Founding General Manager

About Frontier Institute of Technology

Frontier Institute of Technology is a nonprofit organization focused on creating a new talent pipeline tailored for the workforce of the AI era. It employs a comprehensive approach encompassing research, community engagement, training, and ventures. The institution offers undergraduate and masters degrees along with workforce training via micro-credentials and short courses. It operates as an accredited nonprofit university grounded in rigorous academics and practical skills-building, constituting the credentialing component of a broader movement.

Originating from the African Leadership Group ecosystem—which has successfully trained over 373,000 learners, launched 10,000+ ventures, and achieved a 65% employment rate within six months—Frontier is extending this proven education-to-employment model across US cities.

The current infrastructure for AI economy talent development in America is inadequate, and Frontier is establishing the necessary nonprofit entities, accredited university, venture studios, and employer coalitions at the city level to reshape talent growth and leadership.

Role Overview

The Founding General Manager acts as the local CEO, leading Frontier's market-specific operations. This role involves securing initial capital, assembling and guiding a dedicated team, fostering a distinct organizational culture, and overseeing the full profit and loss statement. You will set the strategic direction, build an engaged workforce, and nurture community and ecosystem partnerships that resonate locally.

Responsibilities

• Champion Frontier’s mission to create AI-era talent
• Raise foundational capital from foundations, businesses, and donors
• Establish and lead a founding advisory board composed of civic, philanthropic, and corporate leaders
• Develop and maintain an employer coalition anchoring the talent pipeline
• Recruit and manage the local team across key functions including operations, learner success, partnerships, and marketing
• Launch initial cohorts for short courses, micro-credentials, and degree programs
• Maintain full P&L ownership to ensure financial viability and growth
• Deliver measurable outcomes such as job placements, income advancement, and new ventures
• Represent Frontier as a thought leader on local and national platforms

Candidate Profile

Ideal candidates typically have backgrounds in technology firms, startups, civic leadership, philanthropy, or technical training organizations. Core qualities sought include:

• Proven track record of building or scaling organizations, initiatives, or products from inception to impactful outcomes
• Strong leadership skills demonstrated by building talented, engaged teams with exceptional cultures
• Experience securing significant capital ($1 million+) through direct engagement with investors or partners
• Operational expertise managing P&L, revenue, costs, and margins
• Established relationships across philanthropy, government, corporate, entrepreneurial, or AI-related ecosystems
• Excellent storytelling ability to communicate complex ideas convincingly
• A "get things done" mindset, coupled with courage, humility, and collaborative spirit

Phased Approach

Phase 1: Coalition-building, advisory board creation, and capital raising.
Phase 2: Team hiring, physical hub establishment, and program launch.
Phase 3 (Year 2+): Business scaling focused on enrollment, revenue, learner success, and community impact.

Support & Collaboration

You will be supported by a senior development partner, strategic counsel from the organization's founder, and centralized resources for curriculum, accreditation, branding, and operations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of senior leadership encompassing entrepreneurship, consulting, operations, and capital raising
• Demonstrated significant organizational or business unit growth with tangible financial and human impact
• Documented history raising $1M+ in capital through various sources
• Skilled in coalition building and stakeholder management across diverse sectors
• Experience owning P&L responsibilities with operational control
• Proven team development and leadership abilities in dynamic environments
• Access to an influential network embedded either locally or within technology and AI sectors

Compensation & Benefits

You will join a well-backed movement featuring an accredited university, proven operational model, a national leadership network, and a platform amplifying your achievements. Compensation includes base salary and a performance-linked upside aligned with the hub’s success and long-term growth potential.