Program Development Associate (PDA)
Remote
Role Track: Training ➔ Paid Internship (3 Months) ➔ Full-Time Role (PPO based on performance)
Department: Business Development & Strategic Partnerships
Location: On-site / Field-based (Local travel required for venue visits)
Employment Type: Internship with Pre-Placement Offer (PPO)
About the Role
We are seeking high-energy, ambitious candidates to join us as a Program Development Associate (PDA). This role is designed as a career-launching track: you will start with hands-on training, transition into an active deal-closing internship, and earn a full-time role upon hitting conversion targets.
You will own the end-to-end venue partnership pipeline—from identifying trendsetting spaces (cafes, rooftop lounges, co-working studios, microbreweries) to negotiating commercial models and locking in signed agreements for our live events.
Program Structure & Career Progression
Weeks 1–2 (Training & Shadowing):
Intensive onboarding covering pitch scripts, commercial models (revenue share, cover charges, minimum spend), objection handling, and shadowing senior team members on live venue recces.
Months 1–3 (Active Deal-Closing Internship):
Build an active venue pipeline, conduct field visits, pitch venue managers/owners, and negotiate contracts under mentorship.
Post-Internship (Full-Time Conversion / PPO):
Transition into a full-time PDA role with independent ownership of territory acquisition, strategic partnership growth, and elevated compensation packages.
Key Responsibilities
Lead Generation & Market Mapping: Research, identify, and maintain an active database of potential event spaces, lounges, and unique cultural venues across target zones.
Cold Outreach & Pitching: Initiate direct outreach via phone calls, WhatsApp, and in-person walk-ins with General Managers and owners to pitch mutual value propositions.
On-Ground Site Inspections (Recces): Visit venues to evaluate layout, guest capacity, audio/visual capabilities, acoustic boundaries, and F&B operational readiness.
Deal Structuring & Commercial Negotiation: Present win-win partnership models (revenue shares, low minimum-spend thresholds, hybrid rentals) and counter objections effectively.
Contract Execution: Drive deals to completion by drafting and executing standard MoUs/contracts, ensuring clear terms around cancellation policies and service guarantees.
Operations Handover: Document operational specifications and coordinate smoothly with the Event Operations team for flawless event execution.
What We Are Looking For
Education & Experience: Final-year students, fresh graduates, or early-career professionals (0–1 year experience) looking to build a career in BD, partnerships, or event logistics.
Negotiation & Persuasion Skills: Confident communicator capable of holding conversations with business owners and advocating value.
Field Hustle: High willingness to travel locally for venue visits, meetings, and on-ground assessments.
Organization: Disciplined approach to tracking leads and deal stages using Google Sheets or CRM tools.
Mindset: Proactive problem solver with a strong appetite for closing deals and meeting targets.
Skills Required
Venue Scouting, Lead Generation, Cold Outreach, B2B Sales, Commercial Negotiation, Contract Closing, Field Recces, Vendor Management, Stakeholder Communication, Google Sheets/CRM Tracking