Community Schools Coordinator, CTE teacher, and PEERS teacher on fostering existing partnerships.
- Develop and onboard new internship partners (MOUs, liability insurance requirements)
- Collaborate with other College to Career staff to support summer programming
- Develop and maintain positive, productive relationships with school staff, including administrators, teachers, counselors, and wellness staff.
- Regular communication with participants’ caregivers, teachers, counselors, and other adults in their lives who can support high school students in staying on-task.
- Collaborate closely with community stakeholders, including parents/guardians, community-based organizations, and local hiring agencies and programs.
Outreach (20%)
Present at advisories and staff PDs to promote opportunities.
- Create marketing materials as needed using Canva.
- Knowledgeable about Mission Graduates’ history and programs when implementing community outreach.
- Create a referral process for teachers, other school staff, and partners.
- Coordinate the selection process in coordination with other school site staff.
Required Qualifications
- 2-4 years of experience working with diverse youth in community and public school settings.
- Demonstrated success in providing youth workforce development programming and/or serving young adults in employment and education/training services.
- Demonstrated experience and established partnerships to implement job readiness training, barrier removal, and supportive services for young adults.
- Familiarity and experience working in or with schools and with community-based organizations.
- Understand the varied barriers first-generation students face when pursuing careers.
- Experience working in communities of color with low-income populations.
- Familiarity and experience working with undocumented youth.
- Bilingual Spanish/English required.
- BA or BS required.
- Current CPR certification (or attained within 2 months of employment).
- TB test clearance is mandatory before hiring.
- Some weekends and evenings required
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Program Manager Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Program Manager Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer program manager internships
Large employers open summer intern recruiting the preceding fall and fill cohorts before the new year. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so roles appear year-round. Set a recurring reminder to check listings in September and October alongside your regular search.
Build a project case study before you apply
Program manager intern screens expect limited work history, so your proof of ability comes from documented projects. Write up two or three complete examples that show a defined problem, the stakeholders you worked with, the tools you used, and what you delivered. A linked case study gives recruiters something to assess when your resume is light on titles.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Apply directly to companies running smaller cohorts in parallel, combining both channels widens the pool you reach and puts you in front of recruiters through more than one path.
Practice your program manager interview format out loud
Program manager intern interviews typically involve case or product-sense conversations where you break down a problem, identify stakeholders, and propose a plan. Practice these out loud, walking through your reasoning step by step, because interviewers weigh how you think as much as your final answer. Run at least five full practice conversations before your first real screen.
Target structured APM and rotational programs early
Many larger companies run Associate Product Manager or rotational program manager tracks built specifically to train people new to the field. These programs recruit in the fall, fill fast, and are competitive. Identify the ones that fit your background and apply in the first wave, waiting until spring means most structured cohorts are already closed.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 0% of the program manager internships listed here. Decide what you can actually commit to before you start sorting through listings, then filter by location and work type so you spend your time on roles you can take rather than ones that won't work with your situation.
Program Manager Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a program manager internship?
Lead with coursework, personal projects, and a portfolio rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For program manager candidates, a documented project case study showing scope, stakeholders, timeline, and outcome gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a program manager internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it for program manager interns is consistent delivery on real work, visible communication with the team, and whether headcount exists when your internship ends. Position for a return offer by treating every assignment as a full-time audition, without counting on a specific outcome.
When should I apply for program manager internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers open summer intern recruiting the preceding fall, often closing cohorts before the new year. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly and applying as soon as a role fits your profile gives you the best shot at structured programs that fill quickly.
Are program manager internships paid?
Most professional program manager internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer chooses to disclose it. Unpaid arrangements are rare in professional settings and more common in nonprofit or academic environments. Review each posting carefully, since pay practices differ across organizations.
What should a program manager internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects with the tools used and links to the work, for program manager candidates, that means case studies showing a defined problem, your approach, stakeholders involved, and the outcome. Add relevant coursework in project management, operations, or business. Keep the resume to one page.
Are there remote program manager internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 100% of the program manager internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
What is an APM internship?
An Associate Product Manager (APM) internship is a structured program designed specifically for people new to product and program management, typically targeting students and recent graduates. These programs recruit early, often in the fall for the following summer, and are competitive. Identifying the APM or rotational program manager tracks at larger companies and applying in the first wave significantly improves your chances.
Can international students get program manager internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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