Early Career Recruiting Program Manager

Dive in and do the best work of your career at DigitalOcean. Journey alongside a strong community of top talent who are relentless in their drive to build the simplest scalable cloud. If you have a growth mindset, naturally like to think big and bold, and are energized by the fast-paced environment of a true industry disruptor, you’ll find your place here.  We value winning together—while learning, having fun, and making a profound difference for the dreamers and builders in the world. 

The Early Career Recruiting Program Manager at DigitalOcean plays a pivotal role in shaping our future talent pipeline. This dynamic position combines full-cycle recruiting for early-career talent (e.g., interns, new graduates, apprentices) with the strategic design and execution of impactful early career programs. This individual will be responsible for attracting, engaging, and hiring diverse talent directly from universities and other early-talent pipelines, while also building and nurturing programs that provide meaningful development opportunities and pathways into DigitalOcean. This role is crucial for strengthening our employer brand within academic communities and ensuring a robust, sustainable talent supply for our growing organization.

What You’ll Do:

• Full-Cycle Early Career Recruiting for US & India:
• Manage the end-to-end recruitment process for a portfolio of early career roles (internships, new graduate positions, apprenticeships) across various departments.
• Develop and execute innovative sourcing strategies to identify, attract, and engage diverse candidates from universities, coding bootcamps, and other early talent pools.
• Conduct thorough candidate screening, manage interview processes, and facilitate offer negotiations to ensure a positive and efficient experience.
• Act as a trusted advisor to hiring managers, guiding them through the early career hiring process and promoting best practices.
• Early Career Program Design & Management:
• Design, develop, and implement comprehensive early career programs (e.g., internship programs, new graduate rotational programs, co-op experiences) that align with DigitalOcean's talent strategy and business needs.
• Oversee all aspects of program logistics, including onboarding, mentorship pairing, performance management frameworks, and program-related events.
• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders (hiring managers, HR Business Partners, D&I teams, senior leadership) to define program objectives, secure resources, and ensure program success and participant development.
• Develop and manage program budgets, tracking expenditures and optimizing resource allocation.
• University Relations & Campus Engagement:
• Build and maintain strong, strategic relationships with target universities, academic departments, career services, and student organizations.
• Plan and execute engaging campus recruitment events, career fairs, information sessions, and workshops (virtual and in-person) to promote DigitalOcean as an employer of choice.
• Identify and implement creative ways to connect with students and faculty, enhancing DigitalOcean's visibility and reputation within academic communities.
• Manage a budget for sponsoring university events and hackathons as an employer 
• Candidate & Program Experience:
• Champion an exceptional candidate experience for all early career applicants, ensuring clear communication, timely feedback, and a welcoming process.
• Continuously seek feedback from program participants, managers, and mentors to iterate on and improve program effectiveness and participant satisfaction.
• Data, Metrics & Reporting:
• Track, analyze, and report on key early career recruiting and program metrics (e.g., pipeline diversity, conversion rates, program completion rates, retention, cost-per-hire).
• Use data insights to identify trends, inform decision-making, and demonstrate the ROI of early career initiatives to leadership.
• Employer Branding & Advocacy:
• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition, Marketing, and PBP teams to ensure recruiting systems and processes actively support and enhance the employer brand and candidate experience.
• Act as an ambassador for DigitalOcean's culture and values, effectively articulating our unique employee value proposition to early career talent.

What You’ll Add to DigitalOcean:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in talent acquisition, with a significant focus on early career recruitment, university relations, or talent program management.
• Recruiting Expertise: