Engagement Manager

Reports To: Director of Communications & Engagement

Location: Buffalo, NY (Seneca One Tower)

Work Mode: Hybrid

Type: Full-Time

About TechBuffalo

Founded in 2020, TechBuffalo is a nonprofit talent-driven economic development organization. We are building a sustainable, inclusive, and accessible tech ecosystem by creating the talent density needed for companies to thrive in Western New York.

We are looking for a Solution Seller and Talent Architect.

TechBuffalo is seeking a results-oriented Employer Engagement Manager to drive the adoption of our holistic talent ecosystem. In this role, you will diagnose the hiring and retention challenges of WNY employers and prescribe our programs (Pathways / PowerUpTech / Networking Events) and our Talent Platform as the solution.

You are the architect of the bridge between the Boardroom and the Classroom. You will show employers how to recruit and retain talent through our platform and facilitate high-impact connections between industry leaders and educational institutions to strengthen alignment. 

What You’ll Do

Employer Partnerships & Sales

• Identify Needs: Meet with employers to pinpoint exactly where they are struggling to find or keep talent – from entry-level pipelines to mid-level management.
• Drive Commitment: secure signed agreements (MOUs) that commit employers to using our platform and participating in our programs.
• Curriculum Strategy: Act as a broker between business and education. You will connect industry experts with training providers to drive strong alignment to exact skills local employers need.

Platform Adoption & Community Growth

• Empower Leaders: You do not run mentoring or peer-to-peer groups; you find the people who do. Your goal is to identify "Community Champions" within partner companies or regional universities and give them the tools to launch and lead their own on our platform.
• Network Integration: Find existing professional groups in Buffalo (e.g., college clubs, meetups, alumni groups) and convince them to move their operations to the TechBuffalo platform for better visibility and management.
• Sell Efficiency: Show employer and university leaders how the platform’s self-managed features reduce their administrative workload while keeping their per-career talent or employees engaged.

Sponsorship & Revenue

• Secure Funding: Identify and close corporate sponsorships for TechBuffalo programs. Build packages that deliver real value to the employer’s brand and community goals.
• Manage the Pipeline: Build a robust list of potential sponsors, pitch creative partnership opportunities, and secure financial commitments.
• Ensure ROI: Make sure all sponsors get what they paid for, including brand visibility and access to top talent.

Data & Reporting

• Data Integrity: Maintain flawless records in our shared HubSpot CRM. You must log every interaction to ensure seamless coordination with our partners at the 43North Foundation.
• Market Insights: Gather and report real-time data on the local labor market – who is hiring, who is freezing, and where the skills gaps are – to guide our strategy.
• Track Success: Report monthly on key metrics: agreements signed, sponsorship dollars raised, active platform users, and actual hires made.

What You’ll Bring

• Experience: 3 years in B2B sales, business development, or account management. Experience in selling into Higher Education is a strong advantage.
• Closing Experience: A proven history of closing deals (contracts, partnerships, or sponsorships) and meeting targets.
• Cross-Sector Communication: The ability to speak the language of Business (ROI, Speed) and Education (Curriculum, Learning) and align them toward a common goal.
• Digital Proficiency: Comfortable using and selling software. You must be able to demonstrate a digital product to non-technical leaders.
• CRM Expertise: Proficiency in HubSpot (or Salesforce) is required. • Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, sales, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

The Ideal Candidate Profile

• You are a Catalyst: You connect the unconnected. You instinctively see how an employer’s problem can be solved by the solutions we o er or connections we can create and you are the spark that brings them together.
• You are a Challenger: You push leaders out of default mode, offering the right feedback at the right time: e.g., “If you want different results, you need a different system – partner with us to design a talent pipeline built around your real tech needs.”
• You are Comfortable with Ambiguity: You can sell the vision of a new platform even while it is still being built.
• You are Data-Obsessed: You understand that if it isn't in HubSpot, it didn't happen.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $65,000 - $75,000
• Performance Bonus: Negotiated
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits.
• Retirement plan with match.
• Access to the 43North Foundation network and Buffalo’s innovation ecosystem.

To Apply

Send your résumé and a brief note to Greg Pokriki, gpokriki@techbuffalo.org.